How A Philosopher-Musician Built A Lasting Podcast Without Chasing Ads with Joel Bouchard

Communication, Connection, Community: The Podcasters' Podcast

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8d ago 32:39

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A teenage band with no instruments, a DIY studio built on curiosity, and a philosophy show that grew for six years without chasing ad money—Joel Bouchard’s story is a masterclass in building something meaningful and letting it compound. We sit down with Joel, a doctoral student in psychology, multi-instrumentalist producer, author, painter, veteran, and host of From Nowhere To Nothing, to unpack why so many podcasts fade and how to design one that lasts.
We trace Joel’s path from learning music the hard way to launching a philosophy podcast with his former professor, and we get real about expectations. Joel explains why purpose must come before monetization, how to know when a sponsorship fits, and why he turned down early ad offers to protect the show’s flow. He shares a simple structure that balances familiarity and novelty—start with foundations, explore the core tensions, then ask what it means for our lives—so listeners feel guided, not lectured.
Along the way, we explore the mindset that sustains long projects: be a beginner often, fail in public, and keep your early episodes as proof of growth. We talk psychology, language, and attention; audience-first guesting; and practical ways to launch, avoid podfade, and stay consistent without burning out. Joel’s filter is refreshingly clear: passion plus knowledge plus responsibility. If your work helps people think better and feel braver, keep going. The audience will come.
Listen for straight talk on purpose, structure, and craft—and leave with a calm plan for the long game. If this conversation sparks something, follow, share with a friend, and drop a review to tell us what you’ll try next.

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Chapters

1. How A Philosopher-Musician Built A Lasting Podcast Without Chasing Ads with Joel Bouchard (00:00:00)

2. Opening And Show Purpose (00:00:04)

3. Meet Joel Bouchard (00:00:41)

4. Teen Band To Solo Studio (00:01:07)

5. Lifelong Learning And Meaning (00:03:07)

6. Degrees, Psychology, And Curiosity (00:05:11)

7. Why Start A Philosophy Podcast (00:05:59)

8. Podfade, Purpose, And Expectations (00:06:45)

9. Vision Before Monetization (00:08:25)

10. Ads, Integrity, And Audience Fit (00:10:41)

11. Monetization Paths That Make Sense (00:12:09)

12. Host Vs Guest: Serve The Audience (00:13:36)

13. Structure, Novelty, And Craft (00:15:12)

14. Differentiation And Programming Mindset (00:17:04)

15. Passion, Packaging, And Philosophy’s Image (00:18:44)

16. Lessons From Early Episodes (00:20:46)

17. Launch Strategy And Breaking The Dip (00:22:16)

18. Keep The Back Catalogue (00:24:06)

19. Should You Start A Podcast (00:25:54)

20. Purpose, Responsibility, And Value (00:27:13)

21. Have Fun And Build Resilience (00:28:41)

22. How To Reach Joel (00:30:02)

23. Final Takeaways And Closing (00:31:17)

189 episodes

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