
Mark Diaz
05/26/21 • 58 min
Mark and I are both members of the Podcastage Discord community and that’s how we connected. Mark joined us for the March 2019 Sunshine Summit.
When you visit https://scummbags.com/ you’ll find things that Mark has created. Mark has a love of music and Mark’s Music Collection was his first foray at exploring music through podcasting. Adam Neely is a great communicator of music. Mark was also an avid photographer exploring the world and seeing Ben Brown’s book Field Work which is also found work has been inspiring. Architecture is also of interest to Mark, and he references the 2017 film titled Columbus which is known as the modern architecture mecca of the USA. He was captivated by it, and finds film an immersive experience. Mark’s Movie Collection was born out of being able to talk about films and the experiences he has watching them.
We discuss whether podcasts can be considered art. This theme flows throughout the episode.
The Regular Car Reviews youtube channel is an example Mark shares of a creative way of sharing car reviews.
Self expression and self determination are key facets of podcasting. To quote Mark “you create all of it.”
I side track about having conversations in general and what led to this project. Mark reassures me that sidetracks are a part of his journey.
We move to a discussion about show notes of podcasts, their function, convention, possible missed opportunities and alternatively how Mark utilises them. He likens them to the liner notes of albums for the people that care to go into the extra details of the band and their music.
Mark shares that time and energy are his main challenges to creating podcasts. I’d also like to congratulate Mark and his family and welcome their newest member of the Diaz family!
Podcasts often are passion projects and I asked Mark how he feels about all the time and effort expended on passion projects. He gains knowledge from podcasting and finds that valuable and reconnects with the memory of WTF podcast with Marc Maron had an episode about the film Sound City as one of the first podcasts that Mark got into.
Mark reflects my question back and I share a bit about what I get from podcasting and some of my experiences along my journey. I share about how great the books by Austin Kleon have been as references for me. It’s awesome to hear Mark’s reflection on his experience being a part of the Sunshine Summit.
We talk about community, and community helped facilitate Mark’s recent guest spot on On the Subject.
I love the discussion we have about the asynchronous nature of podcasting and lessons around that.
Mark’s dad enjoys cooking, and we discover that it’s not our passion but we do find that we both enjoy sandwiches...
For links to all Mark’s things: https://scummbags.com/
Listen to Mark’s Movie Collection
You connect with Mark on Twitter: https://twitter.com/markd
If you have a connection with Mark we’d love to hear from you!
Or if you’ve made a connection to him or something he mentioned after listening, please share them with us.
And if you know of anyone who may benefit from listening to and learning from Mark please share this episode with them too.
For more connections head to:
https://justheathers.com/guests
You can support Heather on Ko-Fi.com/justheather or https://www.patreon.com/justheathers
Mark and I are both members of the Podcastage Discord community and that’s how we connected. Mark joined us for the March 2019 Sunshine Summit.
When you visit https://scummbags.com/ you’ll find things that Mark has created. Mark has a love of music and Mark’s Music Collection was his first foray at exploring music through podcasting. Adam Neely is a great communicator of music. Mark was also an avid photographer exploring the world and seeing Ben Brown’s book Field Work which is also found work has been inspiring. Architecture is also of interest to Mark, and he references the 2017 film titled Columbus which is known as the modern architecture mecca of the USA. He was captivated by it, and finds film an immersive experience. Mark’s Movie Collection was born out of being able to talk about films and the experiences he has watching them.
We discuss whether podcasts can be considered art. This theme flows throughout the episode.
The Regular Car Reviews youtube channel is an example Mark shares of a creative way of sharing car reviews.
Self expression and self determination are key facets of podcasting. To quote Mark “you create all of it.”
I side track about having conversations in general and what led to this project. Mark reassures me that sidetracks are a part of his journey.
We move to a discussion about show notes of podcasts, their function, convention, possible missed opportunities and alternatively how Mark utilises them. He likens them to the liner notes of albums for the people that care to go into the extra details of the band and their music.
Mark shares that time and energy are his main challenges to creating podcasts. I’d also like to congratulate Mark and his family and welcome their newest member of the Diaz family!
Podcasts often are passion projects and I asked Mark how he feels about all the time and effort expended on passion projects. He gains knowledge from podcasting and finds that valuable and reconnects with the memory of WTF podcast with Marc Maron had an episode about the film Sound City as one of the first podcasts that Mark got into.
Mark reflects my question back and I share a bit about what I get from podcasting and some of my experiences along my journey. I share about how great the books by Austin Kleon have been as references for me. It’s awesome to hear Mark’s reflection on his experience being a part of the Sunshine Summit.
We talk about community, and community helped facilitate Mark’s recent guest spot on On the Subject.
I love the discussion we have about the asynchronous nature of podcasting and lessons around that.
Mark’s dad enjoys cooking, and we discover that it’s not our passion but we do find that we both enjoy sandwiches...
For links to all Mark’s things: https://scummbags.com/
Listen to Mark’s Movie Collection
You connect with Mark on Twitter: https://twitter.com/markd
If you have a connection with Mark we’d love to hear from you!
Or if you’ve made a connection to him or something he mentioned after listening, please share them with us.
And if you know of anyone who may benefit from listening to and learning from Mark please share this episode with them too.
For more connections head to:
https://justheathers.com/guests
You can support Heather on Ko-Fi.com/justheather or https://www.patreon.com/justheathers
Previous Episode

Nicholas Haskins
I met Nick through the wonderful Emily Prokop of E Podcast Productions and the network of podcast connections. Emily is one of Nick’s most important connections he has made through his podcasting journey. We have an ‘Emily Awe and Appreciation’ moment. Emily has hosted several podcasts, and edits and helps podcasters, but has also been a huge helper and supporter of the annual Livestream For The Cure event that Nick founded and hosts to raise funds for the Cancer Research Institute that supports immunotherapy research and clinical trials.
Livestream For The Cure is a huge livestream event of up to 50 hours of content to watch and interact with co-hosted by podcast partners and content creators who get together to provide entertainment and encourage donations. “Together we can make a difference”.
April 5th 2017 Nick announced the first annual Livestream For the Cure (LFTC). The event raised over $1200.
May 2020 event raised over $16,000.
The goal for 2021 is $15,000.
Lindsey & Perry Johnson are the highlight of past LFTC events. Both were excited to be a part of the event and then Perry was diagnosed shortly before the 2nd event with stage 4 cancer. Donations were raised to help them on their journey and sadly Perry passed away a few months before the 3rd event in 2019. However, Lindsey came back to participate in the 3rd event.
Cancer affects everyone and that’s why LFTC is so important to Nick and I and everyone who participates.
When Nick found the Sunshine & PowerCuts podcast he was drawn to the Sunshine episodes. They helped him check in with himself and rediscover his light during particularly dark times. Nick says that it saved his life, and it is beyond incredible to know the impact it had for him and I am so grateful it helped because Nick gives so much to the world and he has so much more to give!
Nick hosts a podcast called Nikoli’s Kitchen in which he shares his journey in his kitchen and with positivity and Nick mentioned that it has roots in the Sunshine episodes of Sunshine & PowerCuts. We briefly touch on his previous show the RestauRant Podcast which was born from something negative, as opposed to Nikoli’s Kitchen which is founded in positivity.
Nikoli’s Kitchen radiates honesty and is a project that Nick wants to remain genuine. He talks about the truth that sometimes things don’t work out. And other times you smash them out of the ballpark beyond expectations. “You win some, you lose some.” Nick highlights that it is a conscious choice to be positive. We aren’t always going to have good times. The key is to acknowledge your limitations and accept that it’s ok to step back, ask for help and to take a break.
I share briefly about my journey of self-acceptance and that I still need the reminders and lessons of the examples drawn from nature to help get me through.
Walking has helped Nick to reconnect with his breathing, and give him fresh perspective. Playing video games helps him relieve stress. And having a supportive partner has been a huge light in Nick’s life. He opens up about it not being easy to adjust to so much loving support and he is incredibly grateful for his partner Rebecca. And as someone who cares very much for Nick, I am incredibly happy for them both.
For more information and all the links for Livestream For The Cure: http://livestreamforthecure.com/
Join us live at: twitch.tv/livestreamforthecure
To donate: https://fundraise.cancerresearch.org/fundraiser/3094239
To buy a commemorative mug
Information about the event on Facebook
Or follow the Facebook Page
For links to all Nick’s things: https://nikoliskitchen.com/
Listen to Nikoli’s Kitchen
You can supp...
Next Episode

Stargate Pioneer
One of the first podcasting resources recommended to me was Better Podcasting, of which Stargate Pioneer (SP) co-hosts with Stephen Jondrew. I turned up to one of their live recordings of an episode and connected with SP. Since then, SP has supported my journey with podcasting as he does for many others through Better Podcasting, the Gonna Geek Network, reddit and other audio community’s like Podcastage.
SP is grateful for Bandrew’s reviews on Podcastage which allowed SP and Stephen to focus on podcasting rather than also reviewing gear.
Previous guest Josh Liston is a member of the Gonna Geek Network and talk about Better Podcasting a lot throughout our conversation. Johnny Pennington was one of Josh’s highlights from the Gonna Geek community and SP shares a little more about Johnny’s involvement in the community.
SP loves helping others and enjoys hobby podcasting. SP shares the golden rule of hobby podcasting, which even he breaks but it is important to keep in mind.
I share how Better Podcasting tends to address the things that I need to hear in a timely manner.
We talk about the evolution of Better Podcasting and the now separate Live show where Stephen and SP have more direct interaction with their live audience and those that send in questions.
I ask SP what the Gonna Geek Network means to him and he shares about the community of shows that make up the network. There’s the Gonna Geek Discord Community where people can connect on topics they are interested in.
SP talks about what podcasting means to him as a creative outlet and hobby and being able to connect with others about his interests. He has enjoyed many opportunities in 2021 to make guest appearances on other shows and one that he highlights was talking about The Rescuers.
Check out SP’s Podchaser profile to see his more of his guest appearances.
SP has joined us for the Sunshine Summit, Sail Away with SP episode of Sunshine & PowerCuts and I joined Better Podcasting for their special International Day Podcast episode as having the opportunity to narrate a Christmas Special segment one year.
Stephen and SP who have such a great dynamic on Better Podcasting, have known each other for many years at this point but have not had the opportunity to meet in person. However SP shares the story of meeting and getting to know Stephen’s brother first.
Podcasting and working on projects around home including cable management and rebuilding an engine project have helped SP get through the past 12 months.
For more information about Better Podcasting head to: https://www.betterpodcasting.com/
To learn more about the Gonna Geek Network: https://www.gonnageek.com/
To connect with SP on Twitter: https://twitter.com/stargatepioneer
If you have a connection with SP we’d love to hear from you!
Or if you’ve made a connection to him or something he mentioned after listening, please share them with us.
And if you know of anyone who may benefit from listening to and learning from SP please share this episode with them too.
For more connections head to:
http://justheathers.com/guests
You can support Heather on Ko-Fi.com/justheather or https://www.patreon.com/justheathers
If you like this episode you’ll love
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