One of the intangible qualities that leads to enjoyable podcast is host rapport. It’s impossible to quantify or explain, but it’s clear when two or more hosts have it … and when they don’t. It’s something you can’t force and works best when it’s perfectly natural, manufactured over a genuine friendship. This evasive podcasting quality is one (of several) reasons why My Shirt My Story is a successful podcast.

The premise for My Shirt My Story is relatively simple: hosts Anita and Lamont tell intriguing and interesting stories from all walks of life. Their hook, however, is a custom-designed t-shirt that accompanies each episode. It’s a perfect marriage of a quality podcast and sincere merch sales.

Discover Pods was lucky enough to catch up with Anita, one half of My Shirt My Story, to discuss the podcast origins, the challenges they face as indie podcasters, and of course, shirts. See below for my Q&A.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts

Discover Pods: How’d you get into podcasting?

ANITA: Lamont and I have always said we should have a show together because when we are together we are always laughing and having fun. Some of my other friends have said “I wish I was friends with Lamont, he seems to be so much fun, ya’ll have the best time together”. I have to agree with them, we are such good friends we bring out the best in each other. A year or so ago neither of us had ever heard of a podcast, we listened to S-town and were hooked. Then there was this t-shirt thing, I have always wanted to work with local “up and coming” artists and print their cool art on t-shirts. I helped sell merch for a bluegrass band out of Nashville. It was a fun job traveling all around. I thought years ago about starting a t-shirt business, worked on it for a few weeks, reserved a bunch of domain names but never did anything with it. One night Lamont and I were complaining about our day jobs and I said “I should’ve started that t-shirt business 10 yrs ago.” My husband, Chris, walked through the room while I was talking to Lamont on the phone and said, “Maybe you and Lamont should start a podcast and combine it with your t-shirt idea” And there you go.

DP: In your own words, why should listeners tune in to My Shirt My Story?

ANITA: Listeners should tune in because we are real life. Anita and Lamont are just entertaining to listen to and everyone will feel like we are all having fun. We are all just having a good time together. Our stories can be funny, and we can all have a good laugh. Anita loves looking up fun facts that she shares and you might learn something. Oh, and some people like to listen to us talk because of our Southern accents, even though we don’t think we really have much of one.

DP: Was there a particular t-shirt you had in mind when thinking about starting the podcast?

ANITA: Not one in particular, I have so many t-shirts ideas my head is exploding. We really enjoy working with local artists and finding just the right shirt that goes along with the story of the day. I have so many favorites of the shirts we have already designed which you can see at www.myshirtmystory.com. We try to have a variety of styles so everyone can find one that speaks to them. We love it when our listeners share their vision of a story through their own art as well.

DP: What’s the biggest challenge you face as an indie podcaster?

ANITA: Having the time to do everything that needs to be done. Lamont, Chris and I all work full time and it’s really impossible to do everything that needs doing. We just have to let some things slide because there are only so many hours in the day. Since we don’t have a big media company promoting us, getting the word out is hard. So far, we have just been talking to people we know and trying to get my friends and family to listen. You have to rely on friends and family to support you in the beginning and most of them had never heard of the word “podcast”. I have made a lot of house calls. Once I have them set up, everyone loves it.

DP: Where do you want to take your podcast?

ANITA: We would love it if our podcast would be one of those that makes it to the top, I think. But if it doesn’t, we sure are having a good time. We would love to be able to focus solely on podcasting and not have other jobs.

DP: What other podcasts are you listening to now?

ANITA: Have listened or am currently listening to (remember I’ve only known about them for a year or so)

  • S-Town
  • The Dirtbag Diaries
  • Beautiful Stories from Anonymous People
  • Terrible, Thanks for Listening
  • My Favorite Murder
  • Risk!
  • The Mortified Podcast
  • Dirty John
  • My Dad Wrote a Porno
  • Heaven’s Gate
  • RadioLab
  • Stuff you Should Know
  • The Moth

And I have an ongoing list of more that I want to listen to

DP: Anything else you’d like to add?

ANITA: We really appreciate everyone listening. Every listen count, and we would love to hear from you. Let us know if there is a story of yours you would like to tell or if you have some art you would like to see on a t-shirt that goes along with a great story. You can submit your art, your story or both at www.myshirtmystory.com Also, we really appreciate you being interested in our story, everyone has a story, what’s yours?

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