Behind the Scenes: An MSB Hiatus (Patreon)

Hello all!

We've been between-seasons for a while now, but just because we aren't releasing episodes doesn't mean we aren't working on the podcast. This is a look behind-the-scenes at what we work on when we aren't under a weekly release deadline.

1. Next Season Preparations

This is the most obvious task - planning and preparing for the next season. We've watched F91 once, and each of us will watch it a few more times, organizing our thoughts and analysis, and brainstorming research ideas. Based on those notes, we'll decide how many episodes the season should be, and what we'd like to cover in each episode. From there, we can reach out to any guests we'd like to have on. 

Thom designs the new season cover-art and updates our website. I work on the world-events update. Both of us read. When it's for an episode, we often read articles, book chapters... shorter items, and usually just the parts that contribute to a specific research piece. Between seasons there's more time to read whole books that provide useful background.

2. Business Planning, Paperwork, Merch & Supplies

Certain things tend to get back-burnered when we're in the middle of a season. The between-seasons hiatus is often when we design and order merch for patron rewards, work on the marketing plan, review the budget, research alternative vendors for services, take inventory and order supplies... 

Most exciting for me is that I'll be able to send Lt. Matilda-tier patrons a bunch of NEW goodies soon! The packing supplies are here, the merch is all designed and ordered, we are just waiting on one last thing to arrive and then it will be time to pack and ship.

Plus, we're talking through ideas for this year's contest, and preparing the MSB Year 4 pin!

3. The Rest of Life

We may seem like podcast-making machines (which I mean in the best possible way!), but we have a lot of other interests and plans. Visits with family, helping loved ones move, fixing things around the house, working on side projects - all things more likely to get done between seasons of the podcast.

4. Rest!

It's been a tough couple of years, and like a lot of you, we're feeling burnt out. For us, it's not that we're fed up or no longer like our job, but that we don't have as much energy to bring to it as we used to. Everything feels a bit more difficult, a bit more taxing. Which means that, even though there's lots to do, we try to work at an easier pace and get plenty of rest.

We'll have another update for you in a couple of weeks, but until then, you can reach us through Patreon messages or by email at hosts@gundampodcast.com.