Starting this podcast was admittedly a bit self-indulgent on my part. I wanted more opportunities to research topics that I otherwise might never have the chance to look into at this depth. Building courses and writing lectures is one of my favourite things to do, and I love falling down an unexpected rabbit holes that I stumble upon along the way. This show is an extension of that interest and the pursuit of my own personal curiosities.

I am a trained historian, which means I am very familiar with the research process but less so with recording and editing a podcast. For both my Master’s and PhD degrees, I specialized in the history of alcohol and drinking, hence the topic for season one. It made sense to go with something that felt familiar as I learned to navigate the pretty steep learning curve that is recording and editing audio. I am admittedly still figuring that out, but it has been a fun challenge.

While teaching, I often build off of the students’ energy and the questions they ask. This creates a fairly dynamic space for the exchange of information, but with this podcast, that element has been stripped away. This requires me to find new ways to present these histories that is hopefully interesting and entertaining. This is another aspect of making this show that has proven to be challenging but rewarding, and I hope to continue to find new ways to improve as the show carries on.