Wellman

Chances are you have listened to a podcast a time or two. There are podcasts on all kinds of topics, each with its own focus and audience.

Soon, there will be one centered on Wellman.

Wellman council member Nathan Klostermann is preparing to launch a podcast, which he mentioned at a recent city council meeting. He also announced it on social media and shared the logo.

The podcast will focus on Wellman, preserving its history, celebrating its people and sharing stories from “The Town That Cares.”

Klostermann has wanted to start a podcast for quite some time. He said he began listening to them back when people had to download episodes to a computer and transfer them to an iPod.

“I’ve been listening to podcasts since the days when you had to download them from your computer to your iPod, before phones could play them.”

He became interested in podcasts early on. “It’s a medium I’ve been interested in for a number of years.”

He recalled downloading episodes to listen to on his way to work. “So I’d download a bunch of podcasts to listen to on my way to work, Joe Rogan, Adam Carolla and anything about movies.”

After thinking about it for a while, Klostermann decided in June to move ahead with a podcast about Wellman and the stories of the town. Once he committed to the idea, he purchased a domain name for its website.

As a musician, he already had much of the equipment he needed. “So thankfully, as a musician, I already own the microphones and headphones.”

Klostermann said he has not settled on the recording software yet, but he described the process he expects to use.

“Theoretically, the workflow would be to sit down, hit record, upload it to the computer, put it on Audacity and then from there upload it to Spotify.”

He also spent time working on the podcast’s logo. Klostermann came up with the design and used AI to help create it, making adjustments until it looked the way he wanted. He said he chose black and gold to represent Mid-Prairie’s colors.

“I wanted to make sure the bandshell was there, and the sand grains on it, for sure. I was able to draw up what I thought it would look like.”

The podcast’s slogan is “Giving you the scope, because you give a whoop.”

Klostermann plans to release episodes biweekly, or twice a month, beginning in October. That would mean about 26 episodes over a full year, and he has already started making a list of potential guests.

“I’ve got a list of basically if I get 26 episodes done, I’ve got a list of 26 people.”

He hopes to invite community members and local leaders, including people from Wellman and potentially nearby communities such as Kalona, Riverside and Washington.

The podcast will be available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Klostermann said he plans to upload episodes through Spotify for Creators, which will also allow him to see how many people listen. He can follow the response on the podcast’s Facebook page as well.

“It will tell me how many people have listened to the episode, and of course, like on Facebook, I know how many people are following on the page.”

Klostermann does not want episodes to run longer than they need to, but he wants to give guests room for a good conversation. He said an episode could last an hour or two if the discussion leads to new ideas.

“Giving people time to expand on their ideas lets you have more nuanced conversations. That’s when new ideas start to come up. You might realize one approach won’t work, but the conversation leads you to another option. You can really get into the details with people and get to know them instead of just asking surface-level questions.”

Klostermann knows there are already many podcasts out there. He wants to have a community focus and cover a subject he cares about.

“Everybody has a podcast, so mine is just one in a sea of them. That’s part of why I thought I should focus on development and find a niche. Right now, it’s not about how many listeners I get or making money. It’s about focusing on something I’m passionate about.”

He has not chosen a release day, though he is considering Fridays. Once he sets a schedule, he wants to keep it.

“I haven’t decided what date yet, so it’s probably Friday.”

“Once I set a date, the goal is to stick to it. If it comes out on Friday mornings, I want to be consistent.”

Klostermann has also thought about sponsorships. He would prefer most of that support to come from Wellman, though a sponsor would not necessarily have to be based there.

“It doesn’t have to be based in Wellman, but I’d prefer most of the sponsorship to come from Wellman.”

He said any sponsorship should also be a good fit for both sides. “We’re not going to accept a sponsorship just because it’s offered. It has to make sense for both sides.”

Klostermann is already active in the community through the city council, the Wellman Community Club and the Wellman golf board. Now, he hopes the podcast will give people another way to learn about Wellman and those who call it home.