What an incredible journey it has been! We are absolutely thrilled to be celebrating a momentous milestone: fifty episodes and a full year of podcasting! To mark this special “podiversary,” we’ve put together an extraordinary episode that takes you deep behind the scenes of our show. Prepare for an unfiltered look into our world, unearthing some of our truly weirdest moments, the cringiest sound bites we could find (trust us, there are a few!), and even the unbelievable story of an email we received from none other than Beyoncé’s dad – yes, for real!
We’re pulling back the curtain to share the aspects of podcasting that we genuinely adore, sometimes even more than our long-standing love for blogging. But it’s not all sunshine and perfect audio; we’ll also be candid about the parts we loathe, detailing the unexpected challenges and frustrations that come with creating a weekly show. You’ll hear the hilarious and somewhat chaotic tale of how a simple pizza managed to get this whole podcasting endeavor off to an unexpectedly rocky start. Furthermore, we’re excited to formally introduce you to the dedicated crew of talented individuals who work tirelessly behind the scenes to bring this show to life every week. Spoiler alert: they’re all wonderfully weird, and you’ll love getting to know the personalities that make our podcast possible.
Ready to dive into our celebratory episode and catch up on all the fun? You can easily download or stream this special installment from all your favorite podcast platforms. Find us on Apple Podcasts (formerly iTunes), Google Play, Stitcher, and TuneIn Radio. No matter your preferred listening method, we’ve got you covered. If you prefer to listen directly from this page, simply hit play on the embedded player below! After enjoying the episode, we encourage you to use this very page to easily check out any links, notes, or photos that we referenced during our discussion.
Note: If you’re currently reading this in a feed reader, you might need to click through to the original blog post to ensure the audio player displays correctly.
Our One-Year Podiversary Celebration!
As we reflect on a year of sharing stories, tips, and laughs through audio, it feels fitting to harken back to our roots. Before our microphones were even plugged in, we celebrated many “blogiversaries” – yearly milestones that marked our growth and evolution in the blogging world. The transition from written posts to spoken words has been a fascinating journey, and these past reflections provide a wonderful context to our current podcasting adventure.
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Here are some of those memorable blogiversary posts of yore that we referenced in the episode, showcasing our journey and growth over the years:
- Our annual Q&A video from our 6th blogiversary: Dive into this video to see how we tackled your burning questions, offered insights into our lives and projects, and shared some truly candid moments that defined our sixth year of blogging. It’s a great way to understand the direct connection we’ve always strived for with our audience.
- Looking back at our blogging firsts, fails, and facepalms from our first five years: This post is a treasure trove of nostalgia and humility. We meticulously documented our earliest attempts, the glorious successes, and, perhaps more entertainingly, the hilarious missteps and outright blunders that are an inevitable part of any creative journey. It’s a testament to learning by doing, and laughing at ourselves along the way.
- What a day in the life of a blogger looked like in 2012: Step back in time with us to experience a typical day in our lives as full-time bloggers over a decade ago. This offers a unique perspective on the hustle, the creative process, and the unexpected moments that filled our days, illustrating just how much the digital landscape—and our lives—have changed.
- The hilarious results of our 2013 reader survey (probably the only place you’ll find a pie chart with Chris Farley in it): This survey proved just how wonderfully witty and engaging our community truly is. We asked, you answered, and the results were not only informative but genuinely laugh-out-loud funny. It’s a fantastic reminder of the vibrant spirit of our readers.
- And speaking of surveys and the invaluable feedback from our community… if you’re a dedicated podcast listener, we implore you to please PLEASE take just a couple of minutes out of your day to fill out our listener survey. Your participation in this brief questionnaire will be an enormous help in giving us a clearer sense of who you guys are, what resonates with you the most, and what topics or segments you’d love to hear more of. Your insights are truly crucial as we plan and refine content for Year #2, ensuring we continue to serve up the engaging and valuable discussions that you enjoy. This is your chance to directly influence the future direction of the show!
The Podiversary Quiz: Highs, Lows, and Special Episodes
In honor of our 50-episode milestone, we’ve also reflected on some of the most memorable moments from our first year, from the episodes that soared to the top of the charts to those that, well, found their niche! We’ve learned so much with each recording, and every episode holds a special place in our hearts.
- If you somehow missed our most downloaded episode, the one that truly captured the attention of our listeners and soared in popularity, you can catch it here. We’re trying not to spoil the impactful message for those who haven’t had the chance to listen yet, but it’s a conversation that clearly resonated deeply with many of you. It’s a must-listen for anyone interested in thoughtful living.
- Conversely, you can show some love to our least downloaded episode. It definitely started off a little weird, that’s for sure… We delve into the quirky topic of “fancy dorms,” exploring the unexpected trends and designs within student housing. While it might not have been a chart-topper, it’s a fun, lighthearted listen that proves we’re not afraid to explore unusual corners of design and lifestyle.
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And although none of our “special episodes” took either the title of most or least downloaded, they represent pivotal discussions and unique formats that stood out during our first year. Here they are, in case you weren’t sure what we were talking about when we referenced these impactful discussions:
- #8: Three Pro Bloggers Get Real About Sponsored Posts: This episode offered a rare, candid glimpse into the often-misunderstood world of sponsored content in blogging. We joined forces with two other experienced bloggers to share our honest thoughts, challenges, and best practices, providing transparency and valuable insights for both creators and consumers.
- #14: What Quitting Our Blog Taught Us: A truly transformative period in our lives, this episode explores the profound lessons and unexpected discoveries we made after stepping back from full-time blogging. It’s a deep dive into career changes, personal growth, and finding new passions, resonating with anyone contemplating a significant life shift.
- #38: How The Internet Changed & How Our Lives Changed With It: Recorded live at Alt Summit, this episode captures a dynamic conversation about the ever-evolving digital landscape. We discussed how the internet has transformed over the years, and in turn, how those shifts have profoundly impacted our careers, creative endeavors, and personal lives.
Peeking Behind the Mic: Our Podcasting Set-Up
Curious about the magic behind the audio? While we often joke about our “super high-end, totally professional-looking recording set-up,” the truth is, we’ve pieced together a functional and effective home studio that allows us to produce clear, engaging audio for you every week. It’s a testament to the fact that you don’t need a lavish professional studio to start a podcast, just a bit of ingenuity and the right essential tools.
- We’re planning to put together a much more thorough and detailed post about the technical side of our podcasting setup in the near future, offering a deep dive into equipment choices, software tips, and troubleshooting advice for aspiring podcasters. In the meantime, you can peek at our current, charmingly makeshift recording space in the picture above – it gets the job done!
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For those who are itching to know the specifics right away, here’s a quick rundown of the core components of our audio arsenal:
- The microphone we use is a crucial piece of equipment that captures our voices with clarity. A good microphone is the foundation of quality audio, minimizing background noise and ensuring listeners can hear every word crisply.
- To further enhance sound quality and eliminate harsh vocal sounds, we rely on these pop filters. These simple but effective accessories are placed in front of the microphone to soften any hard “P” or “B” sounds, preventing those annoying popping noises that can detract from the listening experience.
- And for the editing process, the unsung hero of our production, we use Audacity. This powerful audio editing program is not only incredibly versatile but also completely free! It allows us to trim, mix, add music, and fine-tune our episodes, ensuring a polished final product before it reaches your ears. It’s an excellent resource for anyone starting out in audio production without a hefty budget.
The Story of “Homeslice”: Our Original Podcast Name That Wasn’t
Every great endeavor has its origins, and ours includes a bit of a hilarious detour involving a different name and some very premature logo design. Before “Young House Love Has A Podcast” became our official title, we were completely enamored with the idea of naming our show “Homeslice.” We envisioned a fun, laid-back vibe, perhaps with a subtle nod to our love for all things home and, well, maybe even pizza!
- We spent a surprising amount of time brainstorming and playing around with various logo designs for “Homeslice.” As you can probably tell by their somewhat rough and unrefined state, we didn’t get terribly far into the design process. We were just excited by the concept! However, our enthusiasm soon hit a brick wall. The fundamental question we failed to ask ourselves early on was, “Why didn’t we check iTunes (or other podcast directories) before messing around with logos and getting our hearts set on a name?!?!”
- It turns out, another podcast already existed under the name “Home Slice.” It was a classic beginner’s mistake, one that taught us a valuable lesson in the fast-paced world of digital media: always check for name availability across all platforms before investing time and creative energy.
- While our initial first-choice podcast name was dead in the water for our show, we discovered the original “Home Slice” podcast. Although it’s no longer available on iTunes, all you fellow pizza enthusiasts and podcast history buffs can still catch their 3-episode run on Soundcloud. It’s a fun listen and a reminder that creative minds often converge on similar ideas!
What We’re Digging: Favorite Finds & Recommendations
In every episode, we love to share a segment called “We’re Digging,” where we highlight new discoveries, products, or experiences that are bringing us joy and making our lives a little better. This segment is a fan favorite, offering listeners practical recommendations for home, family, and personal well-being.
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If you’re looking to effortlessly infuse your home with delightful aromas and achieve that “candle shortcut” to a cozy atmosphere, allow us to introduce you to our current obsession: Ms. Meyer’s candles.
- Here’s Sherry’s absolute favorite scent, Lemon Verbena. It’s a clean, invigorating fragrance that perfectly matches the all-purpose cleaner we regularly use on our counters, creating a cohesive and fresh scent profile throughout our home.
- But the wonderful world of Ms. Meyer’s doesn’t stop there! This fantastic line also comes in other equally lovely scents such as Geranium, which offers a beautiful floral aroma; Lavender, known for its calming and soothing properties; and surprisingly, Basil. While “Basil” might sound a little unconventional for a candle, trust us – it’s really nice, offering a uniquely fresh and herbaceous note that’s surprisingly delightful.
- And if you’re looking instead to add a little messy, creative fun to your counters or playrooms, especially for kids who need hours of engagement, here’s the kinetic sand that has kept our own children entertained for what feels like endless hours recently. It’s a fantastic sensory toy that promotes imaginative play and fine motor skills, and it’s surprisingly satisfying for adults too!
We know it can be tough to remember which episode featured a particular recommendation. That’s why we’ve compiled a comprehensive resource! If you’re ever looking for something we’ve “dug” in a past episode but can’t quite recall which show notes to click into, you’ll find it all on a master list of everything we’ve been digging from all of our past episodes. It’s your one-stop shop for all our favorite discoveries.
And lastly, a tremendous thank you to our wonderful sponsor, DAP, for supporting this episode and making our podcast possible. DAP products are staples in many homes and DIY projects, known for their quality and reliability. We appreciate their partnership! Hit up DAP.com/YHL to learn more about the extensive range of DAP Products, perfect for all your home improvement and crafting needs. Alternatively, you can always call 1-888-DAP-TIPS to get expert advice on your next project or product purchase – and if Jason happens to answer, please tell him we say “Hi!”
Thanks so much for listening and being a part of our incredible podcast journey, guys! Here’s to many more episodes together!
*This post contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through our links, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we genuinely love and use ourselves.