Three Lessons From My Podcast Adventure
Three Lessons From My Podcast Adventure
Identified, my new podcast about family, debuted on May 23. Now, just one short summer later, we've aired 20 episodes. That wraps up Season 1, but don’t worry—we’ll be back in 2025 with Season 2, which is already in the works with some amazing guests recorded.
If you haven’t tuned in yet, some of my favorite episodes include: actor Ione Skye sharing the story of meeting her father, Donovan, for the first time at 18; guitar-playing brothers Hermanos Gutiérrez reflecting on how it felt to make music together for the first time; and comedian Reggie Watts on navigating his family’s move to Montana and finding his place among the "weird kids."
I spent three-and-a-half years working on my book, and now it’s a permanent fixture out in the world—unchanging, and I’m happy with that. This podcast, on the other hand, evolves every week, and in that exciting, yet strange way, it’s never quite finished. In the most positive way, I’ve casually told my friends that I hope these are the worst 20 episodes. Every episode is a learning experience, offering insights for the next one.
Here are three things I learned while making Identified:
I don’t need to talk as much. In my first few interviews, I was preoccupied with a list of questions I was afraid I’d forget. But I quickly realized that anyone willing to sit down with me and talk about family already has something meaningful to share. My job is simply to make them comfortable enough to say it. In some of my favorite episodes, I barely exist, and that’s a good thing.
In-person interviews are essential. At first, I resisted when my producer, Kieron, insisted on recording every episode in person, with my guest and me in the same room. Turns out, he was right. The level of intimacy we achieved wouldn’t have been possible over a screen. Some interviews left me physically and emotionally drained—in the best way.
Mac McCaughan, Ione Skye, Nabihah Iqbal (with the host notably wearing green), Olia Hercules, Sara Kramer and Sarah Hymanson, Sinkane I need more non-black shirts. Though Identified isn’t a video podcast, we filmed each episode for social media clips. While the focus is on my guests, when the camera turns to me, I’m inevitably wearing a black button-down shirt. It’s my uniform (the off-camera version is a black T-shirt), but after seeing myself in the same shirt—well, not the same, I own many—17 out of 20 times, I realized it might be time to mix things up in Season 2.
Huge thanks to my producer, Kieron Banerji, who recorded and edited all of these episodes. Although he’s due for a break, he’s just launched his own excellent new podcast, The Hardest Part, where he talks to musicians about the most difficult song they’ve ever written.
Speaking of friends doing cool shit, my longtime Seattle pal Chase Jarvis has just published his second book, Never Play It Safe. Despite the title, it’s not about riding a CitiBike without a helmet or betting everything on black in Vegas—it’s about creativity, a subject on which I consider Chase an expert. I’ve appeared on his Chase Jarvis LIVE podcast, and you’ll soon hear Chase on Season 2 of Identified.
I thought I was done with book events, but I couldn’t resist when the National-inspired Sad Dads Book Club invited me to Fairfield, CT, for an event at one of my favorite spots: a record store. It’s happening tomorrow—Sunday, Oct 13—at Vinyl Street Co. at 1pm. It’s free, and there’s also a Zoom option if you want to tune in. More info HERE.
All 20 episodes of Identified Season 1 are live now. Episode one is with Karen Ayers, a living descendant of the man who enslaved my paternal ancestors. After that, it’s a rapidly growing list of musicians, comedians, authors, chefs and friends talking about family. Identified is available on all major podcast platforms, 100% free and ad-free. You can watch short video clips on YouTube and Instagram. Watch for Season 2 in 2025.
I hope you’ll give Identified a listen and share it with others who might enjoy it.
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My memoir is called My Life in the Sunshine. You can order it here, or listen to the audiobook on Spotify.
I hope to see you somewhere soon. Upcoming events are always listed here.
Nabil Ayers / Brooklyn