Julia Frys and Alexis Driscoll: How Lifelong Friends Built A Million-View Podcast Brand By Blending Chaos and Calm

As part of my series of interviews about “5 things you need to know to create a very successful podcast”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Julia Frys and Alexis Driscoll.

Julia and Alexis known as Heartlyn Rae have been lifelong best friends since first grade. They have evolved into dynamic content creators and influential podcasters. Their journey has seen them grace huge stages, engage in illuminating conversations with accomplished individuals, and amass millions of views across various platforms.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would love to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit of your “personal backstory? What is your background and what eventually brought you to this particular career path?

Alexis: We’ve been best friends since we were kids, sharing everything along the way! We live together, work together, and basically do everything together. We have an unbreakable bond. We are completely opposite humans but somehow it works and we belong together. We started out as singers, but when the pandemic hit, we decided to film our lives. It turned out to be a great idea, and we haven’t looked back since!

Julia: I am the daughter of an immigrant mother who came to the United States from Poland. Strong women has been the message of my childhood. I grew up wanting to entertain. I always marched to the beat of my own drum, and always wanted to express myself creatively. Alexis and I grew up together and we had that in common, our creativity and hunger for more, to entertain, to share our gifts with the world. From community theatre as kids, to being singers in a country girls group, to moving to Nashville to pursue songwriting, to filming our everyday lives, we found a home on social media and an audience that appreciated the work we have done, all the work that we put in for 10 plus years.

Can you share a story about the most interesting thing that has happened to you since you started podcasting?

Alexis: One of the most captivating aspects for me is meeting our diverse array of guests and delving into their stories. It’s truly fascinating! From adult entertainers to esteemed authors, from reality TV personalities to trailblazing leaders, our guests span a spectrum of experiences and backgrounds. Exploring their lives and hearing their narratives has been an exhilarating journey filled with insight and discovery.

Julia: The most interesting thing that has happened for me was getting to interview guests that I myself have been a fan of. Guests that I have watched their content, seen them on TV, listened to their podcast, whatever it might be, being able to have them on our show and to be the one interviewing them is a dream come true, and also a new experience for us being on that side of the mic which has been such a fun experience learning and exploring that.

It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

Alexis: One of the most memorable mishaps/mistakes I encountered was serenading the wrong person during our drive-by singing videos. We used to cruise around, belting out tunes to unsuspecting individuals. However, on one occasion, we had a man throw a pen at our faces and then he proceeded to follow us all the way home, leading us on an unplanned detour to the police station before he finally made his exit. From that experience, I learned a valuable lesson: always approach the right people!

Julia: I am not best at paying attention to detail so I have uploaded the wrong videos or wrong episodes that weren’t correct. I also did not know how to work the recording equipment at first so some of our audio in the beginning was terrible! The lesson I learned is to pay attention to detail, triple check your work, and take the time to learn the skills to make your show better.

How long have you been podcasting and how many shows have you aired?

We have been podcasting for a little over a year and we have 92 episodes. We are so close to 100 episodes it’s pretty wild!

What are the main takeaways, lessons or messages that you want your listeners to walk away with after listening to your show?

Alexis: Our mission is for every listener to leave feeling truly understood and acknowledged. We aim to reassure them that, just like everyone else, we navigate life’s unpredictable twists and turns. From sharing our own chaotic worlds to the ups and downs of our dating escapades, we’re unafraid to speak candidly about the things many shy away from. Our goal is to infuse each episode with levity and entertainment, offering laughter and camaraderie. Ultimately, we strive to create a sense of unity, reminding everyone that we’re all in this journey together.

Julia: We strive to cultivate a vibe where our audience feels like they are one of the girls, and that they are right there beside us, sharing in our laughter, our learning, and even our tears. It’s about inviting them into our world, our conversations, and our experiences, and making them feel like they’re an integral part of the journey.

In your opinion what makes your podcast binge-listenable? What do you think makes your podcast unique from the others in your category? What do you think is special about you as a host, your guests, or your content?

Alexis: Our friendship is our secret sauce. With a bond forged since the first grade, we’re practically bursting with stories! What sets us apart is our willingness to share experiences that often defy belief. Plus, you get the added bonus of two distinct perspectives: I’m the outgoing extrovert, while Julia tends towards introversion. Our differing viewpoints add depth to our discussions, offering listeners a chance to connect with whichever side resonates most with them. It’s this dynamic interplay that makes our podcast truly special.

Julia: We like to think of ourselves as a perfect blend of chaos and calm. On one hand, there’s the whirlwind of lively banter, spontaneous laughter, and unexpected tangents that keep things unpredictable. On the other hand, there’s a sense of calm amidst the storm, as we navigate through topics with thoughtfulness and introspection. What really sets us apart, though, is our commitment to sharing our minds openly and authentically. We’re not afraid to voice our opinions, even when they differ.

Doing something on a consistent basis is not easy. Podcasting every work-day, or even every week can be monotonous. What would you recommend to others about how to maintain discipline and consistency? What would you recommend to others about how to avoid burnout?

Alexis: Burnout is undoubtedly a real challenge, but whenever I feel this way, I consider the alternative: working for someone else? Not my thing! I’ve given it a shot, and let’s just say, I’m not the best employee material. I’d much rather invest my time and energy into my own ventures. To stay on track, I’ve adopted a strategy of setting alarms throughout the day as reminders, especially for tasks like editing. My phone makes the obnoxious alarm sounds so frequently that those around me often roll their eyes, but hey, it’s what keeps me accountable and consistent.

Julia: As someone who struggles with burnout and lack of motivation at times, believe me there were and still are days that I would rather stay in bed all day and watch Netflix than put make up on and film. I try to see the bigger picture and imagine my end goal and what I really want, and that keeps me going. Easier said than done but I have to remind myself that consistency is key. I also am reading the book Atomic Habits which I recommend. 1% each day goes a long way.

What resources do you get your inspiration for materials from?

Honestly, scrolling through TikTok and Instagram gives us tons of inspiration. Also, just real life experiences. Every episode is an open book about our past relationships and what is currently happening in our lives. I’ve gotten very candid and personal opening up about embarrassing moments, all the way to more serious topics. We open up about friendships, wild encounters, and crazy stories from events that happen to us, nothing is off the table. We will be out and overhear something crazy and we’ll look at each other and say “let’s talk about that on the pod.”

Ok fantastic. Let’s now shift to the main questions of our discussion. Is there someone in the podcasting world who you think is a great model for how to run a really fantastic podcast? What are the ingredients that make that podcast so successful?

Alexis: Oh, there are a few that instantly come to mind! At the top of my list is “Call Her Daddy with Alex Cooper,” followed closely by “The Mel Robbins Podcast” and “Shrink Chicks.” Each of them has perfected a unique formula, infusing the podcasting sphere with their authentic voices. What draws me in is how they effortlessly blend entertainment with enlightenment. Whether I’m dying of laughter or soaking up new insights, I always walk away from each episode feeling enriched in some way.

Julia: There are so many incredible podcasters and shows out there, it is so hard to pick just one. But a particular genre that I love right now are the rewatch TV podcasts where the cast of your favorite shows rewatch episodes of their show and they share commentary and behind the scenes stories. Some examples I love right now are Pod Meets World, It’s Only Football, and especially Office Ladies since I love The Office. These podcasts are super fun to listen to because they are hosted by the cast and characters we all know and love from the shows. Anyone can create this style of podcast, just throw on your favorite show, take notes, hit record and share your thoughts and theories.

You are a very successful podcaster yourself. Can you share with our readers the five things you need to know to create an extremely successful podcast?

1. Have a consistent brand and theme of the show. The flow of the show, the music, the artwork, the colors, the aesthetic, it all matters. When I go to listen to a new show, I pay attention to the overall vibe of the show and I am drawn to shows sometimes just by their artwork. It’s the first thing you see when you’re browsing so make it eye grabbing to the audience you are catering to.
2. Have good audio. I can’t tell you how many times I want to get into a show so badly and they genuinely have great titles, and stories to share but if the audio is bad, I can’t get past the first few seconds.
3. You can get good gear without breaking the bank. A laptop, interface, and a good microphone will go a long way. We literally both had a ton of Shure SM58’s laying around from our band days and those are what we use and they sound great.
4. Record video for your podcast. Make the set up look nice, along with the video quality and create vertical clips of your best moments for social media. Put captions on them and edit them to move fast and to have elements that add a bit of flair to keep the audience interested.
5. Talk about what you want to talk about and not what you think you need to talk about. In order to have a successful podcast you need to be consistent and in order to be consistent you need to enjoy what you do. When we were finding our groove we were doing what we thought we had to do and we got burnt out on that. Once we started being our authentic selves and having fun the experience became so much for fulfilling.

Can you share some insight from your experience about the best ways to: 1) book great guests; 2) increase listeners; 3) produce it in a professional way; 4) encourage engagement; and 5) the best way to monetize it? (Please share a story or example for each, if you can.)

Alexis: We’re constantly on the lookout for fascinating individuals, whether it’s through our own outreach efforts or our encounters in person. We’re the duo at parties who can’t resist diving into a million and one questions, eager to uncover the unique stories that make each person tick. My curiosity has been a defining trait since childhood — I thrive on discovering more about others. I’d say to boost engagement, we’ve found success in creating viral clips made for social media, enticing listeners to tune into our podcast for the full story. As for monetization, we firmly believe that growing our viewership is key; the revenue streams will naturally follow with time and dedication.

Julia:

1. Make a list of individuals you’d love to have on your podcast. Consider experts in your niche, authors, influencers, or personalities with unique stories or perspectives. Then literally leverage your network and reach out. Highlight the benefits of appearing on your podcast, such as exposure to your audience, the opportunity to share their expertise or story, and potential cross-promotion opportunities. Make it clear how participating in your podcast can benefit them. A majority of our guests came from us reaching out over email or instagram. Don’t be afraid to just ask!
2. Know going into this that it is going to take a long time to build a loyal audience and to have a high listenership. Be ok with only 5 people listening to your episodes for a while. Be active on social media for the podcast so people can find you. Get as many people as you can to subscribe, rate and review. Stay consistent. We have had some viral videos on the podcast social channels and that is where most of our listeners find us.
3. You don’t need to go to a professional studio to create quality content. Although if you want to that is great! YouTube has been our best friend in this journey when it came to learning how to use the recording software, equipment and editing.
4. We love getting the audience involved whether it is using polls, stories, giveaways, we also have guests dm us or email us stories or questions to be read on the show, or they will tell us which guests they would like to see next.
5. The goal is to monetize the podcast through sponsorships and ads, and a network to support you. In the beginning it could be beneficial to reach out to your favorite companies and tell them you’ll place an ad break in your show in exchange for product. It’s a good way to get introduced to host read ads and it will make your show seem bigger than it is since you are already working with brands.

For someone looking to start their own podcast, which equipment would you recommend that they start with?

The Rode (Rodecaster Pro) audio recording device is everything a beginner will need to begin cutting podcasts. Pair that with some Shure sm-58 stage microphones, a couple pop filters, xlr cables, boom mic stands, and you’re in business. The great thing about getting started is technology has come so far. So far that the top notch equipment is both easily accessible and easy to use.

Ok. We are almost done. :-) Because of your position and work, you are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the greatest amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)

Alexis: How about a movement called “One Kind Act”? It would be all about spreading kindness, compassion, and empathy in our daily lives, both towards other people and the world around us. Imagine a world where every person, every day, commits to performing at least one kind act, no matter how small. It could be something as simple as holding the door open for someone, offering a smile to a stranger, picking up litter on the street, or volunteering at a local charity. Just a simple compliment can go so far for someone.

Julia: I think that what we do every single day is showing our authentic selves, and being ourselves unapologetically is so powerful. I hope this inspires people to be their weird selves, to not be afraid to look silly, and not be afraid to take a different path than what you think you should take. We are an example of leaving our home towns, not going to college, and marching to the beat of our own drum. It is scary but worth it, and we hope more people get the courage to follow their dreams like we did.

How can our readers follow you online?

You can find our podcast content everywhere @excusemyfriend and our comedy lifestyle content @heartlynrae and on all podcast streaming platforms you can find our show Excuse My Friend.

Thank you so much for sharing your time and your excellent insights! We wish you continued success.