Today we’d like to introduce you to John Edwards.
Hi John, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
John: Thank you for having me! Well, my friend Zeke Baker and I met when we both were on the same kickball team.
When both of our families started having children, we knew it was time for us to find something else to do. As a result, we started Dads Drinking Bourbon in 2016, originally as a blog, but quickly moved to Instagram Lives on Sunday nights at 9. People started telling us they wanted to be able to text while watching us and whether would we ever consider a podcast. I had started my career in radio at ESPN and the Horse Racing Radio Network so I told Zeke, I thought we could pull it off.
Our ethos has always been the same since the beginning, be honest about the whiskey and have honest conversations with people. Honesty was number one for us. There are so many choices on the shelves these days, we just wanted to cut through all the BS and just help people navigate.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
John: Back when we started, there weren’t a lot of other whiskey podcasts out there so it definitely wasn’t easy.
Brands didn’t really know what to do with us and we didn’t really know how to approach brands to try and get samples or interviews. Don’t be afraid to build up your following on your own before approaching brands, but also don’t be afraid to shoot big early. It’s different nowadays, brands know that podcasts are a great way to reach multiple individuals with their stories or message.
You have to put in the work if you want to grow and interact with your listeners. Also, your audio quality is the key. If your listeners are having a hard time hearing you, they won’t stick around to figure out if they like your show or not.
What I will say is that the grind is worth it and it’s been a helluva ride.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
John: We have a lot of fun with our show and that’s what really makes us stand out in my opinion. Zeke and I go at it like any two friends would while they’re drinking bourbon and the banter is really a special part of the show. Because my background was in sports radio, the show really ends up being sports radio for whiskey when Zeke and I are alone. I tend to fall into the play-by-play role and Zeke really is one of the best analysts in the game. I really get excited about our interviews.
We don’t have any set questions beforehand, but just want to have an organic and open conversation with our guests to tell their stories. I can honestly tell you I know how the show is going to go in the 30 min where we meet with the guest before we hit record. We’re really trying to build rapport and sometimes you have to do it quickly so that the show sounds like a bunch of friends sitting around the table, enjoying a good pour. Having been around for 6 years helps though. We’ve met a lot of our guests in person and spent a lot of great times together. Bourbon and whiskey is really communal drink. If we’re able to embody that spirit and have that come across, we’re doing our job.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
John: Helping other people has always been something that makes me happy. I honestly reach out to all the other bourbon/whiskey podcasts and offer my assistance when they’re starting out.
Seriously, if you’re reading this and you have a podcast and have any questions, reach out to me, I’m happy to help!
Other than that, it’s the normal dad stuff: coaching my daughter’s soccer team, spending time with family, hanging out with my dogs, and going to the gym.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.dadsdrinkingbourbon.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dadsdrinkingbourbon
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dadsdrinkingbourbon
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bourbondads
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/dadsdrinkingbourbon
- SoundCloud: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Y2v22OnKsQBwANBALKEsh
- Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dads-drinking-bourbon/id1310941905 https://bourboncharity.org/
