The world of media has changed significantly over the last ten years. Many classic series are experiencing reboots, spin-offs, or continuations. It happened on television with Will and Grace, American Idol and Better Call Saul. In movies, entire studios are built around sequels and spin-offs. Radio, with the mandolin player who replaced Garrison Keilor.
This renewal phenomenon has yet to occur in the podcast world. Most shows have not been around long enough to be retired and then revived.
When my dad and I began podcasting, a brand new term at the time, we were part of a niche community that was discovering another use for the Internet with a capital "I". In 2005 the internet was not what we know it as today. We started before Youtube blew up, two years before Netflix began its streaming service, and three years before future podcast behemoths Stitcher and Spotify launched.
We started The SG Show in June of 2005 with the blog heading “7-year-old Sam and his dad, Steve, talk about books, fun things for families to do together, and, well, life... really.” It was a month before Harry Potter book #6 came out and I was thrilled to talk about it.
I say “we" because both of us were essential to making the show what it was. My father is the reason the show came to be, with his equipment, dutiful editing, and general producing, and my voice is why people kept listening. Our slow speaking style was the reason we had many international listeners who used the show to learn English. Our family-friendly material is what got us played on a Christian radio station somewhere in Tennessee (not to our knowledge). Our moderate listenership is what attracted independent artists to send us their music. Our pioneering in this medium got us an interview on local news, a mention on the BBC and a blurb in Rob Walch’s first book on Podcasting, not to mention a guest spot for myself as Tiny Tim in the 2005 Podcast All Star rendition of A Christmas Carol
In the years we’ve been off the airwaves, or rather, not uploading content to a server, I finished high school, graduated cum laude from film school, worked at two radio stations and now work at a podcast advertising company. My dad is still doing something I don’t understand so some things never change. I’m living in Los Angeles and my dad is still in the Bay Area. Sarah, who made her debut on episode six is a sophomore in high school.
Why are we coming back? Great question.
Simply put, we’re both stuck in the house and have the ability and time to record again. I really tried to think of what new slant this show could take 15 years after its launch. Should we talk about movies? Aren’t there enough podcasts about movies? What about true crime? Wellness? Technology? None of these categories reflect what we set out to make. We agreed that in these uncertain times, it’s nice to have something warm and familiar to return to. So I think we'll update that blog heading. "22-year-old Sam and his dad, Steve, talk about life… really.”
We’ll have the first new episode of The SG Show up soon.
posted by - Sam @ 6:38 PM
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