201 | Don’t Quit Yet! How Indie Podcasters Can Thrive Long-Term

In this special 200th episode of Podtastic Audio, I’m taking off the headphones and getting real with you.

Over the last 15 years, I’ve worked as a gasoline tanker truck driver—and for the past several years, I’ve also been behind the mic as an indie podcaster, podcast editor, and podcast coach. But this episode isn’t about audio tips or gear recommendations. It’s about why I podcast in the first place.

This is my most personal episode yet. I’m sharing the full story of how I went from being a long-haul listener to launching The Kris and Kristine Show with my wife, how that podcast helped build a relationship—and how the end of both the show and the marriage left me rebuilding everything from scratch.

Through heartbreak, divorce, and the chaos of starting over, podcasting became more than just a creative outlet—it became my lifeline. I talk openly about navigating the collapse of a relationship, the decline of our podcast, and what it’s like to lose your co-host and your best friend all at once.

But I didn’t stop. I kept creating.

In this episode, I also introduce my new podcast project, Everyone’s a Bot, a short-form social media comedy podcast that helps me laugh through the absurdity of online life.

Whether you're new to podcasting, deep into your own indie podcast journey, or just need to hear a real story about resilience and rediscovery, this one’s for you.

🎧 In this episode, I talk about:

• Why I started podcasting in the first place
• How The Kris and Kristine Show came to life (and how it ended)
• The reality of podcasting with your partner
• How Podtastic Audio was born to help other podcasters improve
• The emotional toll of divorce and rebuilding my life
• Launching Everyone’s a Bot—a new creative outlet for fun and healing
• Why podcasting still means everything to me

Thanks for listening, and thank you for helping me reach 200 episodes. If this episode resonates with you, please subscribe, leave a review, or reach out. I’d love to hear your story. 👉 Visit PodtasticAudio.com to connect or ask podcasting questions.

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00:00 – Reflecting on 200 episodes and the journey so far

01:26 – Why this isn’t a “greatest hits” recap episode

02:04 – Truck driving, audio passion, and podcasting beginnings

04:09 – Discovering podcasting in 2009

05:17 – Struggling with divorce and becoming a single dad

07:04 – Buying a house, living the dream, and entering a new chapter

09:31 – Meeting Kristine and the start of The Kris and Kristine Show

11:02 – Why podcasting became a needed creative outlet

14:04 – First interviews and discovering Cleanfeed

16:50 – Home studio setup and tech growth

20:03 – Building community with other indie podcasters

21:11 – Hosting podcast coaching calls and early mistakes

22:05 – Birth of Podtastic Audio to help fix bad audio

23:46 – Kristine’s passion fades; creative tensions grow

24:53 – When podcasting feels like a chore

26:10 – The marriage ends: second divorce and personal grief

30:21 – Starting over: selling the house and rebuilding life

31:05 – Podcasting as a lifeline and creative anchor

32:17 – K...