Apart from their two little boys, Jim Bacarro and Saab Magalona-Bacarro look after over 7,000 "podkids", their own community of podcast listeners that grew exponentially during quarantine.
Gen Z's favorite couple's success is proof of how much podcasting, a relatively young form of media, has grown in the past year when people have so much time and so little to do.
As hosts of the eponymous chart-topper, Wake Up With Jim & Saab, the two proud parents make it look so easy (as a couple, they're each other's best friend so they almost never run out of things to talk about).
Three years since becoming one of the first local podcasts to do it, "we're still learning", they told Summit Sandwich Sessions. There's more to starting a podcast than just literally speaking it into existence.
So if you're thinking of starting one, here are two sage tips to keep in mind.
Consistency is important
In any endeavor that involves creation, Jim said "consistency is always number one".
"We always make a joke in the podcast na 'okay, in this podcast we will call out people who are 'business tayo'," he said, pertaining to a particular stereotype on business-minded individuals.
"Parang 'ano bro, ano yung solid na investan pare? Invest tayo sa lahat bro,” pero parang wala namang heart into it," he said, emphasizing that if one plans to make it in podcasting, they have to genuinely enjoy it instead of thinking of it first as a source of livelihood.
"I hate to burst your bubble but there’s pretty much no money in podcasting," Saab said.
So, it's really fun-first, before anything, said Jim. "Assume that the first ten episodes, absolutely no one will listen and you still have a blast. Kasi if you can’t do it for ten episodes, then most probably you’re not that into it pala," he said.
"If it’s not fun, then 'wag mong gawin. Because if you think like, 'bro grabe andaming pera sa podcasting.. it's like, okay?.. Kumbaga, it’s not the equivalent of 'tara franchise tayo ng Chowking. It’s not that," he said.
You have to be really into it, Saab said, noting how they were really just having fun recording and just got "very lucky" they managed to build their own community.
ON WAKE UP WITH JIM & SAAB:
Ely Buendia Finally Reveals Meaning of Eraserheads' 'Spoliarium'
Why VP Leni Refuses to Quit, Leave Philippines for Abroad
Keep asking yourself, 'so what?'
If you're really out to captivate listeners with your content, Saab advises, first and foremost, to really think about what your podcast is gonna be about, then keep asking yourself the "so what?" question.
The two said it's something they themselves haven't figured out yet. "Yung nakakatawa nga is, everyone thinks that it’s a parenting podcast… We are almost 200 episodes in, wala pa kaming kahit isang parenting episode," Jim said.
From just talking about their personal experiences to discussing intriguing confessions from their podkids, the show has evolved so much. Among their recent guests are OPM icon Ely Buendia, Vice President Leni Robredo, and the latest, Saab's own mother Pia Magalona.
"Ask yourself, 'so what'? If you wanna talk about, let’s say food. So what? Well, food is great. So what? And then you build what you really want the podcast to be about if you keep asking so what. That’s the guiding question," Saab said.
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