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 Why I’ll Never Make It
Sum up your podcast in three sentences
Patrick Oliver Jones has been an actor for more than 30 years, and he sits down with fellow artists to discuss the challenges of being in the performing arts.
Guests ranging from Tony Award winners to part-time regional actors share stories from their own life and career that explore what is really means to “make it” in this industry. Their persistence and perspective offer lessons we can all learn from.
Who is your ideal listener? Who loves your show?
The most avid listeners fall into two camps. The first is the actor or creative just starting their career, maybe in college or just graduating. They appreciate the experiences shared that offer valuable insight as they navigate this uncertain business for themselves.
The second is the theater lover who appreciate going behind the curtain to see what the life of an artist is really like, from the backstories of a particular show to the unique path of each artist as they pursue their dreams.
What made you start this podcast?
As an actor myself, I’m well aware of the grind it takes to constantly look for the next job and never knowing when that will be.
As I continue to pursue my dream of being on Broadway, my own determination and passion for this industry is often put to the test. With each year that it doesn’t happen I become more keenly aware of my own faults and weakness when it comes to performing.
So these conversations are both a personal exploration of what other artists go through as well as a forum to showcase that we aren’t alone in these individual journeys to making it.
What have you learned about your subject thanks to this podcast?
The conversations I have with guests teach me so much and deepen my own understanding of the performing arts and how I fit into it.
The biggest takeaway I’ve learned is that “making it” means something different to each individual artist AND that meaning often changes over time. What an actor wanted in their 20s is not the same as when they reach their 40s.
Our desires and passions adjust throughout our life and, in so doing, our goals and mile markers evolve as well.
What has your experience of podcasting been? What do you love / hate about the process?
I started my podcasting journey back in 2017 with a co-host and one podcast. I am now solo host of three podcasts with co-producers who help with backend details and tasks.
On one hand, podcasting is a technical process of recording and editing and publishing. It also involves a lot more writing than I anticipated, from the episode scripts and show notes to the marketing posts and press releases.
But on the other hand, podcasting fulfills a desire to tell stories that will not only entertain but engage and enlighten as well.
So while I often procrastinate when it comes to actually sitting down for hours to edit an episode together, I love the end result and sharing these often untold stories.
If someone wants to start listening to your podcast, which episode would you recommend they start with? Why?
Though I have interviewed some big names in the world of theater and TV/film, one of my favorite episodes was with a young playwright named Cris Eli Blak, who was just in the beginning phase of his journey into writing stories and characters. And it’s been amazing to watch him grow and achieve more success and recognition for his work.
But our interview came at a time before all that, and he and I connected on both personal and professional experiences. He spoke so candidly about his craft and what it meant to tell stories that don’t often get told from a black perspective. It remains one of my most meaningful and important episodes I’ve done.
Which other podcasts do you love listening to?
I like current events as well as history podcasts. Everything Everywhere offers bite-sized episodes over a wide ranges of interesting subjects. The Industry shares untold stories of movie-making. Left, Right, and Center tackle topics of the day from all sides with civility and serious insight, something lacking from much of the news and public discourse these days.
If people want to find you online, where can they do so?
You can follow @winmipodcast on all social media platforms. There are even some video episodes available on youtube.com/@winmipodcast dating back to the early days of the podcast. There is also a way to support WINMI and get bonuses episodes by subscribing at winmi.supercast.com.
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Image credit: Donald Tong