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Talk That Pod

Talk That Pod

By: Sebastian Arciszewski
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Summary

 Podcasters. They're an interesting bunch. On Talk That Pod, I have conversations with the most interesting podcasters in the world – what does it really take to build a podcast people can't stop listening to? Podcasters, storytellers, and the audio entrepreneurs behind the shows dominating your feed spill the secrets and stories about podcast growth, their podcasting journey, podcast marketing, content strategy, promotion tactics, and the cultural impact of podcasting in today's society. If you're passionate about the power of audio, as a creator, a listener, or both... this is your show. Want to be a guest on this podcast? Head to https://talkthatpod.net/be-on-the-show/ This podcast is also available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@talkthatpodshow And if you're looking for podcast recommendations head over to Find That Pod - https://findthatpod.comCopyright 2026 Talk That Pod Art Economics Leadership Management & Leadership Social Sciences
Episodes
  • 009 - Spencer Ford - History for the Reckoning

    009 - Spencer Ford - History for the Reckoning
    May 13 2026
    Spencer Ford of History for the Reckoning---SUMMARYSebastian sits down with Spencer Ford, creator of History for the Reckoning — a podcast unearthing overlooked and painful chapters of American history through interviews with survivors, historians, scholars, and artists. Spencer traces the show's unlikely origins to a children's book series he co-wrote with his wife called The Little Known Heroes, which led him to the story of Frank Emi and, eventually, a five-year deep dive into the Japanese American incarceration during World War II.Spencer explains the deliberate choice behind every major decision: launching on February 19th (the anniversary of Executive Order 9066), using the term "concentration camps," and opening season one with a personal account from George Takei. At the heart of the conversation is Spencer's belief that the most powerful antidote to historical ignorance isn't a textbook — it's friendship. If listeners come away feeling a genuine connection to the Japanese American community, they'll be far more likely to ensure that "never again" actually means something.The two also dig into the podcast's structure (main interviews plus shorter "addenda" episodes), the surprisingly polarized reception on YouTube vs. TikTok, the role of a publicist and nonprofit grant funding in getting the show off the ground, and what future seasons — including a planned look at chattel slavery in the northern states — might cover.---In This Episode00:04 — Sebastian introduces Spencer Ford and History for the Reckoning00:34 — How a children's book series called The Little Known Heroes sparked Spencer's obsession with Japanese American incarceration — and the story of resistor Frank Emi02:33 — Visiting the incarceration sites: from Topaz, Utah as a student to the Heart Mountain pilgrimage in Wyoming — and why going with someone personally connected changes everything05:16 — Why Spencer chose the word "reckoning" — understanding plus change, not just remembrance — and what it would mean for America to truly reckon with this history07:39 — Launching on February 19th, the anniversary of Executive Order 9066, and why almost no Americans know what happened that day08:55 — Opening season one with George Takei: the thinking behind leading with personal testimony rather than academic analysis10:40 — The "addenda" episodes — shorter bonus installments that fill historical gaps and add first-person oral histories (including the story of Japanese Latin Americans hauled to U.S. concentration camps)12:58 — The morally complicated story of the Japanese American Citizens League and community complicity — and the rare but real cases where American neighbors did speak up16:03 — A dozen seasons of uncomfortable American history: the through-line of majority indifference to minority suffering, and what stories are coming next17:41 — Growing a brand-new show: beta listeners, hiring a publicist, and partnering with the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) to secure nonprofit grant funding20:21 — Marketing difficult history — why human curiosity lowers the barrier, and the striking algorithm divide between YouTube (combative comments) and TikTok (affirming comments)23:09 — The Substack newsletter as a "stickier" community-building tool and indicator of listener commitment24:14 — Standing out in a crowded history podcast field — and why retention numbers beat raw download counts as an early signal26:01 — Can podcasting's intimate, voice-driven format rebuild human empathy across racial and political divides?28:41 — The urgency of recording first-hand testimony before the last survivors of WWII incarceration are gone — and a shout-out to oral history archives already doing that work31:18 — Book bans, curriculum battles, and a polarized political climate: does it make the show more necessary, or harder to reach audiences?32:18 — Why Spencer deliberately uses the term "concentration camps" — and why he wants the discomfort that word provokes35:36 — The conversation turns: Spencer asks Sebastian about his own connection to Polish history and the Nazi camps — a candid, personal exchange37:08 — A preview of season two: chattel slavery in the northern states and the shocking persistence of slavery in Maryland right up to the Emancipation Proclamation38:44 — Spencer's three podcast recommendations40:25 — Where to find History for the Reckoning online---RESOURCES & LINKSHistory for the ReckoningInstagramTikTokYouTubeBooks MentionedThe Little Known Heroes — children's book series by Spencer Ford & his wifePeople & Scholars MentionedFrank Emi — Japanese American resistor and central figure in Spencer's researchGeorge Takei — actor and activist; season one opening guestSusan Kamei — scholar; interviewed on the history of Japanese Americans leading up to Pearl HarborEmily Inouye Huey — author; discussed family stories of the incarceration periodChizu Amorion ...
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    41 mins
  • 008 - Jerry Landry - Presidencies of the United States

    008 - Jerry Landry - Presidencies of the United States
    May 6 2026
    Jerry Landry of Presidencies of the United StatesSUMMARYIn this episode, Sebastian sits down with Jerry Landry, the creator and host of the Presidencies of the United States podcast — a long-running show that has explored American presidential history from George Washington to the present day through more than 300 episodes.Jerry shares the origin story of the podcast, tracing it back to a personal reading project, an April 2016 election that left people hungry for historical context, and a first show dedicated entirely to William Henry Harrison. Over the course of the conversation, Jerry and Sebastian dig into the philosophy behind the show — why the presidency is never just about one person, how cabinet members and first ladies can reshape everything we think we know about a president, and why a figure as vilified as Aaron Burr deserves a more nuanced second look.They also cover the practical realities of building and sustaining a history podcast over nearly a decade: navigating social media, making smart use of AI tools, guesting on other shows, building a fiercely loyal audience, and staying credible in an era of deep public distrust. Jerry closes with a passionate argument for lifelong learning, stepping outside the podcast echo chamber, and three history podcast recommendations for listeners looking to expand their queue.---IN THIS EPISODE[00:00] — Welcome & introductions. Sebastian introduces Jerry Landry and the Presidencies of the United States podcast.[00:49] — Origin story. How the 2016 election and a personal presidential biography reading project inspired Jerry to launch the show. Why he started with William Henry Harrison, and what drove him to go back to the very beginning with George Washington.[04:06] — Research framework. The core questions Jerry uses to structure each presidential series — how each president approached the office, major events of their tenure, and lasting historical significance — and why the framework needs to stay flexible across very different eras.[07:14] — Beyond the president. Why Jerry dedicates episodes to first ladies, cabinet members ("A Seat at the Table"), and vice presidents, and how the VP series started as an April Fools' joke that took on a life of its own.[10:00] — Hidden historical gems. The case of Benjamin Stoddart — the first Secretary of the Navy under John Adams — as an example of a supporting figure who completely reframes our understanding of a presidency when viewed from his own perspective.[12:50] — Making history feel like a story. Jerry's philosophy as a "bridge" between academic scholarship and general audiences, the role of delivery and voice, and how his partner's advice — "it's not what you say, it's how you say it" — has shaped his approach to writing and recording.[16:04] — How the presidency has evolved. Reflections on nearly a decade of research and how the relationship between the federal government and everyday American life has fundamentally changed from the early Republic to the modern era.[18:40] — AI tools in research and production. How Jerry uses AI as a litmus test for historical accuracy, why he still relies on himself for the actual research, and the specific ways platforms like Riverside have made production tasks like episode summaries and title brainstorming easier.[22:30] — Growing the podcast: lessons from eight years. The first question Jerry tells every aspiring podcaster to ask themselves, why passion and sustainability matter more than growth tactics at the start, and what it felt like the first time a stranger recognized him at a history conference.[25:26] — Social media strategy. Which platforms have worked best for Presidencies, why different platforms attract different types of listeners, and why Jerry cautions new podcasters against trying to do everything at once.[29:25] — Podcast guesting and community. Jerry's 25–30 guest appearances on other shows, why the history podcasting community is unusually collaborative and supportive, and how word-of-mouth remains the single most powerful discovery tool.[31:27] — Casual listeners vs. hardcore fans. The data behind Presidencies' audience makeup, what a recent "top 15 US history podcasts" feature said about Jerry's "fiercely loyal" listeners, and how different series formats serve different listener types.[34:10] — Can podcasting be a career for historians? An honest look at monetization realities, why Jerry still has a day job, and why he believes historians should consider podcasting as part of a broader career that includes speaking engagements, book deals, and nonprofit partnerships.[36:50] — Dream tools. If Jerry could wave a magic wand: faster, smarter audio editing tools that keep things sounding organic. Where AI-assisted editing is already helping — and where it still falls short.[39:05] — Credibility in an era of distrust. How Jerry uses 300+ cited sources per presidential series, the difference between ...
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • 007 - James Wolner - Dakota Spotlight

    007 - James Wolner - Dakota Spotlight
    Apr 29 2026
    James Wolner of Dakota SpotlightSUMMARYIn this episode, host Sebastian sits down with James Wolner, the creator and host of Dakota Spotlight — an acclaimed true crime podcast with 12 seasons and counting, rooted in stories from North Dakota and the broader Upper Midwest. What began as a bar conversation about a suspicious death in western North Dakota has grown into one of the most respected independent investigative audio journalism projects in the region, earning a place in the Dakota State Archives and spawning an Emmy award-winning documentary.James opens up about the unexpected origins of his show — born largely out of frustration with the erosion of facts and journalistic trust in 2019 — and how he channeled a career in photojournalism and IT into a passion for rigorous, story-driven research. The conversation spans the full arc of James's journey: working with Forum Communications, going independent again, navigating the ethical tightrope of true crime storytelling, and his deeply held belief in the power of the "slow burn" documentary format in an age of short-form content. James also shares what it was like living in Sweden for 22 years and how that cross-cultural perspective has quietly shaped his work. This is a rich, candid conversation about storytelling, journalism, independence, and why the right 100 listeners matter more than a million casual ones.---IN THIS EPISODE[00:07] — Sebastian introduces Talk That Pod and welcomes James Wolner, creator of Dakota Spotlight, a true crime podcast now covering the wider Upper Midwest region with 12 seasons.[01:03] — James traces the unlikely origin of Dakota Spotlight to a 2019 bar conversation about a suspicious death (Victor Newberry) in western North Dakota and his growing unease about the erosion of facts and journalistic trust in public life.[04:28] — James reflects on his unconventional career arc: studying photojournalism in college, spending years in web and database development, and how Dakota Spotlight became his long-delayed return to investigative journalism.[04:57] — Dakota Spotlight became the first podcast ever preserved by the Dakota State Archives. James shares how the timing of the archives' move toward digital preservation played a role — and what that milestone meant to him.[05:54] — Season 3 of Dakota Spotlight ("The House on Sweet and Seventh") was adapted into an Emmy award-winning documentary alongside filmmaker Derek Fletcher. James breaks down how what started as bonus content evolved into a full film produced in under three months — largely during the pandemic.[09:37] — James previews his upcoming film Call Me Shelley, based on Season 7 — the unsolved disappearance of Shelley Juleson in Bismarck, North Dakota. He discusses working again with Derek Fletcher and hopes to screen it locally in Fargo and Bismarck.[10:19] — Ethical storytelling in true crime: how James decides what detail to include or exclude, and why instinct and empathy play a bigger role than any fixed rulebook.[12:47] — A standout example of sensitive storytelling: Season 9, the Mandan Murders. James describes writing a handwritten letter to the perpetrator's family, ultimately resulting in the mother and two sisters reading an open letter directly on the podcast — a moment he's most proud of.[15:39] — Why James returned to producing Dakota Spotlight independently after several years employed by Forum Communications in Fargo. He reflects on the constraints of institutional decision-making (even for small expenses like a $100 records request) versus the freedom of calling his own shots.[18:07] — True crime podcasts typically chase high-profile national stories. James discusses what he thinks draws listeners from outside the region into hyper-local Midwestern stories — including the cultural pull of the Coen Brothers' Fargo.[20:17] — James makes the case for the slow burn documentary format in an era of infinite scroll. He describes going five days down a research rabbit hole to produce a single line of podcast script — and why that kind of deep focus feels like meditation.[23:22] — How AI fits (and doesn't fit) into James's research process. He finds it useful for searching large documents and transcripts, but wary of leaning on it for story direction or creative decisions.[25:33] — Advice for new podcasters entering a saturated true crime market. James talks about geographic niching, the value of starting with zero audience expectations, and why making something you would want to listen to is still the best north star.[29:54] — The moment Dakota Spotlight had its biggest organic spike in listeners: Season 5 and the story of missing Barbara Cotton from Williston, ND. James pre-produced five episodes and released one per day — by day three, the Williston Police Department was calling him. The season culminated in a public event on the 40th anniversary of her disappearance.[32:01] — Keeping listeners engaged ...
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    1 hr
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