JEFF DWOSKIN
Entrepreneur based in West Bloomfield
Podcast: Classic Conversations, available at classic-conversations.com, Apple, Spotify.
What is your background and do you have a “day job?”
My day job is co-founder/CEO of Stampede Social. Stampede Social is a social selling platform for creators/brands/agencies to unlock the power of Instagram to save time while increasing their revenue and brand influence.
Tell me about your podcast?
I launched Classic Conversations in May 2020. My podcast is a deep dive into pop nostalgia, where pop-culture influencers, TV stars, film actors, comedians and musicians share inspirational stories about the road to success.
What kind of guests do you have?
TV and film stars and comedians are my frequent guests. Stars of Happy Days, the Love Boat, Land of the Lost and Batman have guested. A little sampling: Mindy Sterling, Eric Roberts, Saul Rubinek, Alison Arngrim, Loretta Swit, Sharon Gless, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Wil Wheaton, Ed Asner, Ronny Cox, Paul Provenza, Ed Begley, Jr., Burt Ward, Ted Lange, Carl Gottlieb, Kenneth Johnson, Mike Binder, Carole Baskin, Billy Van Zandt, Joe Alves, Hal Sparks, Candy Clark, Bobby Collins, Alonzo Bodden, Jackie ‘The Joke Man’ Martling, Nicholas Hammond, Marion Ross, Anson Williams, Don Most, Catherine Mary Stewart, Jack O’Halloran, Al Jean, Rick Overton, Ted Neeley, Dee Wallace, Judy Tenuta, Blanca Blanco, Dedee Pfeiffer, Robert Klein, John Wesley Shipp, Stuart Pankin, Ronny Cox and and Scott Schwartz.
What inspired you to start it? What makes it unique?
As a former stand-up comic, I needed a new creative outlet. I believe my preparation and genuine desire to connect with my guests make it unique. It’s not uncommon for me to hear that I was their favorite interview or that someone listened and learned something new.
Why are you a good host? Why should readers listen?
I come to the table prepared. My guests immediately recognize that and even though I’ve never met these folks before, it sounds like two friends talking. It’s not a Q&A, it’s a conversation — the conversation that, if you’re into this type of nostalgia, you feel I’m having the conversation you would have wanted to have yourself.
How many listeners do you have?
My podcast is in the top 1.5 percent of all podcasts. People say they love the connection I make with my guests and appreciate the time I put into the pre-interview.
Were you surprised to find a community interested in your topic?
Honestly, it’s a podcast that would interest me and I just hoped it would interest others.
What’s the most challenging thing about producing your podcast?
It’s very time consuming. There is a reason most people quit podcasting after seven episodes (we crossed 300 recently). There is a low barrier to entry but the pre-prep and post-prep is usually what does people in. It’s a lot of work and if your heart isn’t in it, you won’t last.
What’s surprised you most about podcasting?
There is a huge supportive community of other podcasters that I have met and have become close friends.
Who would be your dream guest to have on your podcast?
Henry Winkler and Steven Spielberg.
JON W. DWOSKIN
Business, executive and sales coach based in Huntington Woods.
Podcast: Think Business with Jon Dwoskin LIVE, available at jondwoskin.com, Apple, Spotify.
What is your background and do you have a “day job?”
With the Jon Dwoskin Experience, I’m a business, executive and sales coach with clients around the world. I started and sold a company then worked in commercial real estate for 12 years before launching the Jon Dwoskin Experience in 2015 and co-founding Launch 3, with the goal of empowering young adults with the knowledge, skills and guidance needed to excel in business and life.
Tell me about your podcast?
When I was younger, I wanted to be — and was inspired by — Larry King. I always loved his interview style and how he made the guest and their journey the center of each conversation. Larry was great at asking thought-provoking questions to bring out the guest’s journey, allowing him to learn and grow as well as the viewer and, many times, the guest. Think Business with Jon Dwoskin is modeled after Larry King Live’s format, featuring one-on-one in-depth, soulful conversations with executives, managers and salespeople who are making a difference in their companies, communities and in themselves.
What kind of guests do you have?
Listeners can hear conversations with CEOs, C-level executives, owners, managers and people making a difference in the business world. Past guests have included SEO speaker and mentor Ferdinand Mehlinger [part of the elite team that transformed Backrub into Google] and digital transformation thought leader Vladimer Botsvadze [an advisory board member of the United States Artificial Intelligence Institute].
What inspired you to start it? What makes it unique?
I love meeting and talking to new people — my mission is to provide coaching and get people thinking big. The podcast allows me to have guests from all around the world to assist me in this mission. I want to really get to know the guest and what makes them who they are and then how that flows into their business.
Why are you a good host? Why should readers listen?
I don’t prepare questions and I don’t know who I am interviewing until 5-10 minutes before. I actively listen and am curious about the guests and their world and want to get to know the soul of the person. Listeners enjoy that the conversation is real, unscripted and has depth.
How many listeners do you have?
Close to 1 million downloads.
Were you surprised to find a community interested in your topic, or did you know it existed and just needed an outlet?
No. As a coach, I am in the trenches with people and companies from all around the globe. I have my finger on the pulse of what they want to know — how to get them unstuck on a business and life level.
What’s the most challenging thing about producing your podcast?
Nothing – I have a virtual team to do it all.
What’s surprised you most about podcasting?
I have more than 2,500 episodes now, but after 100 episodes, I had booking agencies from all over the world booking amazing guests on my show. I was not expecting that.
Who would be your dream guest to have on your podcast?
Mark Cuban — great guy, great story, real deal.
DAVID WACHLER
Jeweler based in Metro Detroit.
Podcast: Dropping Gems with David Wachler, available on Apple and Spotify.
What is your background and do you have a “day job?”
I’m a fourth-generation jeweler focusing on engagement rings, signed pieces and high-end watch trading. I work with my family at Wachler Estate Collection & Diamonds in Birmingham.
Tell me about your podcast?
I just launched in February, so it’s new. Dropping Gems is a show that I started to interview my clientele, focusing on the ‘gems’ of life. I believe their experience in life and business is something that everyone who’s interested can learn from and apply the wisdom to their own lives.
What kind of guests do you have?
My guests range from entrepreneurs and small-business owners, with upcoming guests ranging from judges, athletes, actors, comedians, artists — whoever supports my small business has a chance to be on the show. I also want to feature charity organizations that I believe in. My first goal is to reach 100 episodes.
What inspired you to start it? What makes it unique?
Getting to know my clients and their stories made me want to share them.
Why are you a good host? Why should readers listen?
I won’t say I’m a good host, but if you listen to the show you can let me know what you think. I’d ask people to consider listening to gain the wisdom someone else has to struggle for.
How many listeners do you have? What kind of feedback have you gotten?
On Apple and Spotify we did OK, but we just started. On TikTok, we hit almost 1 million views on a podcast clip, which was exciting.
Were you surprised to find a community interested in your topic, or did you know it existed and just needed an outlet?
I think anyone likes to see peoples’ success stories, which can be relatable and helpful to them.
What’s the most challenging thing about producing your podcast?
Finding the time to edit it and promote it while being a busy jeweler.
What’s surprised you most about podcasting?
How much fun it is.
Who would be your dream guest to have on your podcast?
Elon Musk.