Hitting a Podcast Milestone
My second 200th episode and why it matters
On Tuesday, July 30, I’ll publish Episode 200 of Tom Clark’s 6M Podcast. It’s the second time I’ve hit 200, and now that I’m here, it seems like a good moment to reflect. After all, this is a milestone for me—as a podcaster, and as a person.
Attaching that level of importance to this achievement seems to inflate my level of self-worth, and that’s not lost on me. There are over a million podcasts out there of course, and I’m only responsible for a handful of them. So why treat this as anything more than what it is? Well, because it means something to me.
I started podcasting in 2014, and I only did it as a means of promotion. I was a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report at the time, and was contributing weekly articles about pro wrestling, something I’ve always been extremely passionate about. I’d never podcasted solo before, but had been a guest on a handful of shows, and enjoyed doing it.
But at some point, it occurred to me that if I had my own podcast, I could use it to promote my writing. So, I direct messaged an acquaintance on Twitter, and asked about the equipment she used on her podcast, as well as what hosting site she preferred. I took that info, did some research on my own, and within a month, Tom Clark’s Main Event was up and running.
The first year of that show is probably pretty cringeworthy. That’s my guess anyway, I haven’t listened to much of the first 100 episodes in a long time. But in my defense, I was learning on the fly, and developing my style along the way. I’m sure there’s a good number of podcast / radio / TV hosts who were born with an “on” button to do this sort of thing. I wasn’t one of them.
But after a lot of practice, and realizing what did—and didn’t—sound good, I began to get the hang of it. I landed some important interviews along the way, with Randy Orton, Rob Van Dam, and “The Big Show” Paul Wight, among others. I took the podcast from audio to live video in 2020, and it’s by far the best version of the show. Nothing beats interacting with real people, in real time.
2020 also brought the 6M Podcast. I started that show with a longtime friend and fellow fanboy, who had never podcasted before. But we had fun, and for the first time, I was regularly hosting a pod that focused on more than just pro wrestling. It was great to cover other interests, and I’ve made a lot of connections, plus made some friends, along the way.
Two of those friends joined me for the third podcast of my career in 2023. Recording sessions for Two Nations Under Ted quickly became the highlight of my week, and they still are. We’re in the process of finishing our review of the third and final season of Ted Lasso, and already we’re talking about what show to tackle next.
But what does hitting 200 for the second time really mean? Am I in a better place financially, than I was before? Am I a world-famous podcaster who’s loved and adored by millions? Not quite. However, it’s important because I’m nothing if not perseverant. When I start something, I see it through. It’s just who I am.
I don’t like to cancel, I hate saying no, and when it comes to what I love to do, nothing makes me happier professionally, and personally, than podcasting. I like to think it’s made me a better person, and it’s definitely made me better socially. Plus, it’s just fun.
So here’s to 200 for the second—and probably not the last—time. Stay tuned.