PERSONAL trainer and gym owner Josh Driscoll has always enjoyed meeting new, interesting people, valuing any opportunity to create connections and build networks in Ballarat.<\/p>\n
But in more recent times, he didn\u2019t feel comfortable to message someone and ask if they wanted to meet over a coffee.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt felt really weird, and that they weren\u2019t going to get much out of it, so I thought, if I had a place where we could meet, record a podcast, and they could tell their story, it would be a lot nicer,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Twenty-seven weeks ago, Mr Driscoll harnessed his curiosity and began producing the Ballarat Talks podcast. Regularly, he has a one-on-one, relaxed conversation with a guest; a new connection who is making a difference in the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I am curious to know about a person, their life, what they do and how they do it, that\u2019s why I get them on.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just a normal conversation that\u2019s taped, without a plan, and at the end I ask five questions; what\u2019s something people would be surprised to know about you? What do you love the most? What are you most afraid of? What\u2019s something someone has said to you that has never left you, and who do you want to see on the podcast next?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m enjoying learning things about Ballarat that you might not otherwise know about. There are so many people out there that you wouldn\u2019t expect are in Ballarat.\u201d<\/p>\n
With 27 episodes in the back catalogue, guests have included Revolution Print\u2019s Leon Wilson, Plate Up Ballarat\u2019s Kate Davis, Mitchell Harris Wines\u2019 John Harris, and The Little Cupcake\u2019s Madeleine Witham.<\/p>\n
Ballarat Talks is recorded on the top level of the Regent Cinemas. The Regent\u2019s owner, Steve Anderson, offered this space to Mr Driscoll for free and he has created his own fit-for-purpose mini studio.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe building is incredible, and one of the most iconic in Ballarat so it\u2019s an experience for people to get to come up. It\u2019s a really cool spot.\u201d<\/p>\n