When we begin as podcasters, its easy to become mired in the logistics, the admin, the perfection and optimisation of equipment, structure, distribution… It takes a unique individual like Mason Amadeus to remind us to ask, “Where has the creativity gone?”

This week I’m joined by Mason Amadeus: Creative Director at 8th Layer Media, Expert Audio & Broadcast Engineer, and self-proclaimed All-Terrain Professional Bodge Technician.

I first met Mason through a podcasting Discord Community, and found that he and his good friends had made PodCube - a sketch comedy audio-only podcast that is soundscaped to perfection. That perfection shows in everything he does, and since we met I’ve watched him create Digital Folklore with Perry Carpenter and more recently, The Bug and Moss Telephone Show.

Its not just my delight in chaos and whimsy that brought me to his inner circle. He is a creative without peers, an audio expert without measure and has such a deep curiosity about the world that learning could almost be his full time job.

In our chat, we talk about making podcasting a thing you enjoy, art as a reflection of the world - not to save it, that creativity is your unique talent in podcasts and the key to enjoying your work is to satisfy your curiosity and learn constantly!

Check out Mason's work:

• "PodCube" Podcast
• "Digital Folklore" (8th Layer Media)
• "The FAIK Files" (8th Layer Media)
• "The Bug & Moss Telephone Show"

The Socratic Method is best done in dialogue, so if you'd like to respond to one of my episodes or send through an idea of your own, send it to:

📧 [email protected]

🎤 rethinkingpodcasting.com and select "Send a Voicemail"

Make sure you share the name of your show, so I can include it in my response!

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Chapters:

• (00:01) Introduction: Where Has the Creativity Gone?
• (02:19) Mason Amadeus Joins the Conversation
• (02:25) The Origin of “All-Terrain Professional Bodge Technician”
• (04:09) From Breaking a Server to Building Software
• (05:14) Working with Perry Carpenter and 8th Layer Media
• (06:22) Mason’s Networked Audio Setup Explained
• (08:09) Why Signal Processing Is So Fascinating
• (09:48) Learning Audio Through Trial and Error
• (12:12) Fundamentals of Audio and Active Listening
• (12:38) How PodCube Was Created and Why It Works
• (14:19) Podcasting as a Creative Labor of Love
• (17:00) Playing With Time, Place, and Audio Lore
• (19:39) Editing to Capture the Live Improv Energy
• (21:00) Audio-Only Podcasting vs. The Pivot to Video
• (23:32) Redefining What Counts as a Podcast
• (24:47) Collaboration and Shared Creativity in PodCube
• (26:15) The Power of Audience Activation and Patreon
• (29:11) Building a Universe: Little Rubber Men & Corn Urns
• (30:17) Making Podcasts as a Labor of Love, Not Obligation
• (31:37) Success, Privilege, and Redefining Podcast Value
• (35:07) Why Authenticity Always Wins in Creative Work
• (36:47) Defining Podcast Success Beyond Downloads
• (39:02) Art as Rearranging the Broken Pieces of the World
• (41:07) Make Something for Yourself — and Your Friends
• (43:06) From Alabaster’s Haberdashery to PodCube
• (44:00) The Role of Improv in Creative Podcasting
• (46:29) Why Copy-Paste Podcasting Doesn’t Work
• (47:25) Learning Fundamentals Instead of Quick Fixes
• (50:19) Be Curious: Learning as a Creative Superpower
• (54:10) Understanding Waves, Phase, and Audio Effects
• (55:12) The Value of Creative Time vs. Deep Work
• (57:08) Digital Folklore and Soundscaped Storytelling
• (58:37) Creativity, Generalism, and Learning by Doing
• (59:49) Podcasting for Happiness and Creative Fulfillment
• (1:00:01) Closing Thoughts & Next Episode Preview