
IRL Podcast
Creator, Producer, Host, Editor and More!


Starting a podcast focused on the journey of becoming an adult in the 2010s and 2020s, especially navigating the challenges of moving to the city alone to pursue your aspirations, was an exciting yet daunting experience. I began as a co-producer and co-host with little knowledge of audio production, but my co-creator and I were both in camera-focused courses, so we had a shared foundation in storytelling and creativity. The podcast was our chance to explore current pop culture while diving deep into the personal growth that comes with stepping into adulthood in a rapidly changing world. The process, though initially unfamiliar, sparked a passion for audio that grew with each episode. Over time, I became increasingly skilled in sound recording and editing, learning the nuances of capturing quality audio and bringing our ideas to life. What started as a humble endeavour quickly transformed into a true love for the technical aspects of podcasting, and it’s been incredibly rewarding to see how much I’ve grown in both knowledge and confidence in this medium.
Process and Development
The most fun thing about IRL was that it was truly our own, giving us the freedom to do whatever we wanted. It allowed for freedom of speech and creative expression. For preparation, we would often create outlines and notes for each episode, with the theme determined in advance so we could be ready for our weekly recordings. As our crew grew, we also implemented a shooting schedule to accommodate everyone’s availability, ensuring that each person could be in the studio for recording and editing.
Applications and Results
Over the course of IRL, we successfully managed four seasons, with the last two marking a significant shift in my role. By then, I had transitioned into the solo host and producer, taking on the responsibility of not only hosting but also becoming the sole editor for both our podcast’s audio and video content for YouTube uploads. This transition required me to hone my skills in audio and video editing, and it was incredibly rewarding to see everything come together in such a polished way. By the time we reached season three, we no longer needed to go through the interview process with Spirit Live, our school’s radio and podcast broadcaster. The team knew us so well, and our growing influence was clear—we had amassed dedicated followings on Instagram and TikTok, which made us stand out as a recognizable and established presence in the podcasting community. The process was a testament to how much we had evolved, both in terms of the podcast’s reach and our individual growth as creators.
Credits
Season One:
- Co-Host, Co-Creator, Co-Producer: Idy Barry
- Production Tech: Emily Lindgreen, Valentina Richarz, Lydia Venema, Marcus Reid
- Editor: Marcus Reid
Season Two:
- Co-Host, Co-Creator, Co-Producer: Idy Barry
- Production Tech: Emily Lindgreen, Alex Dashwood, Jackie Soave
- Editor: Marcus Reid
- Social Media: Dana Tohme, Jay Ashdown, Jackie Soave
Season Three and Four:
- Production Tech: Sofia Stadler, Carol Varghese, Jackie Soave
- Social Media: Jackie Soave, Lauren Schierz, Jordon Oattes