{"id":26941,"date":"2019-02-15T23:11:00","date_gmt":"2019-02-16T03:11:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/?post_type=bu-article&#038;p=26941"},"modified":"2021-04-30T02:56:16","modified_gmt":"2021-04-30T06:56:16","slug":"podcasting-partners-in-crime-comtalk","status":"publish","type":"bu-article","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/articles\/podcasting-partners-in-crime-comtalk\/","title":{"rendered":"Podcasting Partners in Crime"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"\/com\/files\/2019\/02\/partners-in-crime-banner-1-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"The hosts of That's Why We Drink, Christine Schiefer (\u201915) and Em Schulz (\u201915).\" class=\"wp-image-19653\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2019\/02\/partners-in-crime-banner-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2019\/02\/partners-in-crime-banner-1-636x424.jpg 636w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2019\/02\/partners-in-crime-banner-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2019\/02\/partners-in-crime-banner-1-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2019\/02\/partners-in-crime-banner-1-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2019\/02\/partners-in-crime-banner-1-1499x1000.jpg 1499w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2019\/02\/partners-in-crime-banner-1-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2019\/02\/partners-in-crime-banner-1-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2019\/02\/partners-in-crime-banner-1-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<h2>PODCASTING PARTNERS IN CRIME<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>It took a move to LA for two classmates to find friendship, and success, with the podcast&nbsp;And That\u2019s Why We Drink<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>By Emma Guill\u00e9n<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m so excited by this story\u2014so excited,\u201d Em Schulz says at the beginning of episode 86 of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.andthatswhywedrink.com\/\">And That\u2019s Why We Drink<\/a>, a podcast focused on true crime and paranormal stories. \u201cI\u2019ve never done so much research,\u201d Schulz says before launching into an hour-long rendition of the story of Harold the haunted doll, a possessed toy that leaves a trail of tragedy in its path.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"linked-list\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"linked-list__title\">Bonus Audio<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t<ul class=\"linked-list__list\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"linked-list__item\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"linked-list__link\" href=\"http:\/\/10up-dev1.cms-devl.bu.edu\/com-legacy\/comtalk\/podcasting-partners-in-crime\/#zodiac\">\n\t\t\t\t\tAnd That\u2019s Why We Drink Episode 86: The Haunted Doll Market and 420 Zodiac\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"linked-list__item\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"linked-list__link\" href=\"http:\/\/10up-dev1.cms-devl.bu.edu\/com-legacy\/comtalk\/podcasting-partners-in-crime\/#aid\">\n\t\t\t\t\tAnd That\u2019s Why We Drink Episode 1: Francis Ford \u201cCupola\u201d and the Off-Brand Kool-Aid\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Schulz\u2019s podcasting partner, Christine Schiefer reacts with gasps and profane exclamations. She also monitors a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/io9.gizmodo.com\/meet-the-emf-meter-the-little-tool-that-ghost-hunters-5875212\">ghost-hunter\u2019s EMF meter<\/a>&nbsp;for fluctuations, and occasionally refills her wine glass. Then it\u2019s her turn\u2014she\u2019s the true-crime half of the team\u2014and she counters Harold with the story of the Zodiac Killer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Schiefer (\u201916) and Schulz (\u201916) studied together at COM, but only became friends after reconnecting in Los Angeles. While they pursued television careers, the two began hanging out. As their friendship blossomed, they realized they spent most of their time talking about true crime and sharing paranormal stories; eventually, they decided to turn their sometimes spooky, always hilarious conversations into a podcast. They\u2019re hardly alone in launching a podcast\u2014<a href=\"https:\/\/appleinsider.com\/articles\/18\/06\/05\/itunes-hosts-over-550000-active-podcasts-surpasses-50-billion-episode-downloads\">by one estimate<\/a>, 25,000 podcast titles were added to iTunes in April and May 2018 alone\u2014but Schiefer and Schulz found an audience with&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.andthatswhywedrink.com\/\">And That\u2019s Why We Drink<\/a>. Two years after recording their first episode, they\u2019ve surpassed one million downloads and now tour the US recording the show live in front of sold-out crowds. The hosts mix the natural banter of close friends with the gruesome details of unsolved murders, exorcisms, cannibalism\u2014and one demonic doll.&nbsp;COMtalk&nbsp;asked Schiefer and Schulz more about the origins of their podcast and how they\u2019re handling its success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-question\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\">COMtalk: Tell us a little about your friendship and what it\u2019s like to collaborate on this podcast.<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-answer\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\"><em>Christine Schiefer:<\/em>&nbsp;We were in a class of about 15 [at COM], but were never close, despite living across the street from one another. It wasn\u2019t until we were both in LA, and both pretty lonely, that we decided it might be time to reconnect. Em invited me to a harvest festival and as we trudged through a muddy corn maze and cheered on the pigs during a hog race, we realized we were destined to be friends. I\u2019m pretty sure Em just wanted to hang out with my dog, Gio. I let it slide, though, because I loved hearing Em\u2019s ghost stories.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-question\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\">What was your introduction to podcasts?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-answer\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\"><em>Schiefer:<\/em>&nbsp;When I first moved out to LA, I felt pretty isolated and directionless. Listening to podcasts wasn\u2019t only a distraction, but also an awesome way to feel connected. People sometimes say this about our show, but it\u2019s true that listening to a podcast you love can feel like you\u2019re hanging out with friends. The first podcast I ever listened to was&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.astonishinglegends.com\/\">Astonishing Legends<\/a>.<br><br><strong>READ MORE<\/strong><br><em>What makes a great podcast? Get advice from BU experts in \u201cPodcasting Finds Its Voice.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-question\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\">Do you remember the moment when the idea for&nbsp;And That\u2019s Why We Drink<br>&nbsp;was born?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-answer\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\"><em>Em Schulz:<\/em>&nbsp;[After] two months of Christine and I hanging out every day and sharing creepy stories, I was sitting at work and thought it would be a fun friend project to record our conversations. I had no idea that anyone would listen to us.<br><br><em>Schiefer:<\/em>&nbsp;I was scared to commit to such a big project with someone I had only just befriended. We brainstormed topics and it didn\u2019t take long for us to land on paranormal and true crime, as those were the two topics we were most familiar with and had the most fun talking about. We really struggled with the podcast\u2019s name, though. We\u2019re embarrassed to admit that our podcast was originally called&nbsp;Eerie &amp; Theory. It wasn\u2019t until we invested almost all our money in audio equipment on blind faith alone that one of us said, \u201cThat\u2019s why I drink.\u201d There was a long pause and we knew the name had to be changed.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-question\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\">You both studied television at COM. Did the program teach you certain skills that have influenced or helped shape the podcast?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-answer\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\"><em>Schiefer:<\/em>&nbsp;The most applicable one for me is storytelling. It was at BU that I realized I wanted to write for a living, and COM helped me hone my craft and strengthen my voice.<br><br><em>Schulz:<\/em>&nbsp;My production design class at BU got me interested in building props, designing for movies, and ultimately working in the graphics department. Because of that, our logo was created\u2014and having a logo was one of the first things we celebrated together as cohosts.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-question\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\">Since beginning the podcast in February of 2017, you\u2019ve surpassed a million downloads. What do you think has made&nbsp;ATWWD<br>&nbsp;so successful?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-answer\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\"><em>Schiefer:<\/em>\u202fWe ask ourselves that every day! This isn\u2019t something we ever expected, but turning a passion into a fun project has carried us this far. Nothing about our research and recording sessions has felt like work.<br><br><em>Schulz:<\/em>&nbsp;Everyone we\u2019ve spoken to about the show has said that they love our friendship, hearing us laugh at each other and be goofy together. True crime and the paranormal are also themes that are always interesting, so the stories can be entertaining for people of all demographics.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-question\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\">What has changed since you\u2019ve started working on the podcast full time?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-answer\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\"><em>Schiefer:<\/em>&nbsp;It\u2019s not all sitting around drinking wine and watching ghost shows, although that\u2019s part of the gig, too. Because we built this from the ground up, it\u2019s been a crash course in business management. I never thought I\u2019d know the ins and outs of small business labor law in California, and yet here I am. All that being said, it\u2019s all been worth it to create our own dream careers.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-question\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\">Walk us through the process of creating weekly episodes.<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-answer\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\"><em>Schiefer:<\/em>&nbsp;When we first started the podcast, we picked topics that were near and dear to our hearts, or ones we knew well. As time went on, we started to rely on our listeners to tell us what they wanted to hear. We have a long list of listener suggestions that we reference if we\u2019re not sure what to cover that week. Our listeners have sent us a lot of crazy topics that we\u2019ve never even heard of before.<br><br><em>Schulz:<\/em>&nbsp;I wish it sounded more professional, but I get my stories off of Google. We also have a backlog of requests that listeners have sent in, so when I have a creative block, I use that list. I find as much information as I can on the story, break it down into a page of notes, and then read off the page to Christine. We don\u2019t have anything scripted, otherwise the reactions wouldn\u2019t be real.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-question\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\">Do you work in a studio?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-answer\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\"><em>Schiefer:<\/em>&nbsp;If by \u201cstudio\u201d you mean the spare room in my house, then yes! Although a lot has changed, many things have stayed the same. We still record out of my house, still use the same audio equipment we bought two years ago and are still incredulous at how far the show has come.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-question\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\">What exactly is involved in running a professional podcast?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-answer\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\"><em>Schulz:<\/em>&nbsp;Now that the podcast has taken off, the most important things for us are scheduling and upkeep: staying on top of emails, planning our recording schedule in advance, maintaining a social media presence, checking in on merch inventory and inquiries, prepping story notes and travel itineraries and, of course, editing future episodes. The big trick these days is doing all of this while also on the road. I\u2019m glad I\u2019m in this with Christine: When one of us is overwhelmed, we\u2019re both really good at handling things for each other.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-question\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\">What are some challenges of touring and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.andthatswhywedrink.com\/live\/\">performing live<\/a>?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-answer\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\"><em>Schiefer:<\/em>\u202fTouring is exhilarating, but exhausting\u2014I\u2019m typing this out after my first full night of sleep in three weeks. I just feel lucky that Em and I get to go on this crazy adventure together. As for performing live, that preshow panic never seems to go away, but I think that\u2019s just part of the process. We both try to be really open about mental health and our struggles with anxiety, and I think that resonates with people, which helps if we ever come off a bit scatterbrained onstage.<br><br><em>Schulz:<\/em>&nbsp;I still have stage fright, but luckily I found the right antianxiety medication to get me through it. It\u2019s helped a lot and because of that we\u2019ve been able to perform at some great venues.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-question\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\">Do you see&nbsp;ATWWD<br>&nbsp;as your future, or do you intend to branch out?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-answer\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\"><em>Schiefer:<\/em>&nbsp;It\u2019s our main career focus. That being said, we\u2019re currently working with a few people on expanding the podcast in other ways, and we\u2019re extremely excited to get started on some new projects. I can\u2019t say too much because it\u2019s all super top secret, but keep an eye out for some exciting announcements in the near future.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<p><em>This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>PODCASTING PARTNERS IN CRIME It took a move to LA for two classmates to find friendship, and success, with the&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15895,"featured_media":19653,"template":"","meta":{"bu_prepress_billboard":"","_bu_prepress_primary_term":"","_bu_prepress_primary_term_manual":""},"categories":[962],"tags":[1466,1484],"bu-publication":[],"discipline-type":[],"bu_edition":[],"media_type":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article\/26941"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/bu-article"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15895"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article\/26941\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26944,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article\/26941\/revisions\/26944"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19653"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26941"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26941"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26941"},{"taxonomy":"bu-publication","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-publication?post=26941"},{"taxonomy":"discipline-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/discipline-type?post=26941"},{"taxonomy":"bu_edition","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu_edition?post=26941"},{"taxonomy":"media_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media_type?post=26941"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}