by ron evans
TPDM HOSTS: BRIAN DESHAZO, LUKE ATKINSON, KATIE ATKINSON
During the great Hunkering Down of 2020, podcasts will likely be helping everyone stay sane-ish, and you have plenty to choose from (over 800,000 according to a recent article by Forbes). At least one of them is created right here in sleepy ol’ Wenatchee - This Probably Doesn’t Matter, co-hosted by local comedian and promoter Luke Atkinson.
“The initial groundwork for This Probably Doesn’t Matter was laid in a low-ceiling, dimly-lit, dank shed in the winter of 2017. Brian DeShazo and myself really fell in love with podcasts as a form of broadcasting, and it quickly became evident that we needed to throw our hat in the ring. Many a beer were drank and cigarettes smoked in that same shed while we hammered out the vision for what TPDM would eventually become. It took us a year to actually get the podcast live. Something else we learned early on was that Katie, my wife and co-host, needed to be behind a microphone, and she now joins me on (almost) every episode. Brian has been a recurring guest and host. He’s also spending an absurd amount of time editing most episodes. He is the closest thing we have to an audio engineer, which he would tell you does not mean much, but we are very grateful for his efforts.”
How often are you putting out your shows?
Right now, we are putting out one episode per month. I would love to see this ramp-up in the future, but for now we are taking it one month at a time.
What was your aim with the podcast concerning subject matter and demographic?
As far as the demographic goes, I would like to think that our guests are interesting people and everyone should listen to them. I understand that we are not everyone’s cup of tea, as adult language and themes frequently arise (and depending on how many beers I’ve had can take on a life of their own.) I really feel like there are thousands of unique and compelling stories in all of us, and I want this to be a platform on which people can express those stories. So to boil it down, if you can put up with listening to me, you will hear some pretty cool stories from interesting characters, aspiring artists, and folks a lot smarter than myself.
Give us an example of a few of your favorite episodes or guests.
I can’t imagine a more difficult question, as the three of us have truly enjoyed getting to know all of our guests. Each of us might have a different personal favorite episode, but collectively two of our favorites were Bandits of the Animal Kingdom (Ep. #12) and Matthew Pippin (Ep. #13). Danny and Amanda from Bandits of the Animal Kingdom have become a formidable presence in the local music scene, and they’re also fantastic people who’ve become good friends of ours. Anyone who knows Matthew needs no explanation on why this episode is a must-listen. If you don’t know him, you’ll quickly learn that his charm and wit fill a room and we had an awesome time talking with him.
I would be remiss if I did not point you toward my favorite episode: Geoff Is Butthurt. Brian, Geoff Knapp and I survive a dangerous motor-vehicle accident thanks to my million-dollar maneuvers, while Geoff’s wife shows calm under extreme pressure, helping us make it to Joe Rogan and Dave Chappelle's sold-out comedy show at the Tacoma Dome. We recorded it in the wee hours of August 3rd, 2019 at the exquisitely trashy Travelodge in Tacoma. Post-wreck analysis, post-show antics, and much more!
What are your hopes for the future concerning the show’s progression?
Right off the bat we have a long list of guests that we still want to invite. We have hosted some live events in the past and look forward to exploring possibilities for doing so in the future. Frequency and consistency regarding episode releases continues to be a goal we strive toward, and we hope to provide even more types of content in the near future.
Are there any plans to do anything special during the virus shut down?
Yes, absolutely! We are planning a dive into the livestream world, and while I can make no promises as to production value, plan on seeing a livestream from This Probably Doesn’t Matter very soon.
The podcast is available on all major platforms (i.e. iTunes, Spotify, Youtube, ect.). If you find your podcasts elsewhere, just search This Probably Doesn’t Matter. Make sure to also check us out on Facebook and Instagram (@thisprobablydoesntmatter), and please join the mailing list on our website: www.thisprobablydoesntmatter.com (possibly the world’s most-neglected website).
