09 November 2010 ~ 13 Comments

How A Passion For Macs Turned Into A Full Time Online Income: An Interview with Don McAllister from ScreencastsOnline.com – FA022

Audio Interviews

Learn From The Same Mentor Who Taught Me How To Turn My Hobby Podcast Into A Real Internet Business

I’ve said on the show several times that I almost quit IzzyVideo if it hadn’t been for one man I met at the New Media Expo several years ago.   I was so happy when that mentor agreed to be on the show and share his lessons learned in running a business online, specifically a video podcast.

I learned the basics of my business model from Don McAllister, the host of ScreencastsOnline. The things he showed me had an enormous impact on me and my life.  And frankly, his willingness to share with me is one of the reasons I want to share what I’ve learned with you.

His story is inspiring and packed full of great lessons.  Enjoy!

All the best,

Izzy

You can also right-click here to save the audio file.

For another great interview on turning your Passion Into Profits, listen to The Wood Whisperer give an insider look into his online business: http://foolishadventure.com/audio/fa011-how-to-quit-your-job-and-live-your-passion/

  • Anonymous

    Don’s description of his normal week and the sheer amount of production time was such a validation to hear. This is a great peek behind the curtain of everything that goes into producing a weekly show. It makes you tired thinking about it, now I have to go back to my video editing, great show guys and thanks for sharing Don.

  • Ohpopp

    I’m not even through the podcast and I have to say how great Don’s voice sounds considering he is 5000 miles away. He sounds like he is in the studio with you. What type of link/software/hardware are you using to connect with Don. I just can’t get over how great he sounds compared to the typical scratchy Skype feed I hear from other websites/podcasts. Great job on this part.

  • http://www.izzyvideo.com IzzyVideo

    Hey, thanks. I think the good sound quality is due to a couple things:

    1) Don McAllister has great audio gear that sweetens his voice, so we have
    good audio to begin with.

    2) I’ve started outsourcing the audio editing to an audio engineer, and this
    was the first episode he worked on. I was impressed with the sound quality
    too.

    Thanks for the kind words!

    All the best,

    Izzy

  • patricia

    Dear Izzy, Tim and Don:

    The more I listen to your Foolish Adventures episodes the more I want to partner with you. Though I know I am a nobody right now with tons of excellent ideas! The more I listen to your episodes, the more I like you. You are my heros. You are genuine! (not very much of this going around in this world nowadays).

    Your business model of selling through education is exactly my cup of tea.

    I have a fabulous terrific business idea that I think can revolutionize the world! Helping people who are older (50 and over) to create an online business (and with that helping the unemployed and depressed). How?: Asking the young super duper techie’s to help the older population (who have lost their job and are unemployed and are living on social security) to create an online business and make money. I want to inspire older people to become excited about life! I want to help older people get out of the hole! they are in. (Maybe because I want to help myself also. I am 54 but feel like a teenager at heart!)

    Could I speak with you personally over the phone or by e-mail to support this idea? (I would even be willing to fly to Arizona to discuss this). Though I come from a non-profit background, I do not want to create a non-profit (it is too problematic). But I do want to help older people who are depressed because they have lost their job or live with a meager wages to create their own online business at the comfort of their own home. I would like the young to help the old. I know you are very busy and must have hundred’s of people wanting to do business with you. However, if this sounds interesting to you and you have a social entrepreneuriship spiriti in you who loves to make money while helping other make money, please call me at my cell: 832-428-8371 (Houston) or e-mail me at: patriciawydler@gmail.com or lobisima@sbcglobal.net.

    I am a strong believer that helping people can go hand in hand with making money (I do not think for a minute that money is evil. Though I used to think thiat way in the past. I come from a Catholic family that has that philosophy.)

    Thanks

    Patricia

  • Ohpopp

    Hi Izzy,
    Thanks for the info. I watch Don on YouTube and have seen his gear in the background so I knew he would send a good signal. The other part of my question was how you connected the telephone to your computer or recorder? Did you use a special device? Thanks.

  • Ohpopp

    Just finished listening to the interview with Don. Thanks for asking the questions that I would have asked. Wow. He is so low key (in a good way) that it would be easy to underestimate his skill. Just watching his YouTube channel shows a little of the depth and breadth of what he knows and has shared with others. I’m guessing Tim would encourage Don to look into other avenues to monetize his archive in new ways (selling courses, etc.). This interview just flew by. That’s how I could tell how much I was enjoying it. I enjoyed learning additional background about Don’s career before becoming self-employed. It is great knowing you can make a decent living and not have employees. Cudos to all.

  • http://www.izzyvideo.com IzzyVideo

    The connection to the computer goes like this:

    We bring Don in via Skype on a Macbook Pro. The ‘audio out’ from the
    computer is brought into a mixer. The mixer is attached to my computer via
    Firewire.

    That’s how we do it. :)

    I hope that helps…

    All the best,

    Izzy

  • Ohpopp

    Hi Izzy,
    It helps a lot. Exactly what I wanted to know! Thanks.

  • Barry Vaughn

    I love this episode for a few reasons. Obviously, the story of Don’s experience and how he made his way to this type of business. It spoke to me because I’m at the same place Don was when he started – I’m a Solution Architect with a big IT company and feeling sort of burned out on the whole thing. I think the other biggest nugget that I took away was the idea that Don was just sharing the things he loved and just kept plugging away at it with the notion of high production/content standards. Those seem to be the key ingredients – really content is still king.

    Izzy & Tim – I have a feeling that soon someone in this audience will invite you guys on their show to interview you as the reason they got started (if it hasn’t already happened).

    Take care,
    Barry

  • http://www.izzyvideo.com IzzyVideo

    Hi Barry!

    That hasn’t happened yet, but what a cool thought. :)

    All the best,

    Izzy

  • http://twitter.com/livewirefilms Dan Rollins

    Great podcast.. I am fired up! I love doing Screencasts as well as video production. Question… I have an old Podcasting for Dummies book I acquired but it is from 2006. Is there a recommended book on the business of Podcaster that is current? Thanks for the inspiration!
    Dan Rollins
    LiveWireFilms.com

  • http://www.izzyvideo.com IzzyVideo

    You might want to check into Steve Garfield’s book “Get Seen”. I don’t think
    it’s about podcasting specifically, but I believe the whole book is about
    online video.

    He interviewed me for the book, so I’m sure he writes about making money
    with video online too.

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