Okay, I briefly mentioned on my last show that some changes are coming to this podcast. I’ve always been envious of shows that had loads of listener content. It’s wonderful the way you never know who you’re gonna hear from on Quirky Nomads and it’s cool to hear conversations on the Keith and The Girl forums turn into the bulk of material for a whole episode. Wichita Rutherford is genius for the way he incorporates the listeners in his “secret word” element of each wonderful show.

Spreading Out

I put up a page when creating this website to ask folks to help me by doing their own interviews. I understand that’s asking a lot. But I have received some feedback saying this show is worthwhile and folks enjoy the interviews. Well, to be honest, I think I’m running out of material and the future of FirstPersonShow.net is now largely in the hands of listeners and other podcasters. I’ve contacted a handful of podcasters to try and sell the idea of some more people contributing FirstPerson interviews.

Sitting down for at least thirty minutes (I find an hour is ideal) to listen to someone might be incompatible to many of the portable media generation, but if I didn’t think the stories and information was worthwhile, I wouldn’t have done this podcast for a year. Plenty of people benefit when someone does an interview for this podcast:

The interviewee. We all thrive when we’re valued. We all walk a little taller when people take interest in us. There’s a very strong message that is communicated when someone bothers to sit down with you and spend some quality time asking and listening about your life, your family, your adventurous summers as a child, your wild stories from those old college days or even things that you learned from your grandparent or father.

the interviewee’s family. I hope you don’t find it morbid, but I think death is just part of existence–like life. Don’t be upset, but our parents aren’t always going to be around to tell us these stories of our uncle Jerry or aunt Edith. If you have any brothers or sisters.. If you have any children or neices or nephews… Then the odds are good that someone is gonna grow up someday who can appreciate hearing one of their ancestors talk about life a number of generations ago. Many of us have home movie footage of parties or vacations. We have photos of birthdays and stuff. But how many have in our family archive a collection of stories or memories or even just some quirky little mannerisms to remember our loved-ones by?

The interviewer. It’s rewarding to have these conversations. You might learn something (I always do). If you interview someone a bit older than yourself, then you have to slow down. That alone is worthwhile in the world where we’re always busy busy busy. This whole thing of listening to someone and showing them that their life is interesting and important is a good thing to do, and I think the karma will come back to you for it.

Format Ideas

I do have a few interviews that I’m still hoping to do. My wife’s school teacher from many years ago, my wife’s closest surviving relative (Auntie Toby). Still, I don’t know how I’ll be able to squeeze out another years’ worth of interviews. Someone very wisely said that for a podcast to work both the listener and the podcaster has to get something out of the process. It’s hard to explain, but I feel I’m not searching for that elusive something that the interview is likely to give me anymore.

Another change would be for me to tell stories. That’s pretty scary as I don’t see myself as a naturally gifted storyteller. But I’ll keep thinking about it and maybe there are a few stories that I like enough to risk recording and podcasting them.

Sure I could carry on with the music, I’m still enjoying finding and sharing great indie artists and unknown songs. Sometimes I hit a dry spot… but never for too long. But this podcast is called FirstPerson because it’s primarily about the interviewee. It’s not meant to be about me or the comedy or primarily even the tunes. I don’t want to just do another music podcast (there are plenty of them already).

I don’t like giving up and dropping things. So I really need to find a way to change the Interview element of this show. Can you help?

more incentives?