S4 E39: Tony Doe on The Responsibility of Trust in Life & Podcasting

So if you're listening to a podcast field or misinformation, there, like two or three other podcasts to counter you with, to counter that bit of information with straight off facts, and then leave you as a listener to come to terms with what you want. I think what what's important here is to understand why people actually decide to invest in certain people and put their money in them. And then it's up to you up to you as an individual to decide whether or not it's something you agree with.

This week, I'm talking with Tony Doe, host of the Tony Doe Podcast, a show about people from different radio backgrounds who share the radio stories and the mediums, present and future. Tony, welcome to Podcast Stories. How about you tell us about yourself and your podcast?

And I find it interesting that you're taking it from an angle of bringing radio people onto a podcast, because rightly or wrong, some people see radio and podcast and computing mediums as opposed to complimentary mediums. And you mentioned your production. You really wanted to concentrate on your production, which you can tell when you listen to the show. It's a very well produced podcast. So kudos to that. Speaking of radio, one of your early episodes back in October last year, you spoke with you said something I loved, and it really stuck with me. Yes. And that radio was a sole medium because it was all about the quality of the content and the value you get, which I feel ties really well with podcast and what podcasters are bringing. And I'm wondering how closely you working on both sides and the people you speak to, how close the line do you feel radio and podcasting is?

Here's what's interesting. I'm still a radio person, but I'm more active in podcasting. And I did mention something a little earlier that before I produced the Tornado Podcast, I was able to create podcast platforms to help people who wanted to get into radio. Now, for a lot of talent down here, the opportunities are not as much. You'd have to do auditions or you'd have to go down to radio stations. But I found that a lot of people had more to say than what they could say in a two minute demo tape. And I was like, you know what? If you could build your capacity or your brand or your personality doing a podcast, you could probably pivot into radio. And then again, I'm coming from radio into podcasting. Some of my colleagues are doing the same thing as well pipe button into podcasting as well. So it's an audio medium. It's so powerful that I think the only real distinction between podcasting and radio would be regulation. At least where I'm from, with podcasting, you can go on for as long as you want. With radio, you probably have to hit the 20 minutes Mark before the next bit of commercial comes in. And then, of course, people who like to cross there are so many things you can do with podcasting that you can't do on radio, but there are so many qualities in podcasting that if you get them right, it could prepare you for radio if that's what you want to do. One of the things I'm enjoying about podcasting right now is the fact that it's personal. We used to say this was what radio was. The whole idea was to speak to somebody a separate person was across from you. Over time, I've been listening to a lot of radio presenters speak as if they were talking to arenas or talking to massive crowds. And a lot of that personality has been missing. And you find that now in podcasting. So in the interviews, you notice I asked everyone what they felt about podcasting as well, and everybody had an opinion about it. But for me, it's a solid platform for building radio talent, but it's also a fantastic platform for driving issues and talking about things that you really can't talk about on regulated media.

On that same episode, it's a really good episode. I encourage anybody to listen to it. Utah also mentioned that he wants to see podcasts get to your point where they compete with radio or commercials, commercials. And I'm looking at some of the mega deals in podcasting with, like, Spotify buying X and Wondery and everything, and there's a lot of mega deals and mega advertising. And I'm wondering, do you feel like this is geared more towards the big name and big company podcasters, or can indie podcasters reap the same kind of success?

I think this year so many things happen. A lot happened between last year and this year. And I'm like you're starting all over again, and the excitement is still brimming excited about podcasting this year.

Now the episode with Rex We refresh was a really interesting one because one of the topics he talked about was importance. And this kind of goes back to your point about the regulations. It was about the importance of the kind of information or misinformation being shared on the radio and the responsibility broadcasters have to their listeners. And I'm wondering, do you feel there needs to be something like that in podcasting thinking? The recent Joe Rogan controversy that everybody's got an opinion on? Obviously.

It'S a bit of a Gray area because any kneejerk reaction could tilt towards the very thing we're avoiding with radio. I think we've reached a point where podcast listeners are smart enough to know when they are being misinformed. I'd like to take that for granted. I'd like to take it for granted that if somebody comes on a podcast and tells me things that do not make sense or sound like lies, I have an option to go check and verify. And I really like how the podcasting community works in the same vein. So if you're listening to a podcast field or misinformation, there are like two or three other podcasts to counter that bit of information with straight off facts and then leave you as a listener to come to terms with what you want. I think what's important here is to understand why people actually decide to invest in certain people and put their money in them. And then it's up to you, up to you as an individual to decide whether or not it's something you agree with. Spotify is a commercial machine, and it's not too different from state owned establishments or advertising agencies who want certain bits of their products running on air. They've invested a lot of money in what Joe Rogan represents. They can't say they are not aware of his position or the type of content he has. They invested in the fact that he has numbers, and they wanted their money to multiply along those numbers. That being said, he's taking responsibility for what he's said wrong or the things that he's been accused of having said wrong. And unfortunately, it's spiraling into other things as well that he probably shouldn't have said or done. But we need to be careful with this. It's important, of course, that just because I have a podcast, it doesn't mean I have to fool you or deceive you. I owe you, the listener, the responsibility of trust. It's the very essence of why I'm creating what I'm creating for you. I want you to trust me. I want you to believe me. And if it turns out that I'm lying to you, then I probably deserve everything that comes to me. Commercial companies who decide to invest in big name podcasts and even upcoming podcasters should be very clear about why they are doing these things. I'm not act shocked later on when it looks like it's backing up on them, so it's a Gray area, but it's something that can be handled even before it gets out of hand, really. And they can decide that, okay, we're part of this because we're spending money on you, or we're part of this because we believe the values you're bringing and then defend along those lines. But if we say that we should start censoring podcasters now, it defeats the essence of having the podcasting platform in the first place.

I left the previous job and I headed into another job. I think at that point I was born out from doing radio work. I had done a lot of work on radio. A lot of it was behind the scenes, and I was making a transition, really, into management from being a producer on a talent. But I was born out and I needed to rest, but I didn't want to be forgotten too quickly. So I wanted a situation where I could still make myself available even if it wasn't on radio. So I've done quite a number of podcast related content. Even at the time, I wasn't really doing the finest podcast, but I was running a lot of audio shows on different platforms just to keep myself active. And then I discovered that what I was doing was podcasting when I started meeting other people who were doing the same thing as well. So it was a transition for me. And at that point, I was kind of tired of working for people. So I thought, okay, if I could do a podcast or do these shows, then I could do them on my own terms. And if I needed to get back on radio, then maybe I could up my terms and be Howard Stern kind of person down here.

That really was you mentioned at the start of the episode that you're based in Lagos, Nigeria. And I'm curious what's the industry like there's.

Now, as mentioned at the start, the podcast was launched in August last year. You just wrapped up season one with season two coming out soon. And I'm curious what other goals are for the future of the show.

For season two, I'm hoping to speak to more female broadcasters, especially female Nigerian broadcasters. Their experiences are relatively different from the experiences that most male broadcasters have. And I'm talking to a younger set of radio broadcasters, those whose experiences are marginally different from my own experiences when I came into radio. So I'm looking forward to sharing your experiences and then comparing them with the experiences I had and then understanding how different our audiences are currently and then ways to move forward. But before even season two drops, I'll be spending some time talking to some people who I hope can actually support what I'm doing with this. I'm hoping to actually make the podcast sort of like an educational reference point for people coming into radio broadcasting, those who are studying it in College. So you have like a front row view to what it's really like being on radio, listening to those who are actually on the job beyond what you get in a classroom, and then what's limited to your short term internships. So I'll be speaking to individuals. I'll be speaking to institutions. I'll be reaching out for sponsors as well so that I can make season two a lot bigger than what season one was. Season one wasn't bad, and season one is still running in the sense that I'm gaining new listeners every day because I'm still promoting and then looking for other ways to repurpose the content. I didn't have a lot of time to transcribe because the language itself, there are portions of some of those interviews where you have to look for the appropriate way to put it in English, because it's not exactly in English. So I'm working on that as well. I'm repurposing a lot of what I did with season one before season two watches. By the time season two comes, it's more established, and then those who really need to hear these stories would already have access to it. And so it will be a lot easier for them to just continue listening and enjoying the content.

That's cool. That sounds a little tied back to what you talked about earlier, where you're helping younger people get into podcasts and Stoke radio. So it sounds like you'll tie and circle back real and ice with what you're currently doing.

Yeah, so that's what it is. I actually work with a team of broadcasters who run a professional certification for radio broadcasters. It's called the Broadcast Radio Master Class, and I usually take the podcast classes. And based on reports, my classes are usually the most exciting at the end of the day because I'm more or less telling them they have the power in their hands to become tomorrow's radio stars, and all they have to do is pick up their phones and start recording. What I try to do with those classes is actually pulling all the resources that they would probably have spread out for them on radio. For instance, if you had to go on air, you probably just focus on being a presenter. But with podcasting, you're probably going to think to yourself, wouldn't it make sense if I could edit my own show until you're picking up production skills as well? So I try to give them that much power to become their own producers, their own presenters, their own marketers, their own show promoters, their own script writers. And by the time they're getting into radio, they're probably exceptional assets will probably get into management quicker than others who just come in for one particular role.

That's awesome. And I'm looking forward to hearing how that goes. You have to come back on after season two or during season two, perhaps, and let me know how that's going.

Awesome. I look forward to that.

So, Tony, I really enjoyed our chat this afternoon. I guess it is maybe evening I'm not sure if it's even where you are at the moment. The time zone differences. I know there will be less than I'll be really curious to hear about the conversations you have with your guests. So for anybody that's looking to check out your podcast and listen to the episodes of season one like the two I mentioned and the other ones that are on there too or to connect with you online because I know you're very active on Twitter share a really good mix of stuff there Where's the best place people can connect with you.

I'm on Twitter I'm very active at Tony doveo that's T-O-N-Y-D-O-E-V-O it's one word Tonido v o on Twitter I'm very active there on Instagram sometimes Tonyo media Tonydoemedia and the podcast is available on potpage at potpage. Comdonidopodcast. But if you throw in the toneDo podcasts and Google search.

It will bring up something definitely and I'll be sure as usual to drop all the links to Tony's website and his social channels and the show notes. So if you're listening to the episode on your favorite podcast app, make sure to check out the show notes as usual and go follow Tony and connect with him. Tony again thank you for coming on today and I'm looking forward to sharing your story with our listeners.

Thank you so much, Danny. It's been a real pleasure. Thank you.