Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Valentino.
Hi Michael, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Absolutely! This entire project started due to time constraints while I was working and going back to college. I found that between multiple jobs and school full-time I was losing a part of myself. The fun creative/fun side of me was drowning in a sea of responsibility. To combat this, I started a small nerd group on Facebook to try and bring some locals (Chicago at the time) together. Here we were able to discuss nerd culture, personal projects, video games etc. Initially this was intended to just keep in touch with friends and include hobbies we just didn’t have the time to fully explore, but as the days went by I realized the group was growing and I was creating real connections with so many people I had never met. One of the other hobbies I had taken up was listening to podcasts. Even though I couldn’t participate, it was incredibly rewarding to hear passionate individuals discuss the same interested I had between classes, on the drive to work etc. After while I decided it was time to take a chance, create my own podcast for this group to help bring everyone even closer. It would be a podcast that would allow me connect with this group in way I didn’t think was possible.
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?
The early stages of this podcast were honestly a lot more challenging than I had realized. It became very clear that while our intentions were good, the show didn’t have an identity yet. Some aspects we lucked out on, for example: I’m a musician and do audio engineering as a hobby, so editing the show audio was an easy transition. But studying analytics, and what peeks peoples interests while also maintaining our interests turned out to be an ongoing battle. We’ve learned so much over the years and gotten much more professional. If there’s one thing I’ve learned its that the world is always changing. A format that works really well, will NOT stay that way. You have to be willing to change and adapt. Changing too much, or too little is really tricky when it comes to capturing and keeping the attention of your audience.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I think what makes our Podcast unique, its that we have a team full of talented and creative individuals. I myself work in IT. I’m a systems engineer by trade. Over the last few years I’ve gotten REALLY into twitch streaming (TinoPlusUltra) and began a small side business called Plus Ultra Builds. I now use my streaming platform to build insanely unique gaming pc’s live on stream. These themes are only limited by imagination and budget, I’ve been featured by huge names such as ASUS and V1tech.
Gia aka Apola Star Cosplay, is an aspiring Cosplay model (lives in southern San Diego), she has been very involved in the Nerd Community over the years. Things like San Diego Comic Con, Anime Expo, etc. She also streams and builds some of the most elaborate cosplay costumes I’ve ever seen. She’s truly talented.
Jay is a writer, who recently released his first book on Amazon titled: Anthology of the Zodiac. He is also currently working with Onsoru Go (A manga company) for future releases.
Steven is a bit more laid back, spending most of his time focusing on his Children. He has a very down to earth Dad-like/ approach that a large percentage of our audience can relate with. He is incredibly passionate about podcasting and is constantly networking in his downtime to find new and exciting guests. He’s a very important part of this team.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
I think one of the most important things I’ve learned during this process is that you never know who is listening. In the beginning we relied on a shock-jock type of mentality. Sure, to some degree this was entertaining but it was not reflective of who were are as individuals. As I began to lets say, take a topic and find a way to relate it to something personal I had going on in my life. I found that I was getting private message and emails with people thanking me for sharing some rather personal experiences. These experiences allowed them to better relate to us, to the show. Ultimately, this was no longer about the quantity of trying to push numbers, but the quality of who was listening and why. The more involved your audience feels, the more inclined they are to give you feedback, share things organically.
Contact Info:
- Email: bodysnatcherspodcast@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.Bodysnatchersmedia.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bodysnatchersmedia
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bodysnatchersmedia
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bodysnatcherspc
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/bodysnatcherspodcast
Image Credits:
Michael Valentino, Vergia M, Ernest Jay
