Learn Podcast Insights From the Pros
Combining passions makes a podcast both successful and fun. Eric Bachmann and his daughter Serling are doing just that with their podcast, Daddy Daughter Scary Horror. The duo has created more than 30 episodes, each examining a scary movie from the perspective of both father and daughter. It’s a clever idea that leads to compelling listening.
How did your podcast begin?
I listen to a fair amount of podcasts and my 10-year-old daughter, Serling, suggested we do one together. It was her idea to talk horror movies and to come at them with our different generational perspectives. We’ve both added elements to it along the way and have both contributed various features that we do on each episode, as well as the music.
What’s the biggest hurdle you face while creating your podcast?
The biggest hurdle was determining how much should be scripted and how much can be spontaneously exploratory. You can’t really have a freeform chat each week with a 10-year-old and expect to draw too big a crowd. We’re both pretty disciplined about the parts that we each need to prepare each week though. And we love our topic. That certainly helps.
What’s the biggest reward from doing your podcast?
I love horror movies and I love spending time with my daughter. So, this is truly the perfect hobby. And it’s like journaling. It helps me crystallize my thoughts and sometimes I’m surprised by my own reviews. So, I suppose it helps with my self-awareness.
Do you have any added insights about podcasting?
None other than the easy one… talk about what you’re passionate about. That’s the best way your energy can attract others.
What is your favorite podcast/YouTube/Newsletter to listen to (besides yours)?
I love Stuff to Blow your Mind, With Gourley & Rust (the fantastic Matt Gourley was kind enough to give us a shout out on their Patreon feed), and Smartless. When my daughter was born, I started listening to Comedy Bang Bang and it really helped my ability to go with the flow of my daughter’s developing creative mind when we’d play and she’d suddenly want to veer off in a completely new direction and come up with bonkers new rules to games, new endings for stories, etc.
What was the “hinge moment” in your life? One person, one moment, or event that made the difference.
Movies, music, and philosophy have guided most of my development, and continue to. Getting my master’s in organizational psychology was pretty big too because it allowed me to channel a lot of my analytical predilections into something I could build a solid and enjoyable career with.
