Rockin’ Libsyn Podcasts: The Strokecast

This series is all about libsyn podcasters. Its sole purpose is to introduce these awesome podcasts to the world as well as share their podcasting insight to empower the community!


Q & A’s with Bill from The Strokecast


When and why did you start podcasting?

I’ve been doing podcast-y things for a decade or so, mainly in the private learning and development and brand evangelism spaces.

I’ve also appeared on a number of podcasts, including the Chicago-based Caffeinated Comics podcast. I tend to pop up there when they want to talk about Star Trek or Doctor Who.

I started my first real podcast in December 2016 with the launch of 2-Minute Talk Tips.

After a corporate reorg, I suddenly found myself with the time to learn more about podcasting and to share my experience as a speaker.

Every episode begins with a simple, actionable tip to become a more effective speaker. Then, at the 2-minute mark, I roll the intro music and we get into a deeper discussion.

On June 3, 2017, my life changed.

I woke up and thought my left arm was asleep. I assumed I slept on it funny. I got up to use the bathroom thinking it would come back in a few moments. It didn’t. Then, my left leg began to fail, and I knew I was in trouble. I woke up my girlfriend and asked her to call an ambulance. I spent the next month in the hospital recovering from a stroke at age 46.

Today, I still can’t use my left hand. I walk with a cane, and I get around fairly well. It was a lot of work to get this far, and there’s still a lot of work to do.

But what does any self-respecting podcaster do when confronted with a life threatening and life changing situation? Why, start another podcast of course.

And thus, the Strokecast was born.

What’s the name of your show about and what is it about?

On the Strokecast, a Gen X stroke survivor explores rehab, recovery, the frontiers of neuroscience, and one-handed banana peeling.

I started it because there are very few stroke-related podcasts out there.

While there are also plenty of resources out there, many folks don’t know about them. In addition to sharing information about resources, I also want to share my story, and the stories of other stroke survivors, caretakers, and medical professionals. Ultimately stories are what help connect us with one another.

What’s your podcasting set-up? Hardware, software, CMS, etc.

I use a Rode NT4 microphone in an arm that barely supports its weight.

It connects to a Behringer Xenyx Q1202USB mixer.

I record on a Zoom H6 digital recorder. The mixer also connects to my laptop via a Behringer UCA222 USB sound card.

For mobile recording, I have 4 Movo wired XLR lav mics that do really well. I’ve recorded a couple episodes in an airport terminal and I’m pleased with how it came out, even with the background noise.

I do all my audio editing in Audacity, and I run the final file through Auphonic on the web to wrap it up at –14 LUFs

I use a WordPress site on Hostgator.

How have you promoted your podcast?

It’s largely been word of mouth and finger. I rely heavily on my social media channels (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn) and some stroke support groups.

I’m also working with the hospital I lived in for a month to figure out how we can work together to tell one another’s stories.

And, of course, I’ve sent a nice stack of cards to Rob for the tradeshow circuit.

What do you know now that you wish you knew when you started?

I wish I got started even sooner. It took me 40+ episodes of 2-Minute Talk Tips to feel that I finally found my voice.

It’s not that earlier episodes weren’t good. It’s that once I crossed a certain threshold, something just clicked.

The good thing about that is that it meant the early episodes of Strokecast are much better than they might otherwise have been.

It’s not that there was a particular lesson I learned. Doing the work itself made the difference.

Thanks for reading; have a great generic time of the day.

And don’t get best…get better.


And now you know that if you are someone you know has suffered a stroke, there is a podcast for you! Do share with as many people as you feel would benefit from this valuable information! You can subscribe in Apple Podcasts!


There is no better way to disseminate information and advocate for a community than podcasting. If you are ready to do it, we’d love for you to host with us! If you need a bit more help, we have a FREE monthly Podcasting QuickStart! Sign up today!

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