What Makes a Podcast Worth Returning To? (Chris Laxamana former co-host of The Adam Carolla Show)
Chris Laxamana shares his journey from the early days of podcasting to becoming the showrunner and co-host of The Adam Carolla Show and host of the hit podcast Resume. We discuss what truly makes great content and what keeps people coming back.
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Transcript:
Mike: Hey Chris, how's it going?
Chris: Hi. It's going great. How are you? I miss you.
Mike: I miss you too. It's only been a few months, but every time I had so much fun with you. We met for the first time at the NAMM Show back in 2025, in fact, and we really hit it off. You were one of the panelists, in fact. We posted that episode and it was all about streaming, the tech issues, and all those things about how to get started with streaming and podcasting. It was such a great panel and ever since then, we always catch up throughout the year and so forth.
It was so funny. We ran into each other at the NAMM Show earlier this year.
Chris: Yeah, we basically met on stage and it was a really great conversation. The other panelists that you chose made it worthwhile. I still think about a lot of the things that were said on that stage. I found it really useful and helpful.
But then, yeah, any chance I get to run into you. And I know I said I missed you, and you're like, "Oh, it's already been a few months," but I think that's enough time.
Mike: Yes.
Chris: But it's good. I'm loving all the stuff you're posting and all the knowledge you're sharing. I think it's important.
Mike: Thank you. I really do appreciate that. I do want to start off with this question because you mentioned how you've learned things at the panel and so forth, and you've been doing this for such a long time now. You've been doing it both in front of the camera as well as behind the camera.
To you, what does it take to have good quality content? When I say good quality content, what does that mean to you?
Chris: It means a lot of things. I guess it boils down to, you hear a lot of buzzwords and they're all true. You want it to be authentic. You want it to be genuine.
But as far as content goes, I think the thing that I realize is most important is it has to be able to build some sort of community if you're looking to monetize or looking to make it successful in regards to views, downloads, anything like that. Creating a community around it is probably number one.
Mike: Can you talk more about community? Is it topic based, point of views, all of the above?
Chris: All of the above. For instance, if somebody's starting a podcast and I ask them, "What are you doing? What's it gonna be?" and they're just like, "Ah, just gonna hang out and talk," people aren't really gonna find that, especially if you're not a movie star or anything.
But if you say, "Oh, I really wanna start a podcast about jet ski repair," then people might find you and you're gonna create its niche and you're gonna create a community that way.
And it's obviously something you're passionate about if that's what you're gonna start a podcast about. So it'll be genuine and authentic already.
So that's kind of what I mean. It can be broad, but you still have to appeal to people to where they can happen upon you, they wanna tell a friend about you, and there's a point of view being said.
I think that's kind of what I mean as far as creating some sort of community around the content that you're making, whether it's a podcast, your Instagram account, your TikTok account, or something like that. Just something that people want to chime in on and share with others.
Mike: Jet ski repair is super niche, by the way. That was great.
Chris: I'm starting that, by the way. No, I'm not. Don't.
Mike: You should.
Chris: I know nothing about jet ski repair.
Mike: Maybe that's the whole point, right? Having a podcast about learning how to do jet ski repair.
Chris: That's right. And that's totally a thing too. People post and share their journeys, and I find that fascinating.
I actually encourage more niche topics and getting in the weeds about topics. I know a lot of people, when they have an interview with somebody, they're trying to keep it palatable for a broad audience. "Oh, people don't want to hear me talk about the different pot capacities in my electronics." But some people do.
Even if they don't know what you're talking about, it's interesting to just hear people use that vocabulary or that specialty point of view when you're describing something or talking about something you're passionate about.
So I always encourage people to get in the weeds about things too. If you think people are tuning out, that's not something you really need to be thinking about too much when you're chatting about something you love.
Mike: It is true. I know for myself when I start talking about something that I'm really passionate about, I actually have to hold myself back because I tend to ramble when that happens.
But I think that when people hear that excitement coming out of you, that's the whole point. If you're talking about something that you're really into, they're going to sense that as well. Maybe they'll pick up something new. Maybe that's something they are already interested in.
I also feel like the one thing I will mention outside of finding a very specific subject or topic is the personality itself, right?
There are certain people that just have that charismatic personality where they can literally start reading off the dictionary and make it sound interesting. There are some key people that can pull that off. I'm not one of them. I need to have amazing guests on my show to make this far more interesting.
Chris: There are certain people like that. I know there are some radio hosts who can just talk about anything and make it interesting. But for most people, you need a point of view. You need something that you are excited about.
Mike: I think that is really important because there are so many people who start podcasts and content channels and they are just kind of hoping that eventually it becomes something. But if there is not really a topic, a niche, or a reason for people to come back, it becomes much harder.
Chris: Exactly. People always ask me, “How do I grow?” And I always ask them, “What is your show about?” Sometimes they do not really know yet. They are just trying to figure it out as they go.
I always tell people that it is okay to evolve, but at least have a lane. At least have something that people can attach themselves to.
Mike: One thing I think about too is the host personality. People may come because of a guest or a topic, but eventually they stay because of you.
Chris: One hundred percent. People come for the guest, but they stay for the host. If they like your personality, your perspective, and the way you ask questions, they are going to come back no matter who you are talking to.
Mike: I think that is something that takes time too. I know when I first started doing interviews, I was definitely more nervous. I was probably overthinking things and trying to ask the perfect question.
Chris: Totally. You have to give yourself room to grow. You are not going to be great right away. Nobody is. The more you do it, the more you learn what works and what does not.
Mike: That is true with pretty much any creative field.
Chris: Yeah. It is reps. It is putting in the work. Even if you listen back and hate what you said, you are still learning from it.
Mike: I think that is one of the hardest parts for people, especially with video content or podcasting. You have to listen to yourself. You have to watch yourself.
Chris: Which nobody likes doing.
Mike: Exactly.
Chris: But it is important because you notice things. Maybe you say “um” too much. Maybe you interrupt people too much. Maybe you are not being clear. The only way to improve is to actually go back and pay attention to those things.
Mike: That is something I have definitely worked on over time. I know I still ramble sometimes.
Chris: Everybody rambles. That is okay. Sometimes the rambling is actually the good stuff because it means you are excited.
Mike: One thing that I know you have worked on a lot is podcasting itself. You have done so many different projects and been involved in so many different shows. What do you think makes a podcast stand out now?
Chris: I think it comes back to what we were talking about before. It has to feel genuine. There are so many podcasts now. Everybody has one. So what makes yours different?
Is it your point of view? Is it your niche? Is it your personality? Is it your guests? It has to be something.
Mike: It almost feels like it is harder than ever to stand out.
Chris: It is. But I also think there is room for everybody because there are so many niches. There are so many different communities. You do not have to appeal to millions of people. You just need the right people.
Mike: That is a really good point. Sometimes people get so caught up in numbers.
Chris: Exactly. Everybody wants a million followers, but if you have a few thousand people who really care, that can be way more valuable.
Mike: I agree. I would rather have a smaller audience that is super engaged than a huge audience that does not care.
Chris: One hundred percent. That is what community is. It is people who actually care about what you are doing.
Mike: I know for myself, some of my favorite episodes are not always the ones that get the most views. Sometimes it is the ones where I walk away feeling like, “That was really meaningful.”
Chris: That matters too. You have to make things that you are proud of.
Mike: Absolutely.
Chris: Because if you are just chasing views or trends all the time, you are probably going to burn out.
Mike: I think that is especially true with social media.
Chris: Definitely. It is easy to compare yourself to everybody else. It is easy to feel like you are behind. But the people who last are usually the ones who are doing something they genuinely enjoy.
Mike: I think that is great advice for anybody creating right now.
Chris: You have to find the thing that you actually care about. Otherwise, it is going to feel like work all the time.
Mike: One thing I always ask guests is what advice they would give to creatives who are just getting started.
Chris: I would say just start. You do not need the perfect setup. You do not need the perfect camera. You do not need the perfect microphone.
You just need to start making things.
Mike: I love that.
Chris: Because if you wait until everything is perfect, you are never going to do it.
Mike: And honestly, most people are probably not going to remember what your first few episodes looked or sounded like anyway.
Chris: Exactly. The people who make it are usually just the people who keep going.
Mike: Chris, this has been awesome. Thank you again so much for taking the time.
Chris: Of course. Thank you for having me.
Mike: Before we wrap up, where can people follow you and everything that you are working on?
Chris: You can find me online and on social media. Just search my name. I am always posting about podcasting, music, and whatever random stuff I am into.
Mike: Perfect. Chris, thank you again.
Chris: Thank you.