When Podcasting Starts Changing You | A Live Conversation on Storytelling and Hosting

 One of the common threads that runs through TV shows about business is that people in that business are embroiled in a no-holds-barred, cutthroat battle to dominate. Think of the HBO show Succession, where Waystar Royco, the international media conglomerate controlled by aging patriarch Logan Roy is contemplating what the future holds as his family jockeys to succeed him. Or Yellowstone, where John Dutton battles everyone from government to his own family for control.

The vibe among independent podcasters is a far cry from that warrior ethos. In fact, indie podcasters collaborate, cooperate, support each other, and act as first responders for other indie podcasters who need help.

Matt Gilhooly of The Life Shift podcast says: "We all have our stories, but through these conversations, we discover communities. We learn that there are commonalities through the ups and downs that we all face. But most importantly, we learn that we are not alone. The Life Shift podcast highlights life-altering moments and humanizes the struggles and triumphs through them all."

On Thursday, December 18th, Matt and Angela Holowell livestreamed an event where two hosts sat together in real time, talking honestly about why they keep doing this work and how it keeps changing them.

Angela Holowell is the host of the Honey & Hustle podcast where you can join her as she talks to the creators shaping the future of the creator economy through education, community and technology. 

Angela speaks with creative entrepreneurs, small businesspeople and non-profit founders in North Carolina. Her work centers on thoughtful storytelling, community, and creating access to conversations that help people feel less alone in their work and lives.

Angela also has a Substack page called Please Hustle Responsibly, which is one of my favorite names for a Substack page. 

This special co-hosted livestream on Riverside brought Matt together with Angela to reflect on podcasting, storytelling, and the quiet evolution that happens when you keep showing up. We talked about how our shows began, how different our approaches are, and how both are rooted in care and intention. We explored the learning curve of hosting, creating safety without scripting everything, and letting conversations breathe. 

Matt admits: "Somewhere in the middle of it all, I said something out loud that surprised even me. That podcasting has softened me. That it has made me more forgiving of myself. And that it might be the best thing I have ever done for me."

 The hosts said collectively: "This conversation is less about tactics and more about trust. About curiosity. About giving yourself permission to do it your own way. If you joined us live, thank you for being part of that moment. If you are listening now, I hope this reminds you that there is more than one right way to tell a story, and you do not have to do it perfectly for it to matter."

The livestream attracted a loyal audience who were engaged throughout the hour-long livestream. At one point, an audience member applauded Matt for allowing him to feel that his podcast, The Life Shift, was a safe space, and he was able to share private details of his life on the show. That interaction spurred a discussion on how a podcaster can create safety on a show without controlling the outcome.

During the livestream, Angela and Matt discussed their different podcasting styles, which were grounded in care. Matt shared how he resisted the temptation to overprepare and begins the show with enough information to start the interview, trusting his ability to improvise, listen intently to his guest, and guide the guest and interview.

On the flip side, Angela admitted to overpreparation at the beginning of her career, with some relaxation of that intensity, but still researching due to the nature of her podcast.

For me, the most appealing and emotionally charged part of the livestream was when Angela and Matt talked about how podcasting had enriched their lives, enabled them to find new ways to tell their own stories, and to collaborate with others in the industry.

Angela said: "I think listeners want to know about the host as well as the guest in that episode." That statement is a key point because indie podcasters who reveal themselves slowly, carefully, and judiciously as their show progresses attract the most loyal listeners.

That peeling of the layers of a host's essence is what's missing with celebrity podcasts. No matter how good the show is, we already know so much about the celebrity because big names build brands by sharing, oversharing, and then emotionally dumping on their fans.  

I just started listening to Angela Holowell and enjoy her show and her hosting skills. She has an understated, thoughtful, yet whimsical style that propels the show forward. Ear Worthy will be reviewing Honey & Hustle in early 2026. 

I've been listening and following Matt Gilhooly of The Life Shift for several years. Always sensitive to the guest's emotional temperature and a superb interviewer with just the right touch, Matt has experienced trauma in his life. I think that as a trauma survivor, Matt channels that residual pain into his shows, guests, and listeners, producing a show that has won multiple awards and keeps getting better. While disclosure can be cathartic, such intimacy must be managed and directed toward a positive result. Matt Gilhooly is a superb guide to convey our innermost hurts, wounds, and damage, whether it be physical or psychological. 

I love the livestream concept between these two talented indie podcasters and, I would like to see more. How about Em from Verbal Diorama and Ayesha Khan of Every Single Sci Fi Film Ever? How about Amanda B. from 6 Degrees Of Cats and Gemma Smith from Tails And Tassels? How about Forrest Kelly from The Best Five Minute Wine podcast and Joe and Carmela Mele from The Wine Pair Podcast? Or Steve and Nan From Beneath The Hollywood Sign with Erin Carlson from Stars of the Golden Age? Finally, Oswin Baker and Carla O'Shaughnessy of Trapped History and Philip Gibbons of Byte Sized Biographies?