How to Start A Pokemon Podcast (Kanto Edition)

Starting a podcast felt a lot like stepping out of my front door in Pallet Town for the first time. It was exciting, terrifying, and full of unknowns. I was scared of exposure, scared that putting myself out there would be seen as selfish or attention-seeking. For so long, I told myself "no," letting self-doubt build walls around dreams. As The Pokéball Turns became my way of apologizing to myself, a promise to step forward and speak, not just for me, but for others who still struggle to hear their own voices.

Each badge I "earned" along my podcast journey wasn't just a milestone. It was a reflection of a lesson learned, a fear overcome, and a deeper trust in myself. If you're thinking about starting a Pokémon podcast, or any podcast, maybe my journey can help light your path.

Boulder Badge

When I first began, I struggled to trust myself. Even as I was ready to start the interview series that became my podcast's heart, a guest ghosted me and I immediately doubted everything. I almost walked away. Oddly enough, I never doubted my equipment. I believed in working with what you have. It's ironic how I trusted my tools more than I trusted my own voice. Over time, I learned that you can't wait for perfect circumstances. Trust has to start from within.

Cascade Badge

Early interviews felt awkward. There was no blueprint for Pokémon interviews. I was inventing a path where none existed. It was freeing but overwhelming. How do you expand beyond "What's your favorite Pokémon?" I started listening to interview shows from completely different genres, learning how to build a conversation instead of a checklist. My questions became anchors, not maps. The best interviews flowed like a river, not a rigid route.

Thunder Badge

Overthinking and I were best friends. I almost didn't launch my podcast after that early guest ghosting. But attending GO Fest Seattle changed everything. Surrounded by the energy of the Pokémon GO community, I remembered why I wanted to do this. I chose action over fear. Overthinking is a comfort zone in disguise. Launching meant stepping into the unknown with courage.

Rainbow Badge

Growth wasn't instant. What kept me going was hearing from people who connected with the interviews. Seeing a vision come alive, seeing strangers find meaning in it, was surreal. For the first time, I wasn't just creating alone. Growth doesn't happen in giant leaps. It happens one listener, one conversation, one story at a time.

Soul Badge

There was always a table in my mind. The table had three people talking about Pokémon GO. As my podcast grew, that table expanded. Four people, five, a whole community. Every time doubt crept in, I came back to that vision of a gathering place for voices often overlooked. Purpose anchored me when applause was absent. It still does.

Marsh Badge

Self-doubt was a constant companion in my early days. I had undiagnosed anxiety at the time, a quiet battle I didn't realize I was fighting. I falsely believed that putting myself out there was selfish. Therapy helped me untangle those fears. Accepting my anxiety didn't make it disappear, but it gave me permission to exist, to try, to feel like a real person for the first time.

Volcano Badge

Burnout snuck up on me in the small moments like editing late into the night, resenting the process. Whenever that happened, I had to return to my "why." I learned to schedule time with friends, to make new memories, to refill the well. Creativity burns out when life narrows. Protecting my passion meant protecting my joy beyond the microphone.

Earth Badge

The first time I truly felt like I belonged was after hitting the one-year mark of doing Pokémon interviews. I wasn't a Pokemon celebrity. I wasn't "big" in the Pokemon community. But I was still here, still standing. That milestone made me feel official in a way no download count ever could. I realized my value wasn't measured by clout. It was measured by consistency, heart, and staying power.

Indigo Plateau

Today, I'm still pushing forward, still asking,

What can this podcast become?

I've shifted my focus to finding voices that often go unheard, the community leaders, the passionate players, the ones who build the heart of Pokémon every day. I learned that I don't need a seat at someone else's table. Like in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet, I can set up my own campsite. If you have a story to share, there's always space here.

One voice, one journey, one memory at a time. Your next Pokémon adventure begins here!

Listen to the journeys and stories waiting to be told on As The Pokéball Turns.