A rocky first email thread turned into a decade of building rooms where creators actually want to linger. I sit down with Mark; producer, engineer, and self‑styled conversational architect to unpack how Podcast Atlanta grew from a reluctant meetup with free pizza into a reliable hub that puts our city on the podcasting map.
We dig into craft before hype: how a director’s ear shapes a better interview, the edit notes that protect story flow, and the quiet logistics that keep events sustainable month after month. Mark lays out his early growth levers (bribes, proximity, repeatable formats) and the bigger unlock designing for stages. Launching a show, growing an audience, re-branding, or pivoting a business each needs its own doorway. That programming lens, paired with genuine place identity, is how a community endures beyond a single host or season.
We talk re-brands without cringe by inviting member votes and shipping shy, then iterating. We trace the industry’s surge from $75M to a projected $2.4B in ad spend and what that means for differentiation now that “everyone has a podcast.” We also go deep on openness: why RSS still matters, how YouTube fits the funnel, and how to meet listeners where they watch without ceding control. Along the way, we share personal stakes... retirement plans, post‑COVID social batteries, and the odd Budweiser in an editor lounge because community is built by humans with limits and preferences, not just metrics and logos.
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Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_01 (00:00):
Well, when we first got introduced, it was a little
bit of a rocky start.
I don't know if you remember.
You don't?
Okay, that's that that's great.
Because we we're the best offriends now.
But there was uh uh somebody whowas after you to coordinate the
events in Atlanta and I'm gonnaget it.
SPEAKER_00 (00:26):
Okay, I'm gonna get it.
(00:48):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (00:50):
Hi Mach.
How you doing?
SPEAKER_01 (00:52):
Hey, Paula, it has been a while.
SPEAKER_02 (00:55):
It really is, it really has a whole month.
SPEAKER_01 (01:00):
A whole month?
And I know you've been after meto talk on the record for a
while because we talk so muchoff the record and you keep
saying, Mock, I gotta get youon.
We gotta we gotta let the knowthe world know.
About Mark.
SPEAKER_02 (01:13):
I mean I mean we gotta let talk shit with people
know about Mark because I talk alot of shit with Mark on the
daily.
Not very daily, but daily.
So it was about time he came totalk some shit on talk shit with
P.
With talk shit with P.
My god, I'll I'll throw up withall Mog.
SPEAKER_01 (01:33):
Well, as a subscriber to your show myself,
I know you've been asking a lotof common questions because it
looks like she's done she's doneresearch, people.
She has written down questions.
I haven't seen these, and I'm alittle worried because she's not
flipping through.
That being said, my research islisten to the last few episodes.
So I listen to loyalty, I listento Gordon, I listen to Joe.
SPEAKER_02 (01:53):
I always say Portfress is giving me my
podcast community and I playedthrough Portface.
I got to make Mark and then whoMark ended giving me my Atlanta
podcast community.
So and when I say just like howthe Mobad Mopad boys take care
of me, Mark definitely takescare of me.
(02:15):
We're gonna get into that in abit, but um so I found something
very interesting when I wasdoing my research on you because
I know I don't research peopleuntil 30 minutes before inter
before interviewing them becauseI want it to be fresh in my mind
because I don't remember shit.
I remember shit I shouldn't beremembering and then the
(02:35):
important shit I don't remember.
So I found out that you are aconversational architect.
SPEAKER_01 (02:42):
And uh Wow, she has done some research.
SPEAKER_02 (02:47):
So to me it was like, what the f is that?
So I'm asking when you tellpeople that do they normally
know what you're talking about?
Or are they like me like lookingat your side and is like, Did
you just come up with that shit?
Like, you know, sometimes peoplemake their own titles.
SPEAKER_01 (03:04):
Sure, sure.
I came up with that to kind ofexpand upon the thing and people
ask, like, what do you do withpodcasting?
And I've always said I'm apodcast director, and I've been
a podcast director for nineyears.
And people ask, What is that?
What's a podcast director?
I'm like, Well, I hop on and Idirect the flow of conversation
between the the host and the theco-host and the guest, as it
were, and I listen for what thethe audience would be listening
(03:26):
to, as well as making edit notesfor the editors to to cut some
things, move some things around,and and really kind of follow
the flow with it.
So that's where I said, I'm I'ma conversational architect.
Or sometimes I say I'm aconversational data scientist.
SPEAKER_02 (03:40):
Data sound.
Will you be controlling thistons, directing this song?
SPEAKER_01 (03:45):
Oh, I don't want you to know what she has written on
this pad here.
SPEAKER_02 (03:52):
And I kept on trying to make sure I say architect
right, because I I have my mouthhas a different way with words.
And most of you, including Mark,sometimes they don't understand
what words I'm saying becauseagain my accent and the way I
talk, so I was like, architect,architect, I kept but as you
said, um podcast director, uhyou also uh engineer, a data
(04:17):
guy, all these amazing titles inin through your life, right?
So how did you just wake up onemorning and say, you know what?
I wanna run I wanna build thebiggest podcast meetup in the
world.
I'm gonna say that because I ampart of that, so we are claiming
the biggest in the world.
None of you like it is what itis.
(04:38):
So like walk me through thatpivot, like when did you know it
was time to create reluctantly.
SPEAKER_01 (04:46):
I'll say that w uh uh right off the bat,
reluctantly.
And people have heard it overthe couple years, because we've
been doing this almost ten yearsnow, that I'm so you know,
reluctant to do it.
And with you know, event leaderssuch as yourself come on and
really take the charge, it makesit easier for me, but I got
started reluctantly.
SPEAKER_02 (05:02):
There was a time I keep saying this what we like.
SPEAKER_01 (05:07):
Reluctantly.
Well, now see that you said ityou had me saying it yet.
It it started with there was uha co-founder of a big national
podcasting conference, and theywere coming to Atlanta, and they
reached out to me at anotherlocal Atlanta podcaster, they
wanted to host a meetup.
And that other podcaster wasbusy, wasn't available, and and
(05:27):
I had ideas on on what to how todo it.
And in April of 2016 or 2015,after to check the records, uh
we held our first event down atAtlantic Station, and people
loved it and like, oh, this isgreat.
When do we do this again?
This is before Podcast Atlantawas a thing.
(05:47):
And I remember saying, like, I'mall for it.
I just don't want to be the onethat organizes it.
Well, you know, a few months goby, nothing happens.
Like, well, I guess it's gonnabe me that organizes it.
And that's how it got started.
SPEAKER_02 (05:59):
And it still says that I'm not gonna be the one
organizing it, but if Yeah,yeah.
We'll be moving.
I love you, like check us out,like focus on lunch.
That's funny, that's home.
So you founded Podalunti in2016, and I believe the last
time it was 1,300 members,beeping and counting, you're
growing.
(06:19):
Growth like that doesn't happenovernight, and we know running a
community, building a community.
It takes a lot.
It takes a lot.
So what worked for you, right?
What flopped, what surprised youthe most doing this, building
this community, creating thiscommunity?
SPEAKER_01 (06:40):
Bribes.
So honestly, I'll start with uhbribes.
When we first did a few uh thefirst meetups, I think from the
first year or two, we had pizza,you know, free pizza at at all
the events.
This is back before we hadsponsors, before we had of
rowing, as basically me fundingpizzas.
Like, all right, you know, we'llhave pizzas, we'll have drinks,
and basically it was it wasbribery that got people to to
(07:02):
keep coming out month aftermonth.
And that's how it started.
Also, I specifically found alocation that was close and
convenient to me.
I live on the outskirts of MetroAtlanta, on the the border of
Marietta and Atlanta, on theMarietta side.
So I found uh a venue that wasclose and convenient for me,
because I knew if this wassomething that I was going to be
(07:22):
doing monthly, which I did toofor the first few years, it was
all me all monthly.
And we did meetups, we did uh orsocial tech meetups, we did
presentations and panels, andbasically it was me cording
everything.
It was a lot of work, but it wasthrough bribes of pizza and
drinks, as well as making itconvenient for me uh to get to
(07:43):
it, because I wouldn't have toget there early, set things up,
as well as stay late and breakthings down closer to home, uh
made things a little easier.
SPEAKER_02 (07:51):
Yeah, because if you're in Holland how things are
fall off in the traffic, yeah.
But I I I have to say the bribemakes sense because it still
bribes me, and you know it'svery easy to bribe me.
All you gotta have is say it.
SPEAKER_01 (08:08):
Beer Red Bull?
SPEAKER_02 (08:10):
But not beer.
SPEAKER_01 (08:10):
Oh, Budweiser.
I don't like saying Budweiser.
The horrible beer that Iappreciate that you drink it,
and also you you drink like thebiggest ones that they have.
I I don't even know if they sellthe grocery stores.
You gotta go into like the backof the gas station, like,
alright, I'll take some.
This is the Budweiser for ball.
Oh, I need several, so yes.
Budweiser horrible.
SPEAKER_02 (08:32):
I must say the highlight of portraits for me
this year was Mark um had hishis own room, the editor room,
where people I I don't know ifeverybody was allowed to go in
there with just editors.
SPEAKER_01 (08:46):
It was uh is the editor's lounge set up for
editors.
I guess really anybody could goin there.
SPEAKER_02 (08:50):
Somebody's an editor.
Did they have editors?
SPEAKER_01 (08:52):
Yeah, we had editors on the badge.
Thank you, Chris Cremosos, forsetting up the whole editor
track as well as designating notjust, oh, I'm an attendee, but
like, hey, I'm a creator, I'm aneditor, I'm a producer.
So he he really kind of took it.
SPEAKER_02 (09:04):
Yeah, which I love.
This podcast does different,right?
I think we had I I I love that.
So in his room, they had fridgeand he was like, I have bad ways
and red bull for you.
The other oh my god.
No, this is the Mopad boys,they'll just have beer.
They won't have bad ways for me,but they'll have beer.
The fact that he tookinitiative, even though he
doesn't like badways or evenbuying bad boys, but he did it
(09:28):
for me.
This is love over here.
SPEAKER_01 (09:31):
Yeah, but the Mopad guys, they had good beer.
You didn't drink so credit tothem.
SPEAKER_02 (09:36):
I mean, I still drink it.
SPEAKER_01 (09:37):
Yeah, there you go.
SPEAKER_02 (09:38):
And the good thing is they want to expand all you
on this side.
So when I take a beer, by thetime I reach that center, I get
stopped so many often by thetime I get there I'm done with
the beer.
So I take from that to come backto this.
It worked excellent.
What's one lesson from buildinga community that you wish every
(10:00):
podcaster knew before theystarted creating communities?
Because this is there's so manycommunities.
Everybody like wakes up andthey're like, you're in there
and you're like, is this evenreally a community of just
people in?
SPEAKER_01 (10:18):
Right.
Yeah, I did it.
I get it.
SPEAKER_02 (10:21):
But everything this is community.
And I'm saying this because I'vebeen around some and walked out
of some.
I'm just saying some You say onepoint.
SPEAKER_01 (10:33):
There's a couple that if I were to pick out the
top point, it would be torecognize that every community
member is they're at a pointthat's important for them and
their life.
That instant moment in time.
Whether it's on a on an upside,a downside, whether they're
launching a show, whetherthey're growing a show, whether
they're in the last season ofthe show and they're pivoting
(10:54):
and moving on to something else,everyone is in the most
important part of their lives inthat particular instance.
And all the people in thecommunity, they may not match up
with those points in theirlives.
And I find that as a communityleader, as a community
organizer, as a communityfacilitator, it's good to have
(11:16):
multiple avenues, conduits, waysin which that people can
interact with each other atwhatever their level happens to
be.
And maybe that's not at everyevent, but if if you're again
coordinating events like I do,but maybe uh certain events
specialize to people that arestarting, or people that are
growing, or people that areactively networking, or people
(11:38):
that are doing a production, orpeople that are are launching a
business, or people that are arepivoting their business, or
people that are branding orrebranding.
I think it's important to keepin mind that you need to have
something for everybody, but youcan't serve everybody all the
time.
It's it's important to let themknow that where they're at
matters and that you want tohelp and facilitate that through
(12:01):
your community, but you may haveto to come around to it.
So if that event isn't for them,maybe the next one is.
SPEAKER_02 (12:08):
I love that.
And I think that's one thing Ilove about Professor Rentables,
we try to involve our uh membersand ask them what type of events
they like, and we try to dodifferently.
Always the brewery always win.
Like of course now, but if wecould do them all the time in
the brewery, trust me, we would,but we want to make sure that we
do cater to everybody.
(12:29):
Um, so we we we sometimes do thevirtual, we sometimes have
speakers, we sometimes have, youknow, at studios where people
can get a look at the studiosthat are available for them.
So we try to do that, and that'swhat one thing I I like about
that.
And it never hurts when it'sfree pizza or beer, I'm just
saying.
I will go anyway as long asthere's beer.
(12:50):
And not so much for the pizza, Icouldn't care this.
But he does try to feed me.
He'll be like, Paula, you meanto eat your teacher?
SPEAKER_01 (12:56):
Whether there's food or not, I always make sure that
I feed Paula.
And for legal reasons, I can'tprovide alcohol at the events.
But also I will say normallythere is a cooler that's dragged
behind me.
I'm like, oh, did did I leavethat off in the corner?
SPEAKER_02 (13:09):
Somewhere.
Because Paula is noisy justgoing through shit, she just
make of tongues.
SPEAKER_01 (13:14):
Oh no, no, it's not just you, Paula, it's it's
others as well.
That's sometimes uh like a adrink or two to just you know
help, especially some of thesocial networking.
It's weird.
Podcasters were verbal people,we're conversational people, but
many of us, myself included, arereally outgoing people.
SPEAKER_02 (13:30):
Exactly.
SPEAKER_01 (13:31):
And sometimes people need different, uh, different
ways in order to to becomfortable.
SPEAKER_02 (13:35):
I've noticed that.
And and and I'm always shiftingthem like, but you all love to
talk, so talk.
I talk, and they're just lookingat me, saying that's how they
have me.
I just make people talk.
But um we with that growth thatyou have with Port Casavanta,
right?
Like the way it has been goingever since.
(13:56):
There's no standing still,right?
With a lot of girls like like mewith talk she weepy when growth
comes, eventually you have torebrand or pivot or or shift.
And as we recently had our new,you know, match and we we just
rebranded.
So what point or what like whatmoments do you wake up and say,
okay, today's the day to toswitch things up?
(14:18):
Like whenever you do them, likeis there something specific that
comes to mind?
Or you just wake up and be like,you know what?
I don't no longer like thisname, we're gonna change.
SPEAKER_01 (14:28):
Well, the podcast Atlanta name has a lot of
strength behind it.
Uh so I certainly wasn't gonnaget rid of that.
That being said, we coming up onour 10th year now, there will be
some shifts, there will be somechanges.
We are going to like lean on andcapitalize on the uh the network
and strength that we build.
And when I say capitalize, thisisn't so much you know like for
(14:48):
me, but more for Atlanta.
In fact, that was a big reasonwhy I started Podcast Atlanta,
because back then, nine, tenyears ago, when people thought
of podcasting, they thought oflike for New York City or LA,
Atlanta, even though we hadHouse Stuff Works and some of
the biggest podcasting networksin the nation here at Atlanta,
people really didn't think ofAtlanta that way.
And that was a big reason why,because I was working in
(15:09):
podcasting.
I wanted to put Atlanta on theon the map, as it were.
But as far as like when toshift, when to pivot, I find
that myself, and this is this isa negative on me personally,
I've been involved with a fewdistributed brands that were
kind of loosely connected,connected in mission, but not in
name and and not inorganization.
(15:32):
And uh that that's a lot of workfor for for nothing.
Uh not really for nothing, it'sa lot of work trying to swim
upstream, as it were.
And and now I realized, youknow, we can we can centralize
things, we can consolidate a lotof stuff and help a lot of
people out through PodcastAtlanta.
So we started that this yearwith, as you said, the
(15:54):
rebranding.
You know, we've got the the thenew logos, uh, the little logos
I love.
SPEAKER_02 (15:58):
And particularly the commun, like not the community
per se, but there were votes,there were votes for the path.
You did put a few out on uh, Ibelieve our community for people
to vote.
So the fact that it wasinvolving the community, he just
didn't make it by himself.
I love that.
SPEAKER_01 (16:14):
Oh yeah, I had a designer, but I'm not I'm not a
designer myself.
I tell people I'm notcolorblind, I'm just kind of
color apathetic.
I generally don't care.
It's one of these things I Iknow what I like when I see it,
but I really don't know how tocommunicate that effectively.
And that's what I told thedesigner before I hired them.
I'm like, I know what I like,but yeah, so to help with that,
(16:36):
like, oh, these are some goodfinal designs.
I knew what elements I wanted.
I wanted the Atlanta Cityskyline, of course, which we
always had.
Uh I put the king and queen inthere, which we didn't have
before on the north side ofAtlanta and stand out for uh to
us.
This particular view, you reallycan't see.
In fact, the king and the queenwhere they're at, like, but the
buildings, any Atlanta personcan look at the skyline and
(16:57):
recognize the buildings, andthen they're like, wait a
minute, these two buildings arenext to each other, like, yeah,
I know, but it looked good inthe low.
You'll recognize the buildings,but not the the skyline.
But yeah, I the communityresponse.
In fact, the uh in the peachwith the mic.
The peach with the mic, that wassomebody's idea because we had a
had a microphone, and somebodymentioned uh a peach, and then I
(17:18):
thought, oh, how do we do apeach with a with a microphone?
And there we go.
SPEAKER_02 (17:22):
I love that.
I love that.
And funny enough, you kind ofjumped a little bit on the
future, right?
So I wanted to ask.
SPEAKER_01 (17:29):
Almost like I jumped on purpose.
SPEAKER_02 (17:30):
I know, like it's like, did he really pick on my
nose?
No, I know because it's all theway down there, and you probably
can't read my handwriting.
But long game thinking, right?
Ten years from now, what doesthe legacy not only of Podcast
Atlanta but also of Magdie, theman himself, look like?
SPEAKER_01 (17:50):
Wow, in I'm 50 now, so in 10 years I'll be 60.
Oh yeah.
I plan to be fully retired bythen.
SPEAKER_02 (17:57):
You'll be visiting me in Europe with your family.
SPEAKER_01 (18:00):
Sure.
That that's all we'll be doing.
That's what we'll be doing.
SPEAKER_02 (18:04):
Yeah, it we'll be bringing Portal like, oh man, if
you're in Europe and you used toone time be podcaster than that
uh come and go.
SPEAKER_01 (18:12):
Wait.
But yeah, 10 years from now,that's something I've been uh
been thinking about because I dowant to be fully retired, you
know, at 60.
I I live a comfortable life asit is right now.
But you know, with 401ks beingable to pull out at 59 and a
half, I'm like, all right, at atthat point, why why are you
working beyond uh beyond 59 anda half years or 60 years?
(18:35):
So yeah, that's really not apodcasting thing.
That's a me personal thing.
Like, hey, I plan to be fullyfor me.
For podcast Atlanta.
For Podcast Atlanta, I hope ituh sticks around.
So we've been around for 10years, and hopefully at the end
of the the next 10 years, it'llbe uh a strong enough
organization with a lot ofvision and mission behind it and
(18:55):
strong people behind it that itwill continue on.
SPEAKER_02 (18:58):
So yeah, if you're in a land bringing your your
your kids, the youngergeneration, because we are
eventually gonna be retiring andmoving.
So we need the youngergeneration to keep it moving and
keep bringing younger andyounger.
I feel like that's the only wayto keep going.
SPEAKER_01 (19:16):
But um well, also that and podcasting itself has
evolved.
So I've been podcasting for 13years now, and Podcast Atlanta
is nine and a half years old.
I've been professionallypodcasting for about nine and a
half years around the time Istarted Podcast Atlanta because
it was my job and I wanted tokind of hang out and and chat
(19:36):
with people that are alsopodcasting, whether it was their
job or maybe it was a hobby.
And uh yeah, I wanted to have uhuh a strong thing to to be able
to lean on.
Where was I going with that?
I'm sorry, I totally lostmyself.
SPEAKER_02 (19:53):
When we're talking about the young idea to bring
the young idea.
SPEAKER_01 (19:56):
Right, yeah.
So the the definition, thankyou.
The definition of podcasting haschanged because before it was,
and I guess technically still isuh a media file, typically
audio, syndicated on the RSSfeed.
Nowadays, when you talk topeople about podcasts, oh back
then you had to educate peoplewhat a podcast was.
Now people think of podcastinglike, oh yeah, I love watching
my favorite podcast on YouTube.
SPEAKER_02 (20:17):
Which technically I sometimes in a smug bill, I'm
like, no, that's YouTube, and itis mini.
And I right if you're watchingit, it's not a podcast.
I'm sorry, you that's a talkshow, that's whatever.
I'm sorry, a podcast.
I need to listen.
Like you're watching, just sayyou're watching a talk show.
SPEAKER_01 (20:31):
Well, they had audio podcast or uh video podcasts,
but they were still syndicated,so you can subscribe on
anything.
And that's the great thing aboutpodcasting.
It's open RSS fee.
There's no one company that canthat can shut it down.
They can have distributionplatforms like Apple Podcasts
and Spotify and and a lot of theother ones, but you know, it's
not any one company that thatowns it.
(20:51):
Like YouTube is is owned byGoogle and YouTube.
If they want to shut it down,they shut it down and you have
nothing to but that being said,I think podcasting, the idea and
the definition is uh shouldevolve because as consumers, as
listeners, as content consumers,they they listen to podcasts,
they they watch Instagram reels,they watch long form and now
(21:14):
more short-term content on onYouTube.
And I think that that podcastingneeds to uh meets to encompass
and incorporate all that.
Before it used to be like, oh,it's it's us, and then there's a
podcasters, and then there's aYouTubers, but now that it's
been kind of merging, and I'mjust now acknowledging that
myself because so a lot of thestuff I do now, as we're doing
(21:36):
with this show, is with video,and you have the video content.
Well, why not put the video outthere?
So I uh although myself isevolving and hope to be retired
in in 10 years, uh, I thinkPodcast Atlanta hopefully will
be around.
But the the idea and the conceptof the podcast, as it continues
(21:56):
to evolve, I hope that podcastAtlanta evolves with it.
SPEAKER_02 (22:00):
Rabba, so you may I have two two questions that I
want to dig in for what you say.
Sure.
One, you have been podcastingfor you save nine and a half
years.
SPEAKER_01 (22:10):
Uh professionally, uh but podcasting for like 13.
SPEAKER_02 (22:13):
Okay, there you go 13.
So what's the biggest uh shiftor jump you have seen?
Because you come from them dayswhere some of us never know what
the fuck to now where even whenI started in 2020, people were
getting excited when they yeah,I have a podcast, but now you
meet almost everybody has apodcast, right?
So what's the biggest shift youhave seen as a person?
(22:37):
And I I and let's scratch video,I'm tired of hearing personal.
SPEAKER_01 (22:41):
Yeah.
Uh well to set the stage, when Istarted podcasting, the domestic
ad spend was$75 million a year.
$75 million.
That's it.
Now the domestic ad spend isprojected to be$2.4 billion next
year.
So podcasting has like growntremendously.
So although I have grown andpodcast Atlanta has grown, we
haven't grown nearly as fast asthe entire industry has.
(23:12):
Although we've put I do feel thepodcast Atlanta has put Atlanta
on the map with uh withpodcasting.
When people think of what arethe biggest cities for
podcasting, they think ofAtlanta.
And I I like to think that uh wehad a large part of that.
But yeah, it's uh it's it'sgrown.
It's grown a lot.
The biggest thing is now I don'thave to tell people that aren't
podcasting how to listen to it.
If I say, Oh, there's a podcast,they're like, Oh, what's it
(23:34):
called?
And they look it up.
Yeah, back in the day, you hadto say, show me your phone.
See, there's an app on herecalled Call Podcast.
Back in the day there was iTunesand yeah, it was just and and
things have shifted and haveshifted uh since 2020, some of
the different mergers andchanges and rebrandings and and
things like that.
So that was a big thing is I nolonger have to tell people what
(23:56):
a podcast is or how to get it orconsume it.
Uh now the big shift is how doyou want to be different?
Because back in the day it usedto be, oh, just have an
interview, just have aconversation, maybe a solo show.
But now it's how are you gonnabe different?
How are you gonna stand up?
SPEAKER_02 (24:12):
So true.
And um I love that.
Rap shit with P is more thanjust a name, it's what we do.
We make visions come alive frombranding and match to curated
gifting and virtual assistantservices.
We help creatives,entrepreneurs, and businesses
show up bigger, bolder, andbetter.
(24:34):
So if you're ready to level upyour vision, connect with us on
IG at rapshitwithp orrapshitwithp at gmail.com and
that's wr a p s I T W I T H PRapshitwithP at gmail.com or Rap
(24:57):
She With P on Instagram.
Rap Sheetwith P where accessmeets energy, where passion
meets execution, and where everydetail gets wrapped with love
and excitement.
So here's to season 10, thefinal season of talk showp.
(25:20):
And my other question that Iwanted to dig in on the stuff
you say is you retiring in 10years, so retirement for
everybody looks different,right?
Sure.
So what's your retirement plan?
Like just to to hang out or totravel or just be Yeah, um, my
wife wants to travel a lot, so Iwant to to travel with my wife.
SPEAKER_01 (25:45):
Exactly.
I'm not much of a traveler, butI I've told her that yes, I I
will travel with you.
And now I've been traveling alittle bit more and more just to
be able to travel with her.
But she's also kind of come downon the definition, like, all
right, lane travel means we, youknow, we travel one week a month
and and maybe like one month ayear, but doesn't mean we need
(26:07):
to be traveling constantly.
Like, okay, I can uh I can getbehind that.
I like being home.
SPEAKER_02 (26:13):
But I feel like w once that one month a year, I I
would check in in ten years, butbecause I feel like once you
really start traveling, youkinda get to enjoy, especially
when you are retired, right?
So you have no responsibilities.
Right now, being home soundsright because there's so much
going on, like being a father,being a husband, you gotta be
present, you'll work,everything.
SPEAKER_01 (26:34):
So home seems much fun than traveling, but I feel
like when you have nothing,yeah, well, it might not be
sure, but there's there'shobbies and activities and
friends, and you don't reallydon't get a lot of that if
you're constantly traveling.
Like I play a lot of tennis, andif I was constantly traveling,
uh I wouldn't really get to playtennis with all my friends.
SPEAKER_02 (26:54):
You didn't get into the paddle.
Is it what one pickleball?
SPEAKER_01 (26:57):
No, no.
SPEAKER_02 (26:59):
I tried it.
SPEAKER_01 (27:00):
Okay.
Mark this as explicit becauseshe just used the P word.
I injured my knee 13 months ago,and somebody mentioned that
we're like, no, I'm I'mrehabbing.
I I'm not uh I'm not playingthat.
SPEAKER_02 (27:12):
That is J.
If you want it, shall I tell himthis pickleball?
That's why we're shop forPicoba.
But I tried it for the firsttime in podcast movement.
Only because I wanted to to takethe hi-hat paddle, not because I
wanted to play a side.
Like I did one round and then Iwas like, okay, bye, I got my
pad.
SPEAKER_01 (27:30):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (27:31):
Now that uh we have all this amazing stuff in
Podcast Atlanta.
We we do have an event comingup, but before we get to the
event coming up, you say you'vebeen catching up on my episode,
so this is why I bring the mostfamous question.
Uh he haven't done quite awhile.
I really can't pinpoint exactlyhow long, like when exactly we
(27:53):
really connected.
I just know have known him.
Maybe he knows, I don't know,because he was missing, so maybe
he better go here, but uh whatwas your first impression of me?
And I'm curious if you rememberthat.
I I really want to know whenthat was.
And now that you have reallygotten to know me, and your
impression of me now.
SPEAKER_01 (28:12):
Well, when we first got introduced, it was a little
bit of a rocky start.
I don't know if you remember.
We don't?
Okay, that that's great.
Because we we're the best offriends now, but there was uh uh
somebody who was after you tocoordinate events in Atlanta,
and here I am running PodcastAtlanta.
You were kind of coming onto thescene around COVID, and I was
honestly, I was kind ofwithdrawing into myself and in
(28:34):
the community because we everyevery month we would have like a
hundred people show up, and thenCOVID hit.
Uh, and that really, you know,knocked the the legs out of a
podcast Atlanta.
And and I remember trying tocoordinate with you, your emails
kept shifting.
Remember, I kept emailing you,and you were telling somebody
like I'm not, you know, Markisn't getting back to me, Mark
isn't getting back to me.
And I had to pull up the email.
(28:55):
I was like, Paula, I haveemailed you here, here, here,
here, here.
And you're like, Oh, my my emailhas changed.
And and since I've known you,you had four different emails.
SPEAKER_02 (29:05):
I do.
And my dad has said I've shiftedfrom back in the days.
I used to have phone numbers,especially when I was in UK,
people hated it.
I would change numbers every twobecause it was easier to change
phone numbers than here.
You can go online and get a newnumber here.
You have to register it,whatever, pay for the sync.
You can you get free sync cards.
Like, I would change my number.
My dad would be like, look forthe house for one, two, three,
(29:26):
four.
Like, what?
I don't know.
I don't know what's wrong withme.
I'm trying, I'm growing, I'mgrowing, okay?
Structure with PS may get, butsometimes when I don't pay my
good board driving, it itcancels, then I'm like, since I
hate emails, let it stay likethat for a while.
SPEAKER_01 (29:44):
No, so that's uh that was my first impression
when we were trying to to worktogether.
Like, how do I how do I talk toyou?
How do we coordinate?
And it was uh it it was achallenge.
But but since then I I reallycome to lean on you uh because
you are the outgoing person.
And I and I'm not.
And folks that that know me andand know me well and the the the
(30:05):
various properties that I run,usually I'm like a wizard of oz.
I'm like the man behind thecurtain that's pulling the
letters and things.
Uh you may not see me on stage,but a lot of the stuff that
happens, whether it is an actualstage, whether it is a physical
event, or it's a particular showor a podcast, or even some of
the uh the membership sites thatwe run in the podcasting
(30:26):
community.
I I'm generally like you know,the the the guy behind the
scenes, you know, pulling thelevers and and everything.
But it's important for peoplelike me to have somebody like
you who loves being around allthe different people and and you
find comfort in that.
For me, it it drains me very,very quickly.
So that's how we had a rockystart.
(30:48):
But you know, we've we workedwell together, and I know your
strengths.
Hopefully you know myweaknesses, and because of that,
I think we you work really welltogether.
SPEAKER_02 (30:56):
We do.
That's why I'm I I still show upand I still come around and I
get excited when I see.
And he's right when he says hehe's behind the sink, and that's
why it was very important for meto have him on my season 10, as
uh people need to know howimportant you also are in my in
my life and in my walk and in mypodcasting journey.
(31:19):
Uh thank you for being a friend.
Thank you for just always beingthere.
Like I can talk shit, I can cry,I can and you just let me be.
I appreciate that.
SPEAKER_01 (31:30):
Certainly.
And I appreciate you and I Iappreciate you letting me into
your life and dealing with someof my social quirks and I love
them.
SPEAKER_02 (31:39):
And I mean I get to be there in front of them.
But I I still always just pullpeople like whenever people
like, oh you need to meet meetMax.
I keep on just learning and say,Oh yeah, here we go.
But yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (31:51):
And I used to be great, you know, doing these
events for nearly 10 years.
I used to be great at the thecoordination, then getting in
front of everybody, and thengetting people to meet one
another, and then getting folkstogether for the pictures.
And and now a lot of times I Iforget those things.
SPEAKER_02 (32:05):
I think it's COVID, right?
I think a lot of things changedduring COVID.
Even right now, I was hangingout with one of my friends,
Walter, who lives in Atlanta andonly keep meeting each other in
conferences.
And last week he just invited meout to just meet his fiancee and
just like eat and chill, likenot in a conference or 'cause it
was like you remember beforeCOVID, we used to do a lot of
this, like just going out andhanging out with your friends
(32:27):
and being around people.
But then COVID came and I thinkbecause we we had to get used to
the batch of light and then wegot comfortable because now
nobody really wants to leavetheir house unless it's money
involved or something to really,you know.
Everything is like it's actuallybecause we're so used to being
in the comfort of our realm thatit has taken that, so we need to
take that power back again.
(32:48):
And that's why even with you, Iwas like, why should I do a a
bachelor one when we are bothremarried?
SPEAKER_01 (32:54):
And that's the way it was with Podcast Alana events
uh shortly after COVID is like,hey, we can still do this
virtually because we all record,most of us record virtually
anyway.
But yeah, attendance really felloff because that was the appeal
of Podcast Alana, like, hey, weget to get out and and talk to
one another.
SPEAKER_02 (33:08):
Exactly.
So uh before I let you go, wellnot really let you go those
we're about to eat, but uh weare gonna pivot to this quick
segment where um nooverthinking, no corporate
approved answers, just straightshoot.
You ready?
Okay.
Alright.
Big biggest skip what you'vemade in your life that nobody
saw coming.
(33:31):
No overthinking.
SPEAKER_01 (33:34):
It's gonna be tough because anytime I yeah, I have
to think about these answers.
Probably the biggest pivot thatsome people cause I always have
people close to me then seesomething coming.
And a lot of times I I keep itquiet.
In fact, same with Podcast Lana,you know, the pivots that are
coming, not everybody knowsabout.
Uh there's there's there'salways a few few people that
that know.
So probably when I I left my mycorporate job 13 years ago at uh
(33:58):
at General Electric, you know,only a few people knew.
My uh my wife knew, myco-founder of the company knew,
uh, but a lot of the uh peopleat General Electric didn't know
until, you know, they uh theyI'm having a meeting with uh
with my manager and they werelike, Oh, you know, how's uh
how's your weekend?
How's your you I took a vacationfor a week?
I have and then they starttalking about the the next uh
(34:19):
the project.
I'm like, all right, before wego too much further, you know,
I'm leaving.
So I think that probably shook alot of people up.
SPEAKER_02 (34:25):
You're right.
What song defines your energyright now?
SPEAKER_01 (34:29):
Right now?
Why can't we be friends?
Based off this uh thisconversation that we're having,
especially the the Rockiesstart, and now as we're close
friends, why can't we befriends?
SPEAKER_02 (34:45):
Gross hack that actually works, but most people
overlook.
SPEAKER_01 (34:51):
Uh look adjacent to either your industry or your
actions, one or the other, notboth.
And I could go deeper on likethe whole Hubert strategy of of
how to pivot and where to pivot.
But for example, like forpodcasters, if podcasting is
your thing and it's about aparticular industry or a
particular niche, then followthat particular industry or that
(35:13):
particular niche wherepodcasting isn't, whether it's a
a newspaper or a trade show.
That's I I think that's a goodgrowth act.
And that's served me wellthroughout the years.
And then the flip side of thatis if you are entrenched in a
particular, you know, withpodcasting and then you want to
expand industries and bringpodcasting to it on what you do,
that's another way.
Don't do both, do one or theother.
unknown (35:35):
Okay.
SPEAKER_02 (35:35):
Uh, one podcast everybody should listen to
besides their own.
SPEAKER_01 (35:40):
Oh, and I've got a new show that's launching in
less than 24 hours.
I can't recommend that one.
All right.
I'll have to say uh thenewsworthy, Erica Mandy.
It's a it's a daily show, dailynews podcast.
It's about 10 minutes, maybe 13with ads, but I think everyone
should uh should listen to thatshow because it's less than the
(36:00):
time it takes me to take ashower and then I get the the
news of the day.
SPEAKER_02 (36:05):
No offense.
I have that.
I check it out even though Idon't like news, but we'll see.
So make sure you check out thenew podcast in town, Habitat,
Heart, Hammer and Home producedby Mark Dill and Pat Fanner of
Podcast Atlanta.
You can find it atpodcastalanta.com and all the
(36:29):
information you need to knowabout Mark at podcastalanta.com.
This new show just droppedFriday, October 3rd of 2025.
And we recorded this episode onThursday, October 2nd of 2025.
(36:50):
So yeah, go check it out, gogive it some love, go support
Habitat Heart, Hammer and Home.
Podcast produced by Mark Dilland Pat Ferner of Podcast
Atlanta.
So this is one word.
Just one word.
What feels like stretching.
(37:17):
I like that.
And stretching hurts.
SPEAKER_01 (37:20):
It hurts.
But it feels good afterwards,bro.
Going through all it is and thenafterwards you're like and you
have to make a consciousdecision to stretch, just like
you have to make a consciousdecision to to grow.
And to stretch properly, to growproperly, you have to really put
some thought behind it.
And then what's the purposebehind it?
(37:41):
What's the purpose behindstretching?
What's the purpose behindgrowth?
Hopefully you have a purpose.
SPEAKER_02 (37:45):
I love that.
SPEAKER_01 (37:50):
Exciting.
SPEAKER_02 (37:53):
Very much so.
Even though sometimes you'relike unsure, but it's always
exciting, just accepting a newproject, right?
SPEAKER_01 (38:01):
Sure.
I mean just like a haunted housecan be exciting.
It can be scary.
But it's exciting.
So yeah, I think the core ofthat is uh excitement, whether
it's positive or negativeexcitement.
And rebrand feels like I've onlyreally gone through a couple of
rebrands.
SPEAKER_02 (38:22):
How do that feel?
SPEAKER_01 (38:24):
I mean I've launched new brands while keeping other
ones there.
Rebranding feels shy.
I think any any time I'verebranded something, it uh I've
had a shy feeling about it.
SPEAKER_02 (38:37):
Me too.
I remember the first time Ichanged my logo of a shyness of
sharing it and seeing whatpeople might say, like, will
they like it?
We're really not, like how Ifeel about their reactions.
SPEAKER_01 (38:49):
Yeah, and that's kind of how it fell with the new
podcast of Lana logo.
I didn't really see it as arebrand, although it was the
first step in a new directionthat we're going.
It it was a little shy, like,hey everyone, what do you think
of this logo?
SPEAKER_02 (39:03):
And then waiting for that, the responses, right?
Because we always sayconstructive criticism is
important, but also you knowwhen I hear people tell you how
they don't like sheep andagenda, right?
You you need to know it in orderto do that.
What do you not like about it?
SPEAKER_01 (39:17):
I'm like, thank you for your opinion.
What do you not like about it?
And if it's if it's something II care about to change, would
change and we incorporate it,great.
If not, I say thank you for youropinion and move on.
SPEAKER_02 (39:27):
Exactly.
Now, as we were we're endingthis and we were just on the
podcast Atlanta, we havesomething coming up.
You want to share about that?
SPEAKER_01 (39:36):
Yeah, uh once again, we are hosting the folks at
Podfest as they do theirnational pod tour from city to
city to city.
They're coming back to Atlantaon October 16th.
And uh I'm I'm excited for that.
In fact, it was that very eventthat kind of kept Podcast
Atlanta going through the earlydays of COVID.
(39:56):
Uh, because I was burned out.
I think a lot of other peoplewere burned out, but Chris
Cremissos, I thank him for that.
He started the pod tour.
He's like, Atlanta's the firstcity we have to come to.
So I think the first year theydid two cities.
Atlanta was one.
It was a huge event, and nowthey they keep coming back.
SPEAKER_02 (40:13):
And then the second year they came twice.
We were the only city they didtwo times.
SPEAKER_01 (40:17):
Right, exactly.
And and this year I I put outthe call to uh to the email
list.
If you're not subscribed to theFODCAS Atlanta email newsletter,
you definitely should be becausenot only do we announce events
like this coming up, but youknow, freebies and giveaways and
discounts and things as theythey come across my lap.
So yeah, I want to keep Atlantanumber one, keep it the largest
(40:38):
staff on the pod tour.
SPEAKER_02 (40:39):
And Zaprian.
And we've been doing right byit.
And and I love that.
So that's gonna be October the16th from 6 p.m.
to 9 p.m.
And I believe it's happeningwhere we did our podcast again
swag event.
SPEAKER_01 (40:51):
Yes.
Yes, uh near little five points.
SPEAKER_02 (40:53):
In Swan Media, Incol Media.
SPEAKER_01 (40:56):
Incol Media?
That sounds like uh what's that?
SPEAKER_02 (40:59):
I swear! Maybe I'm just saying you're right.
SPEAKER_01 (41:06):
But you know, I'm sure Paula, you'll have a link
to where people can singdetails.
It's near little five points.
Yeah, uh it's a very convenientlocation.
They have ample free parking,which is is hard to come by in
in Atlanta.
SPEAKER_02 (41:21):
And on the event page, there's a map, like, hey,
here's here's the areas to useMartha, it's literally right
there as soon as you stop offthe matter station.
SPEAKER_01 (41:29):
Exactly, also close to a Markstone.
SPEAKER_02 (41:31):
It works out both ways.
Uh well Matt, thank you so muchfor hanging out with me.
One last quick question.
If you could title this episoderight now, like if you not not
this episode, sorry, if youwould title this episode based
on our friendship right now,what would the title of this
this friendship be?
SPEAKER_01 (41:52):
Progress.
SPEAKER_02 (41:55):
No, not one word.
I uh a podcast title.
SPEAKER_01 (42:00):
An episode title for this show.
For this friendship.
For this friendship.
SPEAKER_02 (42:05):
If it was a an episode of this friendship, what
would the pivots and progressand uh yeah that that's always
tough.
SPEAKER_01 (42:13):
I always have to listen to something in post and
then I come up with a good name.
SPEAKER_02 (42:17):
I mean you he you you know about our friendship.
It should be easy to come upwith an episode title of our
friendships.
People three branding strengthmove forward.
SPEAKER_01 (42:27):
I normally don't put labels on on friendships.
I just you know, I just enjoythe friendship.
SPEAKER_02 (42:31):
Well, I enjoy our friendship too.
Cheers and thank you for comingout to my side of the world.
SPEAKER_01 (42:37):
It was a pleasure to be here.
SPEAKER_02 (42:38):
Hey Atlanta, it's October, which means it's almost
time for Becoming Love Fest.
Becoming Love Fest is happeningright here in the city, October
18 and 19.
This is not just another event.
This is your chance to slowdown, pour back into yourself,
(43:00):
and remind yourself what itfeels like to be loved on.
Because let's be real, we allneed that, especially right now.
And guess what?
On October 19th, it's theIncredible Heart Awards where I
am honored to be nominated forthe Rising Star Award.
(43:20):
Yes, your girl made it.
So if you're in Atlanta, pullup, celebrate you and me, and
join our weekend of love,connection, and community.
Shout out to Tamara for givingme some free tickets to share
with y'all.
So go ahead to givebutter.comslash becoming lovefest and grab
(43:44):
your pass using the codeTOKSHAWIP.
By the way, this is our free bythe way, this is a free weekend
pass.
Yes, including the Hatterwards.
So go to givebutter.com slashbecoming lovefest.
I better see you there, AT.
Let's become love together andlet's celebrate love together.
(44:10):
Okay, listen up, y'all.
I'm about to give y'all a greatass tip, okay?
Y'all know I barely read my DMsand God don't get me started on
tracking my links.
But now I'm lucky organized.
And you wanna know why?
You wanna know what the secretis?
Stamp it social.
(44:31):
So Stamp It Social, it's like umif Instagram, Linktree, and your
favorite social media intern hada baby, but with boundaries and
vibes, lots of vibes.
You get a full dashboard thattracks what people are actually
clicking on.
Now, wouldn't you like to knowthat?
Like I do, and I enjoy it.
(44:51):
I've been obsessed with it.
Like, for once, I know whichpost major run to my link and
which ones have flopped harderthan my ex's mixtape.
Sorry.
Plus, here's a kicker.
Get this right?
There's a seven-day free trialbecause we don't do commitments
without a test drive, y'all.
(45:13):
And if you're feeling spicy, orshould I say extra spicy, use
code POLA20.
Yes, that's P-A-U-L-A 20 for 20%of a plan every month for life.
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So if you're a content creator,podcaster, or just tired of
(45:36):
shouting into the void, go checkout Stamped Social because your
content deserves better thanlinking bio with zero context.
Again, that's Paula20 P A U L A20.
Because I love you, but I loveorganized chaos even more.
Don't say I didn't tell you,don't say I didn't share, don't
(45:57):
say I didn't give you the goodgood.
Don't come back to mecomplaining because it's right
there.
Go on now.
Go get your seven-day free try.
Thank me later.
Thank you, Ship Talkers, fortuning in and spending your
valuable time with us.
We appreciate you.
To connect with us more, makesure you subscribe to our
(46:19):
newsletter and catch all theshit talking vibes before
anybody else.
You can subscribe to ournewsletter through our website
www.toxicwritp.com and on ourmerchandise website
www.toxicwifty.show.
And while you're there, feelfree to shop away.
(46:40):
Toxicrifty is available on allsocial media platforms with the
hand of Toxicrifty.
Follow us and engage with us.
Better yet, if you're feelinggenerous, give us a review on
Apple Podcasts and operate us onSpotify.
You can also share a beer withme with my beer lovers.
I mean, what better way tosupport the movement than
(47:03):
sharing a beer with me by buyingme a beer at buymeekoffee.com.
Thank you for listening,sharing, engaging, and support
in any way that you do.
Remember, new episodes are outevery Wednesday and for part
two, if any, on Fridays.
Let's talk and I'll listen tosome shit.
(47:25):
Happy TikTok.
Well, when we first got introduced, it was a little
bit of a rocky start.
I don't know if you remember.
You don't?
Okay, that's that that's great.
Because we we're the best offriends now.
But there was uh uh somebody whowas after you to coordinate the
events in Atlanta and I'm gonnaget it.
SPEAKER_00 (00:26):
Okay, I'm gonna get it.
(00:48):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (00:50):
Hi Mach.
How you doing?
SPEAKER_01 (00:52):
Hey, Paula, it has been a while.
SPEAKER_02 (00:55):
It really is, it really has a whole month.
SPEAKER_01 (01:00):
A whole month?
And I know you've been after meto talk on the record for a
while because we talk so muchoff the record and you keep
saying, Mock, I gotta get youon.
We gotta we gotta let the knowthe world know.
About Mark.
SPEAKER_02 (01:13):
I mean I mean we gotta let talk shit with people
know about Mark because I talk alot of shit with Mark on the
daily.
Not very daily, but daily.
So it was about time he came totalk some shit on talk shit with
P.
With talk shit with P.
My god, I'll I'll throw up withall Mog.
SPEAKER_01 (01:33):
Well, as a subscriber to your show myself,
I know you've been asking a lotof common questions because it
looks like she's done she's doneresearch, people.
She has written down questions.
I haven't seen these, and I'm alittle worried because she's not
flipping through.
That being said, my research islisten to the last few episodes.
So I listen to loyalty, I listento Gordon, I listen to Joe.
SPEAKER_02 (01:53):
I always say Portfress is giving me my
podcast community and I playedthrough Portface.
I got to make Mark and then whoMark ended giving me my Atlanta
podcast community.
So and when I say just like howthe Mobad Mopad boys take care
of me, Mark definitely takescare of me.
(02:15):
We're gonna get into that in abit, but um so I found something
very interesting when I wasdoing my research on you because
I know I don't research peopleuntil 30 minutes before inter
before interviewing them becauseI want it to be fresh in my mind
because I don't remember shit.
I remember shit I shouldn't beremembering and then the
(02:35):
important shit I don't remember.
So I found out that you are aconversational architect.
SPEAKER_01 (02:42):
And uh Wow, she has done some research.
SPEAKER_02 (02:47):
So to me it was like, what the f is that?
So I'm asking when you tellpeople that do they normally
know what you're talking about?
Or are they like me like lookingat your side and is like, Did
you just come up with that shit?
Like, you know, sometimes peoplemake their own titles.
SPEAKER_01 (03:04):
Sure, sure.
I came up with that to kind ofexpand upon the thing and people
ask, like, what do you do withpodcasting?
And I've always said I'm apodcast director, and I've been
a podcast director for nineyears.
And people ask, What is that?
What's a podcast director?
I'm like, Well, I hop on and Idirect the flow of conversation
between the the host and the theco-host and the guest, as it
were, and I listen for what thethe audience would be listening
(03:26):
to, as well as making edit notesfor the editors to to cut some
things, move some things around,and and really kind of follow
the flow with it.
So that's where I said, I'm I'ma conversational architect.
Or sometimes I say I'm aconversational data scientist.
SPEAKER_02 (03:40):
Data sound.
Will you be controlling thistons, directing this song?
SPEAKER_01 (03:45):
Oh, I don't want you to know what she has written on
this pad here.
SPEAKER_02 (03:52):
And I kept on trying to make sure I say architect
right, because I I have my mouthhas a different way with words.
And most of you, including Mark,sometimes they don't understand
what words I'm saying becauseagain my accent and the way I
talk, so I was like, architect,architect, I kept but as you
said, um podcast director, uhyou also uh engineer, a data
(04:17):
guy, all these amazing titles inin through your life, right?
So how did you just wake up onemorning and say, you know what?
I wanna run I wanna build thebiggest podcast meetup in the
world.
I'm gonna say that because I ampart of that, so we are claiming
the biggest in the world.
None of you like it is what itis.
(04:38):
So like walk me through thatpivot, like when did you know it
was time to create reluctantly.
SPEAKER_01 (04:46):
I'll say that w uh uh right off the bat,
reluctantly.
And people have heard it overthe couple years, because we've
been doing this almost ten yearsnow, that I'm so you know,
reluctant to do it.
And with you know, event leaderssuch as yourself come on and
really take the charge, it makesit easier for me, but I got
started reluctantly.
SPEAKER_02 (05:02):
There was a time I keep saying this what we like.
SPEAKER_01 (05:07):
Reluctantly.
Well, now see that you said ityou had me saying it yet.
It it started with there was uha co-founder of a big national
podcasting conference, and theywere coming to Atlanta, and they
reached out to me at anotherlocal Atlanta podcaster, they
wanted to host a meetup.
And that other podcaster wasbusy, wasn't available, and and
(05:27):
I had ideas on on what to how todo it.
And in April of 2016 or 2015,after to check the records, uh
we held our first event down atAtlantic Station, and people
loved it and like, oh, this isgreat.
When do we do this again?
This is before Podcast Atlantawas a thing.
(05:47):
And I remember saying, like, I'mall for it.
I just don't want to be the onethat organizes it.
Well, you know, a few months goby, nothing happens.
Like, well, I guess it's gonnabe me that organizes it.
And that's how it got started.
SPEAKER_02 (05:59):
And it still says that I'm not gonna be the one
organizing it, but if Yeah,yeah.
We'll be moving.
I love you, like check us out,like focus on lunch.
That's funny, that's home.
So you founded Podalunti in2016, and I believe the last
time it was 1,300 members,beeping and counting, you're
growing.
(06:19):
Growth like that doesn't happenovernight, and we know running a
community, building a community.
It takes a lot.
It takes a lot.
So what worked for you, right?
What flopped, what surprised youthe most doing this, building
this community, creating thiscommunity?
SPEAKER_01 (06:40):
Bribes.
So honestly, I'll start with uhbribes.
When we first did a few uh thefirst meetups, I think from the
first year or two, we had pizza,you know, free pizza at at all
the events.
This is back before we hadsponsors, before we had of
rowing, as basically me fundingpizzas.
Like, all right, you know, we'llhave pizzas, we'll have drinks,
and basically it was it wasbribery that got people to to
(07:02):
keep coming out month aftermonth.
And that's how it started.
Also, I specifically found alocation that was close and
convenient to me.
I live on the outskirts of MetroAtlanta, on the the border of
Marietta and Atlanta, on theMarietta side.
So I found uh a venue that wasclose and convenient for me,
because I knew if this wassomething that I was going to be
(07:22):
doing monthly, which I did toofor the first few years, it was
all me all monthly.
And we did meetups, we did uh orsocial tech meetups, we did
presentations and panels, andbasically it was me cording
everything.
It was a lot of work, but it wasthrough bribes of pizza and
drinks, as well as making itconvenient for me uh to get to
(07:43):
it, because I wouldn't have toget there early, set things up,
as well as stay late and breakthings down closer to home, uh
made things a little easier.
SPEAKER_02 (07:51):
Yeah, because if you're in Holland how things are
fall off in the traffic, yeah.
But I I I have to say the bribemakes sense because it still
bribes me, and you know it'svery easy to bribe me.
All you gotta have is say it.
SPEAKER_01 (08:08):
Beer Red Bull?
SPEAKER_02 (08:10):
But not beer.
SPEAKER_01 (08:10):
Oh, Budweiser.
I don't like saying Budweiser.
The horrible beer that Iappreciate that you drink it,
and also you you drink like thebiggest ones that they have.
I I don't even know if they sellthe grocery stores.
You gotta go into like the backof the gas station, like,
alright, I'll take some.
This is the Budweiser for ball.
Oh, I need several, so yes.
Budweiser horrible.
SPEAKER_02 (08:32):
I must say the highlight of portraits for me
this year was Mark um had hishis own room, the editor room,
where people I I don't know ifeverybody was allowed to go in
there with just editors.
SPEAKER_01 (08:46):
It was uh is the editor's lounge set up for
editors.
I guess really anybody could goin there.
SPEAKER_02 (08:50):
Somebody's an editor.
Did they have editors?
SPEAKER_01 (08:52):
Yeah, we had editors on the badge.
Thank you, Chris Cremosos, forsetting up the whole editor
track as well as designating notjust, oh, I'm an attendee, but
like, hey, I'm a creator, I'm aneditor, I'm a producer.
So he he really kind of took it.
SPEAKER_02 (09:04):
Yeah, which I love.
This podcast does different,right?
I think we had I I I love that.
So in his room, they had fridgeand he was like, I have bad ways
and red bull for you.
The other oh my god.
No, this is the Mopad boys,they'll just have beer.
They won't have bad ways for me,but they'll have beer.
The fact that he tookinitiative, even though he
doesn't like badways or evenbuying bad boys, but he did it
(09:28):
for me.
This is love over here.
SPEAKER_01 (09:31):
Yeah, but the Mopad guys, they had good beer.
You didn't drink so credit tothem.
SPEAKER_02 (09:36):
I mean, I still drink it.
SPEAKER_01 (09:37):
Yeah, there you go.
SPEAKER_02 (09:38):
And the good thing is they want to expand all you
on this side.
So when I take a beer, by thetime I reach that center, I get
stopped so many often by thetime I get there I'm done with
the beer.
So I take from that to come backto this.
It worked excellent.
What's one lesson from buildinga community that you wish every
(10:00):
podcaster knew before theystarted creating communities?
Because this is there's so manycommunities.
Everybody like wakes up andthey're like, you're in there
and you're like, is this evenreally a community of just
people in?
SPEAKER_01 (10:18):
Right.
Yeah, I did it.
I get it.
SPEAKER_02 (10:21):
But everything this is community.
And I'm saying this because I'vebeen around some and walked out
of some.
I'm just saying some You say onepoint.
SPEAKER_01 (10:33):
There's a couple that if I were to pick out the
top point, it would be torecognize that every community
member is they're at a pointthat's important for them and
their life.
That instant moment in time.
Whether it's on a on an upside,a downside, whether they're
launching a show, whetherthey're growing a show, whether
they're in the last season ofthe show and they're pivoting
(10:54):
and moving on to something else,everyone is in the most
important part of their lives inthat particular instance.
And all the people in thecommunity, they may not match up
with those points in theirlives.
And I find that as a communityleader, as a community
organizer, as a communityfacilitator, it's good to have
(11:16):
multiple avenues, conduits, waysin which that people can
interact with each other atwhatever their level happens to
be.
And maybe that's not at everyevent, but if if you're again
coordinating events like I do,but maybe uh certain events
specialize to people that arestarting, or people that are
growing, or people that areactively networking, or people
(11:38):
that are doing a production, orpeople that are are launching a
business, or people that are arepivoting their business, or
people that are branding orrebranding.
I think it's important to keepin mind that you need to have
something for everybody, but youcan't serve everybody all the
time.
It's it's important to let themknow that where they're at
matters and that you want tohelp and facilitate that through
(12:01):
your community, but you may haveto to come around to it.
So if that event isn't for them,maybe the next one is.
SPEAKER_02 (12:08):
I love that.
And I think that's one thing Ilove about Professor Rentables,
we try to involve our uh membersand ask them what type of events
they like, and we try to dodifferently.
Always the brewery always win.
Like of course now, but if wecould do them all the time in
the brewery, trust me, we would,but we want to make sure that we
do cater to everybody.
(12:29):
Um, so we we we sometimes do thevirtual, we sometimes have
speakers, we sometimes have, youknow, at studios where people
can get a look at the studiosthat are available for them.
So we try to do that, and that'swhat one thing I I like about
that.
And it never hurts when it'sfree pizza or beer, I'm just
saying.
I will go anyway as long asthere's beer.
(12:50):
And not so much for the pizza, Icouldn't care this.
But he does try to feed me.
He'll be like, Paula, you meanto eat your teacher?
SPEAKER_01 (12:56):
Whether there's food or not, I always make sure that
I feed Paula.
And for legal reasons, I can'tprovide alcohol at the events.
But also I will say normallythere is a cooler that's dragged
behind me.
I'm like, oh, did did I leavethat off in the corner?
SPEAKER_02 (13:09):
Somewhere.
Because Paula is noisy justgoing through shit, she just
make of tongues.
SPEAKER_01 (13:14):
Oh no, no, it's not just you, Paula, it's it's
others as well.
That's sometimes uh like a adrink or two to just you know
help, especially some of thesocial networking.
It's weird.
Podcasters were verbal people,we're conversational people, but
many of us, myself included, arereally outgoing people.
SPEAKER_02 (13:30):
Exactly.
SPEAKER_01 (13:31):
And sometimes people need different, uh, different
ways in order to to becomfortable.
SPEAKER_02 (13:35):
I've noticed that.
And and and I'm always shiftingthem like, but you all love to
talk, so talk.
I talk, and they're just lookingat me, saying that's how they
have me.
I just make people talk.
But um we with that growth thatyou have with Port Casavanta,
right?
Like the way it has been goingever since.
(13:56):
There's no standing still,right?
With a lot of girls like like mewith talk she weepy when growth
comes, eventually you have torebrand or pivot or or shift.
And as we recently had our new,you know, match and we we just
rebranded.
So what point or what like whatmoments do you wake up and say,
okay, today's the day to toswitch things up?
(14:18):
Like whenever you do them, likeis there something specific that
comes to mind?
Or you just wake up and be like,you know what?
I don't no longer like thisname, we're gonna change.
SPEAKER_01 (14:28):
Well, the podcast Atlanta name has a lot of
strength behind it.
Uh so I certainly wasn't gonnaget rid of that.
That being said, we coming up onour 10th year now, there will be
some shifts, there will be somechanges.
We are going to like lean on andcapitalize on the uh the network
and strength that we build.
And when I say capitalize, thisisn't so much you know like for
(14:48):
me, but more for Atlanta.
In fact, that was a big reasonwhy I started Podcast Atlanta,
because back then, nine, tenyears ago, when people thought
of podcasting, they thought oflike for New York City or LA,
Atlanta, even though we hadHouse Stuff Works and some of
the biggest podcasting networksin the nation here at Atlanta,
people really didn't think ofAtlanta that way.
And that was a big reason why,because I was working in
(15:09):
podcasting.
I wanted to put Atlanta on theon the map, as it were.
But as far as like when toshift, when to pivot, I find
that myself, and this is this isa negative on me personally,
I've been involved with a fewdistributed brands that were
kind of loosely connected,connected in mission, but not in
name and and not inorganization.
(15:32):
And uh that that's a lot of workfor for for nothing.
Uh not really for nothing, it'sa lot of work trying to swim
upstream, as it were.
And and now I realized, youknow, we can we can centralize
things, we can consolidate a lotof stuff and help a lot of
people out through PodcastAtlanta.
So we started that this yearwith, as you said, the
(15:54):
rebranding.
You know, we've got the the thenew logos, uh, the little logos
I love.
SPEAKER_02 (15:58):
And particularly the commun, like not the community
per se, but there were votes,there were votes for the path.
You did put a few out on uh, Ibelieve our community for people
to vote.
So the fact that it wasinvolving the community, he just
didn't make it by himself.
I love that.
SPEAKER_01 (16:14):
Oh yeah, I had a designer, but I'm not I'm not a
designer myself.
I tell people I'm notcolorblind, I'm just kind of
color apathetic.
I generally don't care.
It's one of these things I Iknow what I like when I see it,
but I really don't know how tocommunicate that effectively.
And that's what I told thedesigner before I hired them.
I'm like, I know what I like,but yeah, so to help with that,
(16:36):
like, oh, these are some goodfinal designs.
I knew what elements I wanted.
I wanted the Atlanta Cityskyline, of course, which we
always had.
Uh I put the king and queen inthere, which we didn't have
before on the north side ofAtlanta and stand out for uh to
us.
This particular view, you reallycan't see.
In fact, the king and the queenwhere they're at, like, but the
buildings, any Atlanta personcan look at the skyline and
(16:57):
recognize the buildings, andthen they're like, wait a
minute, these two buildings arenext to each other, like, yeah,
I know, but it looked good inthe low.
You'll recognize the buildings,but not the the skyline.
But yeah, I the communityresponse.
In fact, the uh in the peachwith the mic.
The peach with the mic, that wassomebody's idea because we had a
had a microphone, and somebodymentioned uh a peach, and then I
(17:18):
thought, oh, how do we do apeach with a with a microphone?
And there we go.
SPEAKER_02 (17:22):
I love that.
I love that.
And funny enough, you kind ofjumped a little bit on the
future, right?
So I wanted to ask.
SPEAKER_01 (17:29):
Almost like I jumped on purpose.
SPEAKER_02 (17:30):
I know, like it's like, did he really pick on my
nose?
No, I know because it's all theway down there, and you probably
can't read my handwriting.
But long game thinking, right?
Ten years from now, what doesthe legacy not only of Podcast
Atlanta but also of Magdie, theman himself, look like?
SPEAKER_01 (17:50):
Wow, in I'm 50 now, so in 10 years I'll be 60.
Oh yeah.
I plan to be fully retired bythen.
SPEAKER_02 (17:57):
You'll be visiting me in Europe with your family.
SPEAKER_01 (18:00):
Sure.
That that's all we'll be doing.
That's what we'll be doing.
SPEAKER_02 (18:04):
Yeah, it we'll be bringing Portal like, oh man, if
you're in Europe and you used toone time be podcaster than that
uh come and go.
SPEAKER_01 (18:12):
Wait.
But yeah, 10 years from now,that's something I've been uh
been thinking about because I dowant to be fully retired, you
know, at 60.
I I live a comfortable life asit is right now.
But you know, with 401ks beingable to pull out at 59 and a
half, I'm like, all right, at atthat point, why why are you
working beyond uh beyond 59 anda half years or 60 years?
(18:35):
So yeah, that's really not apodcasting thing.
That's a me personal thing.
Like, hey, I plan to be fullyfor me.
For podcast Atlanta.
For Podcast Atlanta, I hope ituh sticks around.
So we've been around for 10years, and hopefully at the end
of the the next 10 years, it'llbe uh a strong enough
organization with a lot ofvision and mission behind it and
(18:55):
strong people behind it that itwill continue on.
SPEAKER_02 (18:58):
So yeah, if you're in a land bringing your your
your kids, the youngergeneration, because we are
eventually gonna be retiring andmoving.
So we need the youngergeneration to keep it moving and
keep bringing younger andyounger.
I feel like that's the only wayto keep going.
SPEAKER_01 (19:16):
But um well, also that and podcasting itself has
evolved.
So I've been podcasting for 13years now, and Podcast Atlanta
is nine and a half years old.
I've been professionallypodcasting for about nine and a
half years around the time Istarted Podcast Atlanta because
it was my job and I wanted tokind of hang out and and chat
(19:36):
with people that are alsopodcasting, whether it was their
job or maybe it was a hobby.
And uh yeah, I wanted to have uhuh a strong thing to to be able
to lean on.
Where was I going with that?
I'm sorry, I totally lostmyself.
SPEAKER_02 (19:53):
When we're talking about the young idea to bring
the young idea.
SPEAKER_01 (19:56):
Right, yeah.
So the the definition, thankyou.
The definition of podcasting haschanged because before it was,
and I guess technically still isuh a media file, typically
audio, syndicated on the RSSfeed.
Nowadays, when you talk topeople about podcasts, oh back
then you had to educate peoplewhat a podcast was.
Now people think of podcastinglike, oh yeah, I love watching
my favorite podcast on YouTube.
SPEAKER_02 (20:17):
Which technically I sometimes in a smug bill, I'm
like, no, that's YouTube, and itis mini.
And I right if you're watchingit, it's not a podcast.
I'm sorry, you that's a talkshow, that's whatever.
I'm sorry, a podcast.
I need to listen.
Like you're watching, just sayyou're watching a talk show.
SPEAKER_01 (20:31):
Well, they had audio podcast or uh video podcasts,
but they were still syndicated,so you can subscribe on
anything.
And that's the great thing aboutpodcasting.
It's open RSS fee.
There's no one company that canthat can shut it down.
They can have distributionplatforms like Apple Podcasts
and Spotify and and a lot of theother ones, but you know, it's
not any one company that thatowns it.
(20:51):
Like YouTube is is owned byGoogle and YouTube.
If they want to shut it down,they shut it down and you have
nothing to but that being said,I think podcasting, the idea and
the definition is uh shouldevolve because as consumers, as
listeners, as content consumers,they they listen to podcasts,
they they watch Instagram reels,they watch long form and now
(21:14):
more short-term content on onYouTube.
And I think that that podcastingneeds to uh meets to encompass
and incorporate all that.
Before it used to be like, oh,it's it's us, and then there's a
podcasters, and then there's aYouTubers, but now that it's
been kind of merging, and I'mjust now acknowledging that
myself because so a lot of thestuff I do now, as we're doing
(21:36):
with this show, is with video,and you have the video content.
Well, why not put the video outthere?
So I uh although myself isevolving and hope to be retired
in in 10 years, uh, I thinkPodcast Atlanta hopefully will
be around.
But the the idea and the conceptof the podcast, as it continues
(21:56):
to evolve, I hope that podcastAtlanta evolves with it.
SPEAKER_02 (22:00):
Rabba, so you may I have two two questions that I
want to dig in for what you say.
Sure.
One, you have been podcastingfor you save nine and a half
years.
SPEAKER_01 (22:10):
Uh professionally, uh but podcasting for like 13.
SPEAKER_02 (22:13):
Okay, there you go 13.
So what's the biggest uh shiftor jump you have seen?
Because you come from them dayswhere some of us never know what
the fuck to now where even whenI started in 2020, people were
getting excited when they yeah,I have a podcast, but now you
meet almost everybody has apodcast, right?
So what's the biggest shift youhave seen as a person?
(22:37):
And I I and let's scratch video,I'm tired of hearing personal.
SPEAKER_01 (22:41):
Yeah.
Uh well to set the stage, when Istarted podcasting, the domestic
ad spend was$75 million a year.
$75 million.
That's it.
Now the domestic ad spend isprojected to be$2.4 billion next
year.
So podcasting has like growntremendously.
So although I have grown andpodcast Atlanta has grown, we
haven't grown nearly as fast asthe entire industry has.
(23:12):
Although we've put I do feel thepodcast Atlanta has put Atlanta
on the map with uh withpodcasting.
When people think of what arethe biggest cities for
podcasting, they think ofAtlanta.
And I I like to think that uh wehad a large part of that.
But yeah, it's uh it's it'sgrown.
It's grown a lot.
The biggest thing is now I don'thave to tell people that aren't
podcasting how to listen to it.
If I say, Oh, there's a podcast,they're like, Oh, what's it
(23:34):
called?
And they look it up.
Yeah, back in the day, you hadto say, show me your phone.
See, there's an app on herecalled Call Podcast.
Back in the day there was iTunesand yeah, it was just and and
things have shifted and haveshifted uh since 2020, some of
the different mergers andchanges and rebrandings and and
things like that.
So that was a big thing is I nolonger have to tell people what
(23:56):
a podcast is or how to get it orconsume it.
Uh now the big shift is how doyou want to be different?
Because back in the day it usedto be, oh, just have an
interview, just have aconversation, maybe a solo show.
But now it's how are you gonnabe different?
How are you gonna stand up?
SPEAKER_02 (24:12):
So true.
And um I love that.
Rap shit with P is more thanjust a name, it's what we do.
We make visions come alive frombranding and match to curated
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We help creatives,entrepreneurs, and businesses
show up bigger, bolder, andbetter.
(24:34):
So if you're ready to level upyour vision, connect with us on
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(24:57):
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Rap Sheetwith P where accessmeets energy, where passion
meets execution, and where everydetail gets wrapped with love
and excitement.
So here's to season 10, thefinal season of talk showp.
(25:20):
And my other question that Iwanted to dig in on the stuff
you say is you retiring in 10years, so retirement for
everybody looks different,right?
Sure.
So what's your retirement plan?
Like just to to hang out or totravel or just be Yeah, um, my
wife wants to travel a lot, so Iwant to to travel with my wife.
SPEAKER_01 (25:45):
Exactly.
I'm not much of a traveler, butI I've told her that yes, I I
will travel with you.
And now I've been traveling alittle bit more and more just to
be able to travel with her.
But she's also kind of come downon the definition, like, all
right, lane travel means we, youknow, we travel one week a month
and and maybe like one month ayear, but doesn't mean we need
(26:07):
to be traveling constantly.
Like, okay, I can uh I can getbehind that.
I like being home.
SPEAKER_02 (26:13):
But I feel like w once that one month a year, I I
would check in in ten years, butbecause I feel like once you
really start traveling, youkinda get to enjoy, especially
when you are retired, right?
So you have no responsibilities.
Right now, being home soundsright because there's so much
going on, like being a father,being a husband, you gotta be
present, you'll work,everything.
SPEAKER_01 (26:34):
So home seems much fun than traveling, but I feel
like when you have nothing,yeah, well, it might not be
sure, but there's there'shobbies and activities and
friends, and you don't reallydon't get a lot of that if
you're constantly traveling.
Like I play a lot of tennis, andif I was constantly traveling,
uh I wouldn't really get to playtennis with all my friends.
SPEAKER_02 (26:54):
You didn't get into the paddle.
Is it what one pickleball?
SPEAKER_01 (26:57):
No, no.
SPEAKER_02 (26:59):
I tried it.
SPEAKER_01 (27:00):
Okay.
Mark this as explicit becauseshe just used the P word.
I injured my knee 13 months ago,and somebody mentioned that
we're like, no, I'm I'mrehabbing.
I I'm not uh I'm not playingthat.
SPEAKER_02 (27:12):
That is J.
If you want it, shall I tell himthis pickleball?
That's why we're shop forPicoba.
But I tried it for the firsttime in podcast movement.
Only because I wanted to to takethe hi-hat paddle, not because I
wanted to play a side.
Like I did one round and then Iwas like, okay, bye, I got my
pad.
SPEAKER_01 (27:30):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (27:31):
Now that uh we have all this amazing stuff in
Podcast Atlanta.
We we do have an event comingup, but before we get to the
event coming up, you say you'vebeen catching up on my episode,
so this is why I bring the mostfamous question.
Uh he haven't done quite awhile.
I really can't pinpoint exactlyhow long, like when exactly we
(27:53):
really connected.
I just know have known him.
Maybe he knows, I don't know,because he was missing, so maybe
he better go here, but uh whatwas your first impression of me?
And I'm curious if you rememberthat.
I I really want to know whenthat was.
And now that you have reallygotten to know me, and your
impression of me now.
SPEAKER_01 (28:12):
Well, when we first got introduced, it was a little
bit of a rocky start.
I don't know if you remember.
We don't?
Okay, that that's great.
Because we we're the best offriends now, but there was uh uh
somebody who was after you tocoordinate events in Atlanta,
and here I am running PodcastAtlanta.
You were kind of coming onto thescene around COVID, and I was
honestly, I was kind ofwithdrawing into myself and in
(28:34):
the community because we everyevery month we would have like a
hundred people show up, and thenCOVID hit.
Uh, and that really, you know,knocked the the legs out of a
podcast Atlanta.
And and I remember trying tocoordinate with you, your emails
kept shifting.
Remember, I kept emailing you,and you were telling somebody
like I'm not, you know, Markisn't getting back to me, Mark
isn't getting back to me.
And I had to pull up the email.
(28:55):
I was like, Paula, I haveemailed you here, here, here,
here, here.
And you're like, Oh, my my emailhas changed.
And and since I've known you,you had four different emails.
SPEAKER_02 (29:05):
I do.
And my dad has said I've shiftedfrom back in the days.
I used to have phone numbers,especially when I was in UK,
people hated it.
I would change numbers every twobecause it was easier to change
phone numbers than here.
You can go online and get a newnumber here.
You have to register it,whatever, pay for the sync.
You can you get free sync cards.
Like, I would change my number.
My dad would be like, look forthe house for one, two, three,
(29:26):
four.
Like, what?
I don't know.
I don't know what's wrong withme.
I'm trying, I'm growing, I'mgrowing, okay?
Structure with PS may get, butsometimes when I don't pay my
good board driving, it itcancels, then I'm like, since I
hate emails, let it stay likethat for a while.
SPEAKER_01 (29:44):
No, so that's uh that was my first impression
when we were trying to to worktogether.
Like, how do I how do I talk toyou?
How do we coordinate?
And it was uh it it was achallenge.
But but since then I I reallycome to lean on you uh because
you are the outgoing person.
And I and I'm not.
And folks that that know me andand know me well and the the the
(30:05):
various properties that I run,usually I'm like a wizard of oz.
I'm like the man behind thecurtain that's pulling the
letters and things.
Uh you may not see me on stage,but a lot of the stuff that
happens, whether it is an actualstage, whether it is a physical
event, or it's a particular showor a podcast, or even some of
the uh the membership sites thatwe run in the podcasting
(30:26):
community.
I I'm generally like you know,the the the guy behind the
scenes, you know, pulling thelevers and and everything.
But it's important for peoplelike me to have somebody like
you who loves being around allthe different people and and you
find comfort in that.
For me, it it drains me very,very quickly.
So that's how we had a rockystart.
(30:48):
But you know, we've we workedwell together, and I know your
strengths.
Hopefully you know myweaknesses, and because of that,
I think we you work really welltogether.
SPEAKER_02 (30:56):
We do.
That's why I'm I I still show upand I still come around and I
get excited when I see.
And he's right when he says hehe's behind the sink, and that's
why it was very important for meto have him on my season 10, as
uh people need to know howimportant you also are in my in
my life and in my walk and in mypodcasting journey.
(31:19):
Uh thank you for being a friend.
Thank you for just always beingthere.
Like I can talk shit, I can cry,I can and you just let me be.
I appreciate that.
SPEAKER_01 (31:30):
Certainly.
And I appreciate you and I Iappreciate you letting me into
your life and dealing with someof my social quirks and I love
them.
SPEAKER_02 (31:39):
And I mean I get to be there in front of them.
But I I still always just pullpeople like whenever people
like, oh you need to meet meetMax.
I keep on just learning and say,Oh yeah, here we go.
But yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (31:51):
And I used to be great, you know, doing these
events for nearly 10 years.
I used to be great at the thecoordination, then getting in
front of everybody, and thengetting people to meet one
another, and then getting folkstogether for the pictures.
And and now a lot of times I Iforget those things.
SPEAKER_02 (32:05):
I think it's COVID, right?
I think a lot of things changedduring COVID.
Even right now, I was hangingout with one of my friends,
Walter, who lives in Atlanta andonly keep meeting each other in
conferences.
And last week he just invited meout to just meet his fiancee and
just like eat and chill, likenot in a conference or 'cause it
was like you remember beforeCOVID, we used to do a lot of
this, like just going out andhanging out with your friends
(32:27):
and being around people.
But then COVID came and I thinkbecause we we had to get used to
the batch of light and then wegot comfortable because now
nobody really wants to leavetheir house unless it's money
involved or something to really,you know.
Everything is like it's actuallybecause we're so used to being
in the comfort of our realm thatit has taken that, so we need to
take that power back again.
(32:48):
And that's why even with you, Iwas like, why should I do a a
bachelor one when we are bothremarried?
SPEAKER_01 (32:54):
And that's the way it was with Podcast Alana events
uh shortly after COVID is like,hey, we can still do this
virtually because we all record,most of us record virtually
anyway.
But yeah, attendance really felloff because that was the appeal
of Podcast Alana, like, hey, weget to get out and and talk to
one another.
SPEAKER_02 (33:08):
Exactly.
So uh before I let you go, wellnot really let you go those
we're about to eat, but uh weare gonna pivot to this quick
segment where um nooverthinking, no corporate
approved answers, just straightshoot.
You ready?
Okay.
Alright.
Big biggest skip what you'vemade in your life that nobody
saw coming.
(33:31):
No overthinking.
SPEAKER_01 (33:34):
It's gonna be tough because anytime I yeah, I have
to think about these answers.
Probably the biggest pivot thatsome people cause I always have
people close to me then seesomething coming.
And a lot of times I I keep itquiet.
In fact, same with Podcast Lana,you know, the pivots that are
coming, not everybody knowsabout.
Uh there's there's there'salways a few few people that
that know.
So probably when I I left my mycorporate job 13 years ago at uh
(33:58):
at General Electric, you know,only a few people knew.
My uh my wife knew, myco-founder of the company knew,
uh, but a lot of the uh peopleat General Electric didn't know
until, you know, they uh theyI'm having a meeting with uh
with my manager and they werelike, Oh, you know, how's uh
how's your weekend?
How's your you I took a vacationfor a week?
I have and then they starttalking about the the next uh
(34:19):
the project.
I'm like, all right, before wego too much further, you know,
I'm leaving.
So I think that probably shook alot of people up.
SPEAKER_02 (34:25):
You're right.
What song defines your energyright now?
SPEAKER_01 (34:29):
Right now?
Why can't we be friends?
Based off this uh thisconversation that we're having,
especially the the Rockiesstart, and now as we're close
friends, why can't we befriends?
SPEAKER_02 (34:45):
Gross hack that actually works, but most people
overlook.
SPEAKER_01 (34:51):
Uh look adjacent to either your industry or your
actions, one or the other, notboth.
And I could go deeper on likethe whole Hubert strategy of of
how to pivot and where to pivot.
But for example, like forpodcasters, if podcasting is
your thing and it's about aparticular industry or a
particular niche, then followthat particular industry or that
(35:13):
particular niche wherepodcasting isn't, whether it's a
a newspaper or a trade show.
That's I I think that's a goodgrowth act.
And that's served me wellthroughout the years.
And then the flip side of thatis if you are entrenched in a
particular, you know, withpodcasting and then you want to
expand industries and bringpodcasting to it on what you do,
that's another way.
Don't do both, do one or theother.
unknown (35:35):
Okay.
SPEAKER_02 (35:35):
Uh, one podcast everybody should listen to
besides their own.
SPEAKER_01 (35:40):
Oh, and I've got a new show that's launching in
less than 24 hours.
I can't recommend that one.
All right.
I'll have to say uh thenewsworthy, Erica Mandy.
It's a it's a daily show, dailynews podcast.
It's about 10 minutes, maybe 13with ads, but I think everyone
should uh should listen to thatshow because it's less than the
(36:00):
time it takes me to take ashower and then I get the the
news of the day.
SPEAKER_02 (36:05):
No offense.
I have that.
I check it out even though Idon't like news, but we'll see.
So make sure you check out thenew podcast in town, Habitat,
Heart, Hammer and Home producedby Mark Dill and Pat Fanner of
Podcast Atlanta.
You can find it atpodcastalanta.com and all the
(36:29):
information you need to knowabout Mark at podcastalanta.com.
This new show just droppedFriday, October 3rd of 2025.
And we recorded this episode onThursday, October 2nd of 2025.
(36:50):
So yeah, go check it out, gogive it some love, go support
Habitat Heart, Hammer and Home.
Podcast produced by Mark Dilland Pat Ferner of Podcast
Atlanta.
So this is one word.
Just one word.
What feels like stretching.
(37:17):
I like that.
And stretching hurts.
SPEAKER_01 (37:20):
It hurts.
But it feels good afterwards,bro.
Going through all it is and thenafterwards you're like and you
have to make a consciousdecision to stretch, just like
you have to make a consciousdecision to to grow.
And to stretch properly, to growproperly, you have to really put
some thought behind it.
And then what's the purposebehind it?
(37:41):
What's the purpose behindstretching?
What's the purpose behindgrowth?
Hopefully you have a purpose.
SPEAKER_02 (37:45):
I love that.
SPEAKER_01 (37:50):
Exciting.
SPEAKER_02 (37:53):
Very much so.
Even though sometimes you'relike unsure, but it's always
exciting, just accepting a newproject, right?
SPEAKER_01 (38:01):
Sure.
I mean just like a haunted housecan be exciting.
It can be scary.
But it's exciting.
So yeah, I think the core ofthat is uh excitement, whether
it's positive or negativeexcitement.
And rebrand feels like I've onlyreally gone through a couple of
rebrands.
SPEAKER_02 (38:22):
How do that feel?
SPEAKER_01 (38:24):
I mean I've launched new brands while keeping other
ones there.
Rebranding feels shy.
I think any any time I'verebranded something, it uh I've
had a shy feeling about it.
SPEAKER_02 (38:37):
Me too.
I remember the first time Ichanged my logo of a shyness of
sharing it and seeing whatpeople might say, like, will
they like it?
We're really not, like how Ifeel about their reactions.
SPEAKER_01 (38:49):
Yeah, and that's kind of how it fell with the new
podcast of Lana logo.
I didn't really see it as arebrand, although it was the
first step in a new directionthat we're going.
It it was a little shy, like,hey everyone, what do you think
of this logo?
SPEAKER_02 (39:03):
And then waiting for that, the responses, right?
Because we always sayconstructive criticism is
important, but also you knowwhen I hear people tell you how
they don't like sheep andagenda, right?
You you need to know it in orderto do that.
What do you not like about it?
SPEAKER_01 (39:17):
I'm like, thank you for your opinion.
What do you not like about it?
And if it's if it's something II care about to change, would
change and we incorporate it,great.
If not, I say thank you for youropinion and move on.
SPEAKER_02 (39:27):
Exactly.
Now, as we were we're endingthis and we were just on the
podcast Atlanta, we havesomething coming up.
You want to share about that?
SPEAKER_01 (39:36):
Yeah, uh once again, we are hosting the folks at
Podfest as they do theirnational pod tour from city to
city to city.
They're coming back to Atlantaon October 16th.
And uh I'm I'm excited for that.
In fact, it was that very eventthat kind of kept Podcast
Atlanta going through the earlydays of COVID.
(39:56):
Uh, because I was burned out.
I think a lot of other peoplewere burned out, but Chris
Cremissos, I thank him for that.
He started the pod tour.
He's like, Atlanta's the firstcity we have to come to.
So I think the first year theydid two cities.
Atlanta was one.
It was a huge event, and nowthey they keep coming back.
SPEAKER_02 (40:13):
And then the second year they came twice.
We were the only city they didtwo times.
SPEAKER_01 (40:17):
Right, exactly.
And and this year I I put outthe call to uh to the email
list.
If you're not subscribed to theFODCAS Atlanta email newsletter,
you definitely should be becausenot only do we announce events
like this coming up, but youknow, freebies and giveaways and
discounts and things as theythey come across my lap.
So yeah, I want to keep Atlantanumber one, keep it the largest
(40:38):
staff on the pod tour.
SPEAKER_02 (40:39):
And Zaprian.
And we've been doing right byit.
And and I love that.
So that's gonna be October the16th from 6 p.m.
to 9 p.m.
And I believe it's happeningwhere we did our podcast again
swag event.
SPEAKER_01 (40:51):
Yes.
Yes, uh near little five points.
SPEAKER_02 (40:53):
In Swan Media, Incol Media.
SPEAKER_01 (40:56):
Incol Media?
That sounds like uh what's that?
SPEAKER_02 (40:59):
I swear! Maybe I'm just saying you're right.
SPEAKER_01 (41:06):
But you know, I'm sure Paula, you'll have a link
to where people can singdetails.
It's near little five points.
Yeah, uh it's a very convenientlocation.
They have ample free parking,which is is hard to come by in
in Atlanta.
SPEAKER_02 (41:21):
And on the event page, there's a map, like, hey,
here's here's the areas to useMartha, it's literally right
there as soon as you stop offthe matter station.
SPEAKER_01 (41:29):
Exactly, also close to a Markstone.
SPEAKER_02 (41:31):
It works out both ways.
Uh well Matt, thank you so muchfor hanging out with me.
One last quick question.
If you could title this episoderight now, like if you not not
this episode, sorry, if youwould title this episode based
on our friendship right now,what would the title of this
this friendship be?
SPEAKER_01 (41:52):
Progress.
SPEAKER_02 (41:55):
No, not one word.
I uh a podcast title.
SPEAKER_01 (42:00):
An episode title for this show.
For this friendship.
For this friendship.
SPEAKER_02 (42:05):
If it was a an episode of this friendship, what
would the pivots and progressand uh yeah that that's always
tough.
SPEAKER_01 (42:13):
I always have to listen to something in post and
then I come up with a good name.
SPEAKER_02 (42:17):
I mean you he you you know about our friendship.
It should be easy to come upwith an episode title of our
friendships.
People three branding strengthmove forward.
SPEAKER_01 (42:27):
I normally don't put labels on on friendships.
I just you know, I just enjoythe friendship.
SPEAKER_02 (42:31):
Well, I enjoy our friendship too.
Cheers and thank you for comingout to my side of the world.
SPEAKER_01 (42:37):
It was a pleasure to be here.
SPEAKER_02 (42:38):
Hey Atlanta, it's October, which means it's almost
time for Becoming Love Fest.
Becoming Love Fest is happeningright here in the city, October
18 and 19.
This is not just another event.
This is your chance to slowdown, pour back into yourself,
(43:00):
and remind yourself what itfeels like to be loved on.
Because let's be real, we allneed that, especially right now.
And guess what?
On October 19th, it's theIncredible Heart Awards where I
am honored to be nominated forthe Rising Star Award.
(43:20):
Yes, your girl made it.
So if you're in Atlanta, pullup, celebrate you and me, and
join our weekend of love,connection, and community.
Shout out to Tamara for givingme some free tickets to share
with y'all.
So go ahead to givebutter.comslash becoming lovefest and grab
(43:44):
your pass using the codeTOKSHAWIP.
By the way, this is our free bythe way, this is a free weekend
pass.
Yes, including the Hatterwards.
So go to givebutter.com slashbecoming lovefest.
I better see you there, AT.
Let's become love together andlet's celebrate love together.
(44:10):
Okay, listen up, y'all.
I'm about to give y'all a greatass tip, okay?
Y'all know I barely read my DMsand God don't get me started on
tracking my links.
But now I'm lucky organized.
And you wanna know why?
You wanna know what the secretis?
Stamp it social.
(44:31):
So Stamp It Social, it's like umif Instagram, Linktree, and your
favorite social media intern hada baby, but with boundaries and
vibes, lots of vibes.
You get a full dashboard thattracks what people are actually
clicking on.
Now, wouldn't you like to knowthat?
Like I do, and I enjoy it.
(44:51):
I've been obsessed with it.
Like, for once, I know whichpost major run to my link and
which ones have flopped harderthan my ex's mixtape.
Sorry.
Plus, here's a kicker.
Get this right?
There's a seven-day free trialbecause we don't do commitments
without a test drive, y'all.
(45:13):
And if you're feeling spicy, orshould I say extra spicy, use
code POLA20.
Yes, that's P-A-U-L-A 20 for 20%of a plan every month for life.
Yes, forever, ever, ever, ever,forever, ever, ever.
So if you're a content creator,podcaster, or just tired of
(45:36):
shouting into the void, go checkout Stamped Social because your
content deserves better thanlinking bio with zero context.
Again, that's Paula20 P A U L A20.
Because I love you, but I loveorganized chaos even more.
Don't say I didn't tell you,don't say I didn't share, don't
(45:57):
say I didn't give you the goodgood.
Don't come back to mecomplaining because it's right
there.
Go on now.
Go get your seven-day free try.
Thank me later.
Thank you, Ship Talkers, fortuning in and spending your
valuable time with us.
We appreciate you.
To connect with us more, makesure you subscribe to our
(46:19):
newsletter and catch all theshit talking vibes before
anybody else.
You can subscribe to ournewsletter through our website
www.toxicwritp.com and on ourmerchandise website
www.toxicwifty.show.
And while you're there, feelfree to shop away.
(46:40):
Toxicrifty is available on allsocial media platforms with the
hand of Toxicrifty.
Follow us and engage with us.
Better yet, if you're feelinggenerous, give us a review on
Apple Podcasts and operate us onSpotify.
You can also share a beer withme with my beer lovers.
I mean, what better way tosupport the movement than
(47:03):
sharing a beer with me by buyingme a beer at buymeekoffee.com.
Thank you for listening,sharing, engaging, and support
in any way that you do.
Remember, new episodes are outevery Wednesday and for part
two, if any, on Fridays.
Let's talk and I'll listen tosome shit.
(47:25):
Happy TikTok.
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