50 - JD Lewis & Tom Stuart interview Mark Kondrat

For the podcast’s 50th episode we’re doing something special: flipping the table with the help of CJAY’s JD Lewis and Village’s Tom Stuart. With JD and Tom in the interviewer seat we talk about lessons learned in the last 49 episodes and what’s to come in the next 50.

Of course the big question is “why did you do it?” You might be surprised to find out that I started Let’s Meet For A Beer as an experiment. Not having grown up as someone who was naturally comfortable asking questions of people, I'd later learn putting a microphone in front of someone’s face is a great way to get them to answer questions that might raise eyebrows if I had asked them in a different setting.

I hit the ground running with the podcast, explaining that early on there was no specific strategy to who I interviewed, simply sitting down for a beer with people I found interesting and inspiring. Getting those interesting and inspiring people to open up isn’t too hard as most everyone loves to share their stories, but crafting an engaging interview that keeps people listening takes hard work and some inspiration. I am inspired by the legendary David Letterman, and I also share some tips for other would-be podcast hosts like the importance of sending your guest a list of questions in advance.

Long time listeners of the show will know already that we tend to get great insights and advice from the guests on Let’s Meet For A Beer, so naturally the guys get me to do the same. Any advice I'd give is based on severe trial and error, but after little prodding I talk about living without a “plan b” and being all-in as an entrepreneur, and about the importance of finding the John Candys in your life.

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Get your own copy of the books and music discussed in this episode:

Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers | Islands In The Stream

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Let’s Meet For A Beer!

Alberta Beer Festivals: website | twitter | instagram

Mark Kondrat: twitter | instagram

JD Lewis: website | twitter | instagram

Tom Stuart: twitter