Welcome to the next in the Podcast Showcase series, where we share podcasts with you in the words of the podcasters themselves. This time, we talk to Cupid’s Arrow
Sum up your podcast in three sentences
All three seasons of Cupid’s Arrow are loosely based on my experiences as a teen growing up in the early 2000s.
Seasons 1 and 2 cover my struggles as a closeted student attending both a public and out-of-state Christian Science boarding school.
Season 3 chronicles three summers I spent training at a tennis camp in Texas.
Who is your ideal listener? Who loves your show?
My ideal listener is someone who is open minded. My goal with Cupid’s Arrow is to create feel-good content that anyone can relate with.
My best friends and coworkers love my podcast.
What made you start this podcast?
Early 2020, I participated in a screenwriting workshop hosted by a friend, Deonte, who I met while working at a post-production facility in Santa Monica. As part of the workshop, we were required to write and complete a television pilot script.
Since being gay is a huge part of my identity and some of my favorite shows include Queer as Folk and Looking, I decided to write about my experiences as a closeted teen. I attended both a public high school in the Bay Area of San Francisco and a Christian Science boarding school, out of state.
A few months after Deonte reviewed and provided notes for my script, Cupid’s Arrow, a different friend, Kareem, suggested I check out Issa Rae’s podcast, Fruit. Kareem then recommended I turn Cupid’s Arrow into a podcast, which I did.
What have you learned about your subject thanks to this podcast?
I’ve learned how to produce, direct, and edit a project from start to finish. In the process, I taught myself how to use Avid Pro Tools.
As I’ve been working on Cupid’s for over three years, I’ve learned how to best be patient and persevere through any doubts or struggles I face.
Unfortunately, I’ve also had to learn how to handle negative criticism towards Cupid’s as some of my closest family members were not initially supportive of it. In the process, I’ve learned to stand my ground and believe in myself more.
What has your experience of podcasting been? What do you love / hate about the process?
I love hearing the final product, the final and best recordings of each person’s voice make my heart sing.
I tend to struggle with timing. I spent about 8 months writing Season 3 of Cupid’s, 3 months recording, and 8 months editing it.
I’ve had to accept that it’s just not possible for me to push out an entire season in just a couple of months.
If someone wants to start listening to your podcast, which episode would you recommend they start with? Why?
I recommend starting with Season 1, Episode 1 or Season 3, Episode 1 as each season is episodic. Seasons 1 and 2 are tied together, but 3 has a whole new set of characters.
Which other podcasts do you love listening to?
Issa Rae’s Fruit, Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, Las Culturistas, and Why Won’t You Date Me?
If people want to find you online, where can they do so?
- https://open.spotify.com/show/53pZtHqlRMHFsu6nlq2Je5?si=5afcef806e854402&nd=1&dlsi=14d4f10945704453
- IG: @eddy__gaspard; @cupidsarrowpodcast
- Facebook: Cupid’s Arrow Podcast
- TikTok: @cupidsarrowpod87
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Image credit: Alexander Grey