When I first stepped up to the microphone 20 years ago, the podcasting landscape looked completely different. There were no sleek platforms, no automated workflows, and very few roadmaps for building an independent media hub.
In 2008, I launched All Things Transformers. That single show sparked the foundation for what would officially become the GeekCast Radio Network (GCRN) in June 2009. Today, 17 years into the network’s run, that initial spark has grown into a 38-show pop-culture ecosystem built on independent web infrastructure, hands-on tech solutions, and a strong community of creators.
I was recently featured as a guest on Greg Wasserman’s show, Podcast Network Insights (presented by Stories & Strategies). Greg interviewed me for a candid, behind-the-scenes conversation about what it truly takes to build, scale, and sustain an independent podcast network over nearly two decades.
What We Covered in the Episode
During the interview, we jumped into the real grit of network operations—the parts that go far beyond just hitting “record”:
- Owning Your Hub vs. Renting Space: Why relying solely on third-party platforms is a risk, and why building an owned website/hub is essential for longevity and community control.
- From 1 Show to 38: How starting with All Things Transformers in 2008 grew into GCRN, keeping culture fit, contributor relationships, and creative autonomy at the forefront.
- Custom Tech & Infrastructure: Waiting for technology to catch up (and building custom website/plugin solutions when it didn’t).
- Network Foundations: Managing RSS feeds, legal protections, copyright considerations, video evolution, and network rebrands.
“A network earns its value through collaboration and shared identity, not by serving as another hosting directory.”
Listen to the Episode
Catch the full interview below, or stream it on your platform of choice via Pod.link.
Key Timestamp Highlights:
- 03:06 – Founding the GeekCast Radio Network & early evolution
- 11:15 – The strategy behind Top 100 countdowns
- 19:48 – Evaluating collaboration opportunities & culture fit
- 27:01 – Tech evolution: Waiting (and building) for tech to catch up
- 37:14 – Deciding network website structure & owning your audience
- 40:25 – Shifting into video & executing network rebrands
- 47:56 – Managing podcast payments, logistics, and autonomy
Huge thanks to Greg Wasserman and the team at Stories & Strategies for having me on the show! You can check out the episode below.
🎧 Listen: https://pod.link/1884442998/episode/OWU1OWUzOTQtY2I3Yi00ODkyLTg3MjgtNjQxYzUzNTdkMzgw
