I’ve been an avid podcast listener since around 2007 or 2008. Prior to that, and even during the initial days of wandering the wonderful world of iTunes, I found myself drawn to the wonderful world of amplitude modulation aka AM radio.

Note –  Amplitude Modulation should be the name of CD. ‘Tis way too good not to be on a jewel case. 

One of my earliest memories of AM Radio talk shows involves tuning in to Loveline with Adam Carolla and Dr. Drew during my middle school years. Don’t judge me – I was a catholic schoool boy looking for some thrills who stumbled upon the Jerry Springer of radioland. I can still picture myself lying in shock, on the floor, beside my parents’ old GE wood grain radio with the unmistakable red-numbered display lighting up my face like warning. Loveline was one hell of a saucy show. 

When I hit high school, I upgraded from the saucy Loveline to WGN, where I enjoyed shows like Steve and Johnny, Nick at Night, and classic radio broadcasts such as Inner Sanctum and The Twilight Zone with Stacy Keach. Somewhere along the line, I stumbled upon the captivating Coast to Coast AM show hosted by George Noory who talked about the supernatural, demonic possession, alien abductions – you know all the good stuff that midnight radio had to offer. Coast to Coast was so freaking  spine-chilling I would yank  the closet light on when I was listening to the show. Yeah – I was a fraidy cat, sue me!

Post high school is when I finally sought out these things called Podcasts. I don’t recall why exactly but I believe it was because I had purchased my own computer ( Macbook ). It came with Itunes so I’m thinking it was the discovery of Itunes that led me through the door of internet radio. The earliest self-discovered Pod I stumbled upon was a  Pokémon-themed podcast – something along the lines of “Goldenrod Radio” or “Lavender Tower” (my trusty old MacBook with iTunes still survives, though its battery port is trashed so I can’t confirm the title). Though I had tapped out of the Pokemon world already I still enjoyed listening to the the hosts discuss what was happening. But honestly I think that lasted for like two nights before I moved on. 

I’m grateful for that Poke-cast because it led me to the greatest fandom podcast of all time, Rebel Force Radio,” hosted by Jimmy and Jason who started with The Force Cast but broke away and created the magnum opus of all nerd podcasts RFR – a show that I still listen to this day. 

My all time favorite episode is when they covered the midnight release of the new Force Awakens figures. They did this coast-to-coast live experience where various friends of the show would dial in to literally narrate as they walked through the toy aisles. To this day that episode is so freaking awesome, hilarous, and truly made me feel apart of something big.

Jimmy Mac even recorded his Toys R’ Us experience – which is awesome since Toys is all but a memory.

Rebel Force Radio gave me a home to park the daily grind of life. The show gave me a safe place when the chips were down. It also gave me a way to fully immerse myself in Star Wars fandom. It still does!

Hooked on the awesome quality of RFR I sought out more fan podcasts. My quest led me to the dynamite podcast “Fatman on Batman” hosted by Kevin Smith. This marked a pivotal turning point for me, opening doors to the world of comics and introducing me to the Kevin Smith culture. Despite me not being fully exposed to Kevin Smith, this podcast and his gift a gab had me hooked. Seriously, Smith has this crazy supernatural gift of talking about anything and making said topic the most interesting thing on the planet.

The early episodes of Fatman on Batman, in particular, are true gems housing some of the most remarkable interviews with key Batman players like Neal Adams, Grant Morrison, Paul Dini, and Mark Hamill, and Kevin Conroy, and Adam West to name just a few titans of The Dark Knight.

The creative nuggets and “inside the cowl” histories was the real reason why I ate up each episode like a fatman eating a batman cake ( I tried ). The most eye-popping episode, for me, was when he had Grant Morrison on. Morrison is a Scottish comic book writer who, hold on to your butts, was abducted by aliens which led him to creating The Invisibles comic. Grant is a genius. A man who clearly has experienced something beyond the realm of reason. He’s absolutely fascinating. Also, his insights on Batman are just so freaking nuts and fresh he makes a casual fan go full on.

The only downside to those old episodes is that you have to dig around to find them. Smith started some sort of fan club which requires you to pay for access. He’s always been a business man so that doesn’t bother me. However, it makes it harder for someone to discover them.

Throughout my college years and beyond, I delved into Jeff Goldsmith’s Q&A – formerly known as “Backstory,” if memory serves me right. I’d always dream about being on his show. Interestingly, a multitude of writers featured on the show shared this very same dream. The invaluable insights shared by Goldsmith helped me during the gold age of my screenwriting days. It’s hard to pinpoint the best episode but I can recommend the JJ Abrams Super 8 interview. What’s cool is Super 8 predates Stranger Things by like a decade.

“Horror Movie Podcast” was yet another pop culture podcast in my repertoire. It provided a welcome escape during challenging times when I was immersed in construction work and under the threat of death, crime, and other shady happenings. Listening to Wolfman Josh and Jason Pyles passionately discuss both contemporary and classic horror movies allowed me to momentarily escape reality. Regrettably, their eventual parting of ways was a painful moment for a devoted fan like me.

I recently went back to their website and it’s horrible. Almost impossible to find the OG episodes. I loved my time with HMP – they inspired me to want to do my own podcast, which happened not long after with my best friend.

As my twenties rolled around, I gravitated towards podcasts like Tim Ferriss, Jocko Willink, and “Entrepreneur on Fire.” Facing a onslaught of real life experiences, I found myself hungry for self-improvement.

Those days scared the living crap out of me. I knew, in the end, that if I didn’t seek a way out of my swamp of a life I would drown. Going back to school wasn’t an option so I sought out podcasts that could give me cold hard life hacks. It worked. These life saving Pods played a profound role in transforming my life for the better.

It was Ferris’s episodes with Tony Robbins, EOF interviews with E-Commerce pros, and Jocko’s episode with Tim Ferris that really woke me up.

Now, having crossed the threshold into my mid-thirties (gulp), my phase of extensive podcast exploration has largely settled. However, a handful of recently discovered podcasts have earned a special place in my heart during this new chapter – “Word on Fire” by Bishop Barron, “Pints with Aquinas,” “Godsplaining” and Friars of the Renewal. All four are Catholic podcasts that deeply delve into matters of life and the Catholic faith. They’ve played an instrumental role in my spiritual growth and reconnection with my faith. If I didn’t have them I’d be as dry as bag o’ bones.

If you’re curious at all about the subject matter I would highly suggest starting off with the big 185 which talks a lot of myths about the faith:

Now, I need to take a step back to the world of pop culture and fandom. I must reserve a section for the newest podcast I found called “Robservations.” This podcast is responsible for ushering in a fresh era of comic book appreciation in my life – my very own Modern Age, if you will. Hosted by Rob Liefeld, the creative genius behind much of what we cherish in comics, the show offers an explosive blend of hidden comic history and Liefeld’s unparalleled insights into pop culture. His enthusiasm has inspired me to unapologetically enjoy myself while writing and creating things such as this lackluster website.

It’s hard to say what the best episode is beceause they are all jammed with geek-tastic content. But, if you put a lightsaber to my throat, I would have to say his Untold Tales of Image Comics and Swords & Sorcery episode are the tops for me.

I listen to Robservations almost daily while I work. I super grateful for his podcast becausee it really did help me get back into comics and creativity. I appreciate and understand art now. I understand what it takes. It’s hit me so hard that I’m even working on a small comic book idea with an artist from Brazil. Now that is what I call an influencer!

In the end all I’m trying to point out is that podcasts  can be essential tools for personal development rather than just something to listen to. They provide an avenue for folks like us to delve deeper into our passions – be it the content itself or the creative process that fuels it. Hell, it doesn’t even have to be about nerd culture.

My personal experiences demonstrate that during periods when I sought greater spiritual connection, Catholic podcasts filled that need. When life had me at my lowest, podcasts like “Fatman on Batman” and “Rebel Force Radio” provided a weekly lifeline to something meaningful. When I was lost in my 20’s shows like Jocko and Tim Ferris helped me grow up.

The bottom line is listen to something YOU like. This seemingly minor detail holds true in real life, which remains impartial to our bullshit; it’s only people who pass judgment. So, dear friends, I encourage you to seek out new shows or rekindle your passion for old favorites. Their is a wealth of knowledge, discovery, and geek-worthy content awaiting us all. Go on a quest and conquer it all! And if you’re inclined, don’t hesitate to connect with me on Twitter or here to discuss the podcasts you hold dear. I love sharing. I love hearing about interesting finds. Keep me posted!

Until our next encounter, my dear friends, I wish you days filled with beauty, blessings, and boundless joy!