One of the things I’ve been doing recently is listening back to some of the earliest episodes of Wait, That’s Random: This Day in History.
I’ll be honest…
They don’t sound like the show I’m making today. The stories are still interesting. The research is still solid. But something is different. The conversations feel a little more scripted. The transitions are a little more mechanical. Instead of sounding like I was sitting across the table telling someone a fascinating story, it sometimes sounds like I was carefully reading one.
Oddly enough…
That realization made me smile.
One of the reasons I started this podcast wasn’t just because I love history. It was because I wanted to become a better storyteller. There’s only so much you can learn from books, classes, or watching other creators. Eventually, you have to sit down, hit Record, and start doing the work.
So I did.
Every day.
One episode after another.
Some improvements happened intentionally. Others happened so gradually that I didn’t notice them until I listened to those older episodes. Today I spend more time thinking about curiosity than chronology. Instead of asking, “What’s the next historical event?” I ask, “What’s the next thought?” How can one story naturally lead into another? How can I make history feel less like a lecture and more like a conversation? Ironically, the better I become at telling stories, the more I notice where I can still improve. That’s probably the curse of every creative profession.
You never arrive.
Your standards simply keep moving.
And honestly…
I wouldn’t want it any other way.
If I listen back a year from now and hear new things I’d change, I’ll know something important. It means I’m still growing. For me, that’s one of the most rewarding parts of creating something every day. The podcast isn’t just documenting history.
It’s quietly documenting my own journey as a storyteller.