It has been pretty busy for us lately, but I think it is time for a quick catch-up with everyone.

We have put out a podcast consistently since taking a break early in the new year. In fact, we have recorded two extra podcasts just in case. A new podcast is released about two weeks after we record it. Having extra episodes in the can is helpful in case we are unable to record one week.

Here is a bunch of random thoughts/updates in case you are wondering what’s up?

Listenership has been significant, and our numbers have been slowly getting better over time. Cletus is still our most listened to guest, but Brian L. is now our second most popular. Other top podcasts include Amanda, Dr. Jan Canty, and Scott Olson. Our listeners seem to like open conversations with interesting people. “Drunk Dialling” did a lot better than we expected.

One surprising trend is that guests who have appeared on other podcasts, with the notable exception of Dr. Jan Canty, tend not to do as well when it comes to listeners. The episodes don’t do poorly; they just have slow starts. It seems that when being on a podcast is novel for someone, they get a lot of early listens. I assume it is their friends listening to them.

After initially being encouraged to put ourselves on buymeacoffee.com, we found it to be a bust. We have received a total of two “coffees” so far, and we appreciated them. That was it, though. We appealed for donations for a Rotary club after Brian L. was a guest and received nada. I guess that’s just how it goes, and we don’t have a problem with that. Still, feel free if you are feeling generous.

We would love to have an alcohol sponsor. Not so much to make money, you see it is hell figuring out what to drink every week. We don’t have a lot of serious offers for sponsorship. We did get approached about those testicle trimmer things. I said ‘no’. I haven’t spent twenty years building up a tolerance for Course Hair Nair to use clippers.

I have had fun ordering fun clothing with the podcast logo on them. So far, it is t-shirts and masks. The shirts have all been a little edgy. It would be fun to get to the point where we could sell some of them, and I think we have the quality/cost part figured out. We will see.

Finding guests has become more manageable, but we are looking for some particular subjects. We are on Poddit.net and that helps a lot. Having a podcast is 50% editing, 30% finding guests and only 20% doing the podcast. Being picky about guests makes that part of the work seem more difficult. The resulting episodes are better, though, so it is worth it. The ironic part is that we search for guests to talk about a specific subject and take forever to get to the subject once we start talking. Loose and conversational, remember?

Currently, we are actively looking for guests to talk about the following:

• Cryptozoology
• Psychedelics, specifically microdosing to improve mental health
• Successful online content creators
• Someone willing to be nude when we record (it’s a dare from Brent S.)
• People living alternative lifestyles, whatever that might be
• Someone that can have a few drinks and have a soul chat with us. We want to talk about the spiritual side of life.

If you want to be on the podcast, email me at david@looseandconversational.com or contact us through the form on the website. We don’t do politics, and we don’t want to hear you sell anything, but we are probably up for anything else. We don’t want to talk about the pandemic. What is important is that you like to have a drink or two and then talk. We can’t get enough of guests like that.

That brings up a good point. Guests on the Loose and Conversational Podcast do not need to drink. We can’t force them to, and many people don’t seem comfortable with the concept. They don’t want to talk freely into a microphone recording them while tipsy, that is. We have settled on letting them know that Jenn and I drink during the podcast, and they need to accept how we are. I prefer that they do drink, though. Some of my favourite parts of many episodes are near the end, where the looseness comes out.

There is a predictable arc with most guests. We start a bit stiff, especially if we are meeting the person for the first time. Jenn and I talk too much as we start to get loose, and the guests get acclimated. We settle in for a good conversation. Near the end of the episode, the alcohol kicks in, and the loose part of the conversation happens. Fun stuff.

We have seven episodes left in this season. We will record until the end of June and then enjoy the nine weeks or so of not winter that we get in Alberta. We will likely record an episode or two through the summer, hopefully, take a road trip or two, but take most of the time off. We will be back in September for our second season. My daughter Callie, a frequent listener, will become old enough to drink legally at the end of September, and I can’t wait to have her on.

In the meantime, keep listening. Tell your friends about us, and please help us make the podcast a success. We are doing everything we can. It is time you do your part. Share our Facebook posts, like and follow us on Instagram, talk about us to anyone you can influence. I mean shit, you read to the end of this blog. You, friend, are our biggest fan. Reading this is, like, obsessive. I’m a bit scared of you. If we can’t count on you, who can we count on?

Stay Loose Friend,

J. David