Anyone interested in creating a new podcast should get their hands on Marco Timpano’s new book, 25 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started My Podcast. It will quickly become their compass. With clear language, an inviting tone and a systematic structure, Timpano shares the many insights he has gleaned – and the mistakes that sometimes led to them – from producing four popular and acclaimed podcasts.
At a compact 99 pages that are organized according to the titular “25 things”, the book is a compendium of practical tips with no fluff. It was the unexpected result of Timpano’s natural inclination to help people. The success of his podcasts had spurred a flurry of requests for advice. It began with friends. Then people he didn’t know were reaching out to ask him questions or wanting to “pick his brain” on podcasting. Each call lasted on average 60 minutes or more. And with every conversation, Timpano found that he was repeating himself and saying, “here’s something I wish I knew before I started…”.
The response was enthusiastically positive. Grateful callers sent him messages of thanks for giving them the insight they couldn’t find elsewhere. Eventually, the volume and length of these phone calls caught the attention of his wife, actor Amanda Barker. So, too, did his graciousness in sharing knowledge that he had accrued through his trial-and-error experience. As a podcast producer herself, she recognized the value of his time and knowledge, and counselled not giving it away without any return. At her behest, Timpano ended the phone meetings, a decision that was endorsed by a futile meeting that he looks back on as the last straw: “I felt like I had wasted my time because the person didn’t want to hear about my experience, but rather wanted me to validate her idea.” That call pushed him from saying,”That’s it!” to crafting a document. His initial thought was that the next time he got another request for advice, he would send the document to the person, rather than take time out of his day to talk through an idea for a podcast. Soon, that document turned into a full-blown book.
Although the book contains plenty of technical advice – about topics like checking audio levels, soundproofing studios, editing and analytics – it is presented within the context of personal stories, which makes it a fun, as well as informative, read. Fans of Timpano’s podcasts will enjoy learning how The Insomnia Project, Eat and Drink, and Every Place Is the Same were born, and how they were developed into the finished products they love. Timpano composed during the first three months of the COVID-19 pandemic, writing the first draft in March, editing it for 2 months, then publishing in the first week of June.
Timpano affirms that the book is ideal for anyone who is starting a podcast and needs that “encouraging word, that they can do it; that they should not fear the unknown in the podcasting landscape, that they can do it. Anyone who needs a very approachable, non-technical, gentle push into podcasting”. In my estimation, he has more than achieved his aim. An aspiring podcaster can read the book from start to finish to gain the equivalent of the 60-minute phone meeting. Meanwhile, a seasoned podcaster can browse it selectively according to their particular needs. With four podcasts under his belt and more in the works, Timpano knows what he is talking about.
Perhaps the most engaging element of 25 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started My Podcast is the reader-narrator relationship which Timpano establishes by providing moral, as well as practical, support. He encourages different ways of thinking about podcasting by emphasizing the need for flexibility and personal well-being; the importance of balancing work, family and podcasting schedules; and dealing with imposter syndrome and self-doubt (to which he gives the memorable moniker “kraken”). His reassurances will resonate widely – and not just in the world of podcasting, given the uncertain time we are living through. Above all, Timpano’s genial narrative tone channels the friendly phone conversations that spurred the book. He seems less the ultimate podcasting authority than the encouraging mentor who is invested in his reader’s success. His tips are plenty authoritative, but Timpano skilfully avoids any off-putting, “I know best” officiousness or trace of snark. If Timpano was aiming for the book equivalent of a distanced coffee chat, he has succeeded.
And those who would like to pair tips from the book with more direct support can register for a virtual workshop on podcasting that Timpano is offering on November 14 and 21 through the Quebec Writers Federation (QWF). The Essentials of Starting Your Own Podcast is open to all, and offers a valuable opportunity to learn from this dynamic and motivational facilitator.
To be candid, even if you don’t aspire to podcasting, 25 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started My Podcast is a great read. It entertains while reinforcing the importance of self-belief. And it suggests ways to venture forth with confidence and conviction – all while keeping that pesky kraken at bay. If it happens to bring out the hidden podcaster in us, all the better!
© Arpita Ghosal, SesayArts Magazine, 2020
