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 Secretly Incredibly Fascinating.
Sum up your podcast in three sentences
It’s a podcast called “Secretly Incredibly Fascinating”! It’s a weekly podcast about the history, science, lore and surprises that make everyday things secretly incredibly fascinating. And it’s hosted by me, a real-life comedy writer and a real-life ‘Jeopardy!’ Champion.
Who is your ideal listener? Who loves your show?
It’s for everybody on Earth! If you want to be more excited about the world around you, and the things we deal with and experience every day, this is the podcast for you.
Also it’s designed to be appropriate for all ages. I hear from kids who listen, and from whole families who hear it in their car together.
What made you start this podcast?
It’s the podcast I always wished existed. Also it’s felt like a ray of sunshine in my life through the 2020-2021 adventure we’ve all been on. I’m told it’s been that for listeners as well.
What have you learned about your subject thanks to this podcast?
There’s a new topic every week, so the learning is constant. Also the podcast’s patrons choose three of the topics every month, so I get to be surprised by how much I enjoy a lot of their picks.
Some of my favorite recent patron-chosen topics: water towers, rest areas, shoe sizes, jellyfish.
What has your experience of podcasting been? What do you love / hate about the process?
It’s an incredible medium. It’s been an amazing way to do a book club (the podcast ‘Kurt Vonneguys’ with my cohost Michael Swaim). It’s great for doing stuff that’s just plain silly, I’ve guested on a ton of that. It’s also how I shared a very personal story about creating the bison emoji (my miniseries ‘1 Way To Make An Emoji’).
It takes a lot of labor and care to make a good podcast. I also wish I could tape at home without the sound bleeding into other rooms. It’s all worth it though.
If someone wants to start listening to your podcast, which episode would you recommend they start with? Why?
Look at the list of episodes, and see which topic strikes you. Simple as that! Also some people look for a favorite podcaster of theirs in the guest list, that’s a great way to go. And all the shows are evergreen, you can’t go wrong starting from the beginning.
Which other podcasts do you love listening to?
Tons of comedy and tons of well-researched nonfiction. Those two ingredients are the core of my show, and I seek them out anywhere I can get them.
Recent new comedy favorites: ‘What A Time To Be Alive’ and ‘Blocked Party’. Recent new researched favorites: ‘Nice Try’ and the back catalogue of ‘In Our Time’.
If people want to find you online, where can they do so?
Here’s all the links for ‘Secretly Incredibly Fascinating’: https://linktr.ee/sifpod
And here’s my website: https://www.alexschmidty.com/
Read the rest of our Podcast Showcases here and find your new listening addiction from among our features!
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Image credit: Robinson Recalde