Rockin’ Libsyn Podcasts: Physical Attraction

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 Thomas from Physical Attraction


When did you start podcasting?

I started podcasting in Summer 2017, first with a history show called Autocracy Now!, and then with my main podcast – Physical Attraction. I’ve been going for two years, produced over a hundred episodes, and there are still so many things I want to write about and say!

Why did you start podcasting?

I was (and still am) a huge fan of podcasts – they were my constant companion, and there were several that I listened to semi-religiously.

Mike Duncan’s History of Rome and Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History were examples.

I felt like they had created some of the most informative, most entertaining content in the world – better than a lot of what’s on TV or the radio – and they’d done it alone and given it away for free.

I loved researching new topics and often found myself practically writing up – pieces, articles, scripts for something that didn’t exist. At some point, I realised that there was nothing stopping me from having my own podcast: I started, and I’ve not looked back.

What’s the name of your show and what is it about?

My main show is called Physical Attraction and it’s about – well, nominally physics, but really science, technology, and the future more generally.

The original idea was to explain physics to ordinary people: I’d just finished a physics degree at Oxford, and I felt like I could share some of the wonderful and fascinating things I’d discovered about how the Universe worked with as wide a possible audience.

Explaining these things to people always filled me with more enthusiasm for the subject, and tested my own knowledge and understanding, so I couldn’t think of a much better idea for a show.

Over time, we expanded – moving beyond physics, and beyond scripted episodes. We’ve interviewed experts on artificial intelligence, climate change, nuclear war, nuclear fusion – even love and sex with robots!

The interviews are by far my favourite part of producing the show, even more than the research: people are so generous with their time, and when a conversation clicks and I get caught up with how fascinating the person’s research or point of view is, there’s a heady feeling: “we are making good content.”

I only wish I could do more interviews, but they require a great deal of research and usually buying and reading someone’s book!

What’s your podcasting set-up? Hardware, software, CMS, etc.

Audacity is all I’ve ever needed for software, and Blue Snowball mic.

It’s pretty basic, but I feel like you can waste thousands of dollars on equipment and forget to make a good show.

How have you promoted your podcast?

It turns out that Facebook and Twitter advertising are effectively useless – the only thing that’s really helpful is hitting podcast listeners where they live… listening to other podcasts!

So I try for cross-promotion and occasional ad spots in podcasts that are close in theme to my own. If anyone reading this hosts a geeky, sciencey show and would be interested in cross-promotion, you know where to find me!

What do you know now that you wish you knew when you started?

Podcasting will be immensely fun, extraordinarily challenging, and well worth the time that you put into it. You’re going to benefit most from building a network of people to talk to, interview, and cross-promote with – so get to work doing that!


Interested in physics? Or anything to do with science, technology and the future? Than you must subscribe to Physical Attraction


And if you’re super into podcasts and think it’s time for you to start your own, we’ve got your back! We have amazing podcast hosting plans and in case you are starting from scratch we’ve got awesome podcasting education. You can start your podcast by attending our Podcasting Quickstart. It’s free and every month!

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Use code “creator” for up to 2 months free when you start podcasting or move to Libsyn.

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