This series is all about libsyn’s podcasters. Its sole purpose is to introduce these awesome podcasts to the world as well as share their podcasting insight to empower the community!
Q & A with Dan from Based On A True Story
When did you start podcasting?
My first podcast launched in March of 2015. That show ended a little less than a year later, and the first episode of my current podcast came out on April 2nd, 2016.
Why did you start podcasting?
I got into podcasting when I ran the content marketing team for an e-learning company and one of the guys on my team had the idea to start a podcast to complement our blog.
He and I co-hosted that podcast for about a year until the entire office was shut down by our corporate headquarters. By the time that happened, I had caught the podcasting bug so once I found a new job I decided to launch my current podcast.
What’s the name of your show and what is it about?
My podcast is called Based on a True Story and I compare movies and TV shows with history. In fact, I’m honored to have won the History category in the Podcast Awards this year.
When I started Based on a True Story, it was a solo narrative podcast. That was primarily because I did the podcast during my free time outside of a full-time job so I often had to research, write and record my show in the early morning hours when no guest would be available to chat.
When that job came to an end, I decided to go full-time with the podcast. That made it easier to schedule interviews with historical experts during the day.
So, for a couple years now my podcast has shifted away from a solo narrative show to an interview podcast.
What’s your podcasting set-up?
Like many podcasters, my set-up has changed over the years so I’m sure it will change in the future as well. This is my current set-up.
My mic is an sE Electronics V7 on a Rode PSA1 arm. I run that through a Cloudlifter into a Zoom R16. Honestly, an R16 is overkill for my purposes but I managed to get a used one really cheap. The R16 is plugged into an inexpensive desktop computer. Since recording audio doesn’t need a powerful computer, I went to Best Buy to find something on clearance. This lets me have a computer for only recording to make sure no settings change between recordings.
For my interviews, I record my end into Reaper. Some of my guests have a set-up that allows them to record their side locally. Most of them do not, so for a majority of interviews I use SquadCast. I also use a mix-minus set-up through the R16 to record a lower quality version of the guest’s audio in a separate track in Reaper locally. So far, SquadCast has been solid so I’ve never had to use that yet but it never hurts to have a backup.
After recording, I use Reaper for the core of my editing. I also use iZotope RX Standard for cleanup, iZotope’s Nectar and Ozone as well as Adobe Audition for final LUFS mastering. That is done either on my 2017 MacBook Pro or on my primary PC, which is a custom configuration from CyberPowerPC.
For storage, I use a Synopsys NAS. That allows me to access the files across the recording and editing computers and I use Backblaze to ensure everything is backed up.
My podcast is hosted using LibsynPro. I used a different podcast host for my first podcast and am so glad to have shifted to Libsyn for Based on a True Story! For the first few years,
I used Libsyn and then switched to LibsynPro once I went full-time with the podcast so I could use dynamic ads. I also have the podcast website at basedonatruestorypodcast.com. That’s a custom-built WordPress theme using Elementor.
Here are some other things I use for the podcast behind the scenes:
- Word and OneNote are used to write and research the show
- Photoshop and Illustrator are used to create and edit images and graphics
- After Effects and Premiere are used to create videos as needed (e.g., for YouTube)
- Otter.ai is used to build the transcripts
How have you promoted your podcast?
Over the years, I’ve promoted the podcast using a range of different methods: Paid ads on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. TikTok videos. Press releases to local media outlets.
Each has had some success, but the most consistent success through good SEO on the show’s website.
What do you know now that you wish you knew when you started?
It’s cliché to say quality over quantity, but it’s so true. I think probably the biggest thing is how easy it is to think it’s all about creating content when it’s about creating great content.
- Creating a great podcast takes a lot of time.
- Creating great YouTube videos takes a lot of time.
- Creating great TikTok videos and Instagram reels takes a lot of time.
With so many different platforms, it’s easy to spread yourself too thin. I’ve learned how to say “no” to creating content if that means lowering the quality of what gets created on other platforms. Not everyone can make great content on every platform out there, and that’s okay.
Based On A True Story, compares the Hollywood version to what actually happened. If you pick up your phone the second you see a movie is based on a true story you need to start listening to Dan LeFebvre’s podcast immediately..available on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Based on a True Story was not the first podcast for Dan LeFebvre but it led him here. He is now a full time podcaster with passion. All he had to do is talk about his favorite subjects..Hollywood and true stories that take center stage in the news.
What are your favorite things to talk about? Do you know enough that you want to share your knowledge through a podcast? Don’t know where to start?
We can help with our Start Your Podcast blog series. If you are ready, we have the best podcast hosting plans around!
