Meet Quentin Milliones | Podcast Host
We had the good fortune of connecting with Quentin Milliones and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Quentin, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I traditionally do not like to think of myself as a risk taker and traditionally do NOT take risks. However, since starting the Qool Hand Podcast, I’ve taken many risks, mainly being financial. Since the start of the podcast in 2019, I have had the desire to create what I viewed as a professional podcast. I went from using a basic USB powered microphone and posting episodes on SoundCloud to buying more equipment geared toward a professional sound and look and having the podcast available on mainstream podcast streaming outlets, such as Spotify, YouTube and Apple Podcasts. I’ve taken trips on my own dime, whether by flight or car to get to a destination to interview a creative or document an artist’s work in person. Investing in microphones, podcast recording devices, cameras and more to achieve my vision also have contributed to the financial risk of spending without expectation of seeing a return on investment. At the same time, I never got into this field with the idea to monetize. There is a foundation of love for the craft and looking to challenge myself. I also do not view myself as an outgoing person and can sometimes be overly self conscious. That being said, in a sense there is a risk of embarrassment that comes with being “ghosted” or people not responding to my outreach to be a guest on the podcast. Diving into someone’s dm without having prior communication with them is out of the norm for me, but it’s necessary to get the job done. I realize taking risks is a part of stepping out of your comfort zone.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Planning, strategizing, messaging, filming, setting up- ALL of these things are involved and keeps me busy doing the podcast. I often have guests on the show, either virtually or in person. I message them via social media or text message to inquire their interest in being interviewed or a guest on the platform. If they are interested, we then proceed to set up a date and time and I usually give the guest an overview of what to expect from the podcast. Once an episode is recorded, then begins the editing process. Virtual interviews are much easier to edit and release, as it’s usually done on the RiversideFM platform, which will use AI to create clips for posting on social media. And unless someone during a virtual interview says anything that can be deemed inappropriate, I do not have much to cut out before releasing. On the other hand, in person interviews are much more work. I use three cameras to capture different angles of the episode: a main camera angle which captures both myself and the guest, and two separate angles that have a close up of each person’s face. The editing process for this is longer and time consuming, which often delays the recording and release of other episodes I have in mind. I also do solo episodes, where I review music, fashion brands and speak on miscellaneous topics. These episodes require extensive note taking in order to have talking points to build a full length episode to record and release. I also make separate episodes for paying Patreon subscribers, where episodes are released exclusively on this platform for paying members. This all keeps me pretty busy! Outside of the recording and editing process, I try to think of different ways to market the podcast. Because I spend most of my time recording and editing, the marketing falls short. I know there are various ways to get your content ‘out there’. It’s just a matter of creating the time to do these things. My goal is to get sponsors and possibly make enough money where I can outsource many of the things that require most of my time. Until then, I’m gonna keep grinding!
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
In Pittsburgh, there are a ton of vintage spots I can take you to: Zeds, Monarch Studios, Heat Check, Boheme Vintage and The Closet Pgh. Depending on the season, you can always catch a Pittsburgh Steelers, Pirates or Penguins game, too. Pittsburgh also has the Andy Warhol Museum, which currently has a collaborative exhibit with KAWS on display through the end of 2024. We also have the Kennywood Amusement park if you like a thrill. If you’re a music head like myself, you can see live music and djs at Spirit Hall, Mr. Smalls or Club Cafe, to name a few. When it comes to food, we have restaurants limited to the city that you can try like Pamela’s, Primanti Brothers, and Eat n Park. Overall, Pittsburgh has a lot of niche spots in each borough. The Southside of Pittsburgh, the Strip District and Lawrenceville would probably be my go-to for food and drinks.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The biggest shoutout goes to my wife, Kayla, who supports the podcast in any way she can. She’s designed logos, artwork, ideas & has assisted with working the cameras behind the scenes for my episodes. Without her, there is no Qool Hand Podcast. My close friends are also a source of encouragement and inspiration. My brother, Samson, plays a vital role with ideas for content creation as well. He’s someone who is creative himself and loves to push others in the right direction. There have been many creative people who I’ve encountered over the years doing this podcast which I credit to them as a role in my success. One of them is Chef Rashida Thom out of the DMV area. She was one of the first guests I had on the podcast via Zoom. I did not know her prior to inviting her on the podcast and didn’t know what to expect. After interviewing her, the avenue opened up for me to interview others and gave me the confidence to do more virtual interviews. Another interview that had a big impact on me was one with Christian aka Peezo out of Atlanta. We initially interviewed virtually over Zoom during the pandemic and he spoke about his upcoming clothing brand, Castillet. After interviewing him, my following went up on Instagram, which allowed me to meet more creatives similar to him. Nowadays, most of the clothing I wear is from Castillet, Zoomin Live, Volare Toro, Always Respect Time or another brand which I discovered through the podcast. If I haven’t interviewed the people I’ve encountered; I wouldn’t know about these gems. Their work ethic inspires me to keep going.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/qoolhandpod/?hl=en
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@qoolhandpodcast
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