In Toulouse, these amateurs who create podcasts out of passion
Thomas Forest is a Toulouse addicted to podcasts. He set up the PodShows label and organizes a meeting between amateurs on July 16th.
Thomas Forest, 35, is a web project manager by day and a podcast host by night. And in his spare time, he works to bring other podcasters together. In particular via its PodShows association which organizes the “Podrosé” a meeting, on July 16, at the Level Up bar to bring together fans of this discipline. The meeting should make it possible to put a face to the voices of programs such as “l’ApérOriginal”, “Les mysteries mystiques” or “Un livre une Semaine”.
In 2020, Thomas created the PodShows label, a non-profit association with a mission to encourage “digital audio expression by providing free means and tools”. It includes 23 podcasts accumulating more than 60,500 listens per month (on average). Thomas’ passion is not new: “When I was young, I was already recording fake radio shows and now I’m doing it for real,” he says. It launched in 2007 and shares numerous creations online. Like a relaxation program around space stories, a program to offer video games “Myst” and “P2P”, which he has co-hosted for 10 years.
“A gigantic plurality of subjects”
It is the total freedom of the media that gives the Toulousain. “Everyone can have their say, the trick is to express their interests, even if it’s a niche subject. You can type any term in the search bar, there will always be someone who talks about it with stars in their eyes. As amateur podcasts are not designed to reach a large audience, this avoids the race for profitability. And a gigantic plurality of subjects ensues. And, unlike the radio, it allows you to listen to what you want when you want. The podcast is punk”, laughs Thomas Forest.