The Enthusiasm Project

Hosted by Tom Buck

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Episodes

197

Latest episode

May 2026

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About the show

My name is Tom and this is The Enthusiasm Project! Join me each week for deep dives exploring the world of what it means to be an independent creator on YouTube, audio/video production, and keeping a positive, enthusiastic mindset along the way.

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60 recent

May 28, 2026Episode 553 min

How I Almost Killed My YouTube Channel

Send a text message to the show! Last year I made a mistake that almost killed my entire YouTube channel...and it was all because I tried to use a new feature that YouTube rolled out to creators. 🎙This week's mic: Warm Audio Wa-87jr https://geni.us/tN4J (Amazon) ——————————————————————— Affiliate links earn a commission from qualifying purchases which helps support my channel at no additional cost to you. ——————————— CONNECT ——————————— Electronic Mail: tom@enthusiasmproject.com Main Site: https://himynameistom.com Social Medias: @sodarntom ——————————— PODCAST GEAR ——————————— •Rodecaster Video: https://bhpho.to/3Ub88j2 (B&H) •Rodecaster Duo: https://geni.us/ULKDFkp (Amazon) •Elgato Prompter: https://geni.us/elgatoprompter (Amazon) •Mic Arm: https://geni.us/zc7hAbW (Amazon) •Elgato Stream Deck Plus: https://geni.us/EzyY6o5 (Amazon) •Headphones: https://bhpho.to/3JNacqg (B&H) •XLR Cables: https://geni.us/bluexlr (Amazon) S15E05 | Series Episode 189 Podcast Artwork by Kevin Ramirez Original theme music written by Patrick Boberg and performed by Mike Alvarez Support the show

March 30, 2026Episode 41 hr 1 min

My Battle Against AI Slop

Send a text message to the show! With my previously favorite online royalty free music service becoming an AI slop factory I want to expand on some points and address some counter arguments from a recent video where I explain my disdain for generative AI. 🤖My Video About AI Slop:https://youtu.be/cfhrW7ZKuIU?si=txlBVq8GjIoDC3V3 🎙This week's mic: Shure SM7B https://geni.us/tepsm7b (Amazon) ——————————————————————— Affiliate links earn a commission from qualifying purchases which helps support my channel at no additional cost to you. ——————————— CONNECT ——————————— Electronic Mail: tom@enthusiasmproject.com Main Site: https://himynameistom.com Social Medias: @sodarntom ——————————— PODCAST GEAR ——————————— •Rodecaster Video: https://bhpho.to/3Ub88j2 (B&H) •Rodecaster Duo: https://geni.us/ULKDFkp (Amazon) •Elgato Prompter: https://geni.us/elgatoprompter (Amazon) •Mic Arm: https://geni.us/zc7hAbW (Amazon) •Elgato Stream Deck Plus: https://geni.us/EzyY6o5 (Amazon) •Headphones: https://bhpho.to/3JNacqg (B&H) •XLR Cables: https://geni.us/bluexlr (Amazon) S14E04 | Series Episode 188 Podcast Artwork by Kevin Ramirez Original theme music written by Patrick Boberg and performed by Mike Alvarez Support the show

January 23, 2026Episode 31 hr 30 min

Music, Cameras, & Pivoting on YouTube w/ Audio Hotline

Send a text message to the show! Let's catch up! Special guest Bronson from the Audio Hotline YouTube channel joins the podcast to talk music, camera gear, and the challenge of pivoting a channel based on evolving interests. 🎙This week's mic: Rode Interview Prohttps://geni.us/WSVCt (Amazon) ——————————————————————— Affiliate links earn a commission from qualifying purchases which helps support my channel at no additional cost to you. ——————————— CONNECT ——————————— Electronic Mail: tom@enthusiasmproject.com Main Site: https://himynameistom.com Social Medias: @sodarntom ——————————— PODCAST GEAR ——————————— •Rodecaster Video: https://bhpho.to/3Ub88j2 (B&H) •Rodecaster Duo: https://geni.us/ULKDFkp (Amazon) •Elgato Prompter: https://geni.us/elgatoprompter (Amazon) •Mic Arm: https://geni.us/zc7hAbW (Amazon) •Elgato Stream Deck Plus: https://geni.us/EzyY6o5 (Amazon) •Headphones: https://bhpho.to/3JNacqg (B&H) •XLR Cables: https://geni.us/bluexlr (Amazon) S14E03 | Series Episode 187 Podcast Artwork by Kevin Ramirez Original theme music written by Patrick Boberg and performed by Mike Alvarez Support the show

September 15, 2025Episode 21 hr 17 min

A New Way Of Monetizing As A Creator

Send a text message to the show! Over the past year my wife Heather has transformed her gaming YouTube channel into a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. It’s a VERY different way to monetize and build a sustainable career as a creator, so I wanted to explore that journey with her! Learn more at heatherjustplay.org 🎙This week's mic: Hollyland Lark A1 https://geni.us/w02vhCl (Amazon) ——————————————————————— Affiliate links earn a commission from qualifying purchases which helps support my channel at no additional cost to you. ——————————— CONNECT ——————————— Electronic Mail: tom@enthusiasmproject.com Main Site: https://himynameistom.com Social Medias: @sodarntom ——————————— PODCAST GEAR ——————————— •Rodecaster Video: https://bhpho.to/3Ub88j2 (B&H) •Rodecaster Duo: https://geni.us/ULKDFkp (Amazon) •Elgato Prompter: https://geni.us/elgatoprompter (Amazon) •Mic Arm: https://geni.us/zc7hAbW (Amazon) •Elgato Stream Deck Plus: https://geni.us/EzyY6o5 (Amazon) •Headphones: https://bhpho.to/3JNacqg (B&H) •XLR Cables: https://geni.us/bluexlr (Amazon) S14E02 | Series Episode 186 Podcast Artwork by Kevin Ramirez Original theme music written by Patrick Boberg and performed by Mike Alvarez Support the show

September 9, 2025Episode 11 hr 25 min

A New Era - Season 14 Premiere!

Send a text message to the show! It's a new era not only for the podcast, but for a lot more too... 🎙This week's mic: Warm Audio WA-87jr https://geni.us/ZGaN (Amazon) Chapter Markers: 0:00 - Intro 4:01 - Season 13 Mic Poll Results! 6:44 - Mic of the Week: Warm Audio WA-87jr 13:21 - A New Era 47:13 - Channel Check In 58:18 - Listener Messages ——————————————————————— Affiliate links earn a commission from qualifying purchases which helps support my channel at no additional cost to you. ——————————— CONNECT ——————————— Electronic Mail: tom@enthusiasmproject.com Main Site: https://himynameistom.com Social Medias: @sodarntom ——————————— PODCAST GEAR ——————————— •Rodecaster Video: https://bhpho.to/3Ub88j2 (B&H) •Rodecaster Duo: https://geni.us/ULKDFkp (Amazon) •Elgato Prompter: https://geni.us/elgatoprompter (Amazon) •Mic Arm: https://geni.us/zc7hAbW (Amazon) •Elgato Stream Deck Plus: https://geni.us/EzyY6o5 (Amazon) •Headphones: https://bhpho.to/3JNacqg (B&H) •XLR Cables: https://geni.us/bluexlr (Amazon) S14E01 | Series Episode 185 Podcast Artwork by Kevin Ramirez Original theme music written by Patrick Boberg and performed by Mike Alvarez Support the show

April 14, 2025Episode 101 hr 5 min

Help Me Find The BEST Mic! Season 13 Finale

Send a text message to the show! It's the Season 13 Finale! Let's recap what it's been like to produce a video podcast, see which mic sounded the best from all the episodes, and talk about what's next for The Enthusiasm Project! VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE MIC! https://geni.us/favoritemic 🎙This week's mic: Blue Sona / Yeti Studio https://geni.us/sonamic (Amazon) ——————————————————————— Affiliate links earn a commission from qualifying purchases which helps support my channel at no additional cost to you. ——————————— CONNECT ——————————— Electronic Mail: tom@enthusiasmproject.com Main Site: https://himynameistom.com Social Medias: @sodarntom ——————————— PODCAST GEAR ——————————— •Rodecaster Video: https://bhpho.to/3Ub88j2 (B&H) •Rodecaster Duo: https://geni.us/ULKDFkp (Amazon) •Elgato Prompter: https://geni.us/elgatoprompter (Amazon) •Mic Arm: https://geni.us/zc7hAbW (Amazon) •Elgato Stream Deck Plus: https://geni.us/EzyY6o5 (Amazon) •Headphones: https://bhpho.to/3JNacqg (B&H) •XLR Cables: https://geni.us/bluexlr (Amazon) S13E010 | Series Episode 184 Podcast Artwork by Kevin Ramirez Original theme music written by Patrick Boberg and performed by Mike Alvarez Support the show

April 7, 2025Episode 91 hr 24 min

No Fun Anymore

Send a text message to the show! Finding cynicism and jaded outlooks online is nothing new, but as our real and virtual lives mesh more and more, the "too cool for school" attitude can have more of a damaging impact than ever. So let's explore what that means and how to harness and protect fun at any age. 🎙This week's mic: Shure SM58 https://geni.us/fNPEFQG (Amazon) ⚙️ Gear of the Week: Saramonic K9 https://store.saramonic.com/products/k9 Mic Mount Video: https://youtu.be/hycjQY3fLwU?si=q5b_SrFCs7LFe2Ua Mic Mounts: https://geni.us/shortmount (Amazon) ——————————————————————— Affiliate links earn a commission from qualifying purchases which helps support my channel at no additional cost to you. ——————————— CONNECT ——————————— Electronic Mail: tom@enthusiasmproject.com Main Site: https://himynameistom.com Social Medias: @sodarntom ——————————— PODCAST GEAR ——————————— •Rodecaster Video: https://bhpho.to/3Ub88j2 (B&H) •Rodecaster Duo: https://geni.us/ULKDFkp (Amazon) •Elgato Prompter: https://geni.us/elgatoprompter (Amazon) •Mic Arm: https://geni.us/zc7hAbW (Amazon) •Elgato Stream Deck Plus: https://geni.us/EzyY6o5 (Amazon) •Headphones: https://bhpho.to/3JNacqg (B&H) •XLR Cables: https://geni.us/bluexlr (Amazon) S13E09 | Series Episode 183 Podcast Artwork by Kevin Ramirez Original theme music written by Patrick Boberg and performed by Mike Alvarez Support the show

March 17, 2025Episode 81 hr 0 min

What Should You Name Your YouTube Channel?

Send a text message to the show! So you want to make a YouTube channel but you don't know if you should use your real name or a "brand" name. Let's go through the pros and cons of each and I'll also share why I'm so glad I changed my channel name after 3 years and 24K subscribers. Register for NAB for free! https://geni.us/NAB2025 🎙This week's mic: sE Dynacaster https://geni.us/IL9rw (Amazon) ⚙️ Gear of the Week: Lilliput 4K Monitor: https://bhpho.to/49v2Cwr (B&H) ——————————————————————— Affiliate links earn a commission from qualifying purchases which helps support my channel at no additional cost to you. ——————————— CONNECT ——————————— Electronic Mail: tom@enthusiasmproject.com Main Site: https://himynameistom.com Social Medias: @sodarntom ——————————— PODCAST GEAR ——————————— •Rodecaster Video: https://bhpho.to/3Ub88j2 (B&H) •Rodecaster Duo: https://geni.us/ULKDFkp (Amazon) •Elgato Prompter: https://geni.us/elgatoprompter (Amazon) •Mic Arm: https://geni.us/zc7hAbW (Amazon) •Elgato Stream Deck Plus: https://geni.us/EzyY6o5 (Amazon) •Headphones: https://bhpho.to/3JNacqg (B&H) •XLR Cables: https://geni.us/bluexlr (Amazon) S13E08 | Series Episode 182 Podcast Artwork by Kevin Ramirez Original theme music written by Patrick Boberg and performed by Mike Alvarez Support the show

March 10, 2025Episode 71 hr 18 min

Is Camera YouTube Dead?

Send a text message to the show! From the Canon 5D Mark II in 2008 to the insanely awesome mirrorless cameras of today, YouTube has always been THE place to go to nerd out about camera gear. But as tech matures, creators evolve, and audience tastes change, something feels...different now. What does that mean for "Camera YouTube"? 🎙This week's mic: Shure Super 55 https://geni.us/ulcA (Amazon) ⚙️ Gear of the Week: Rode XLR Cables: https://geni.us/bluexlr (Amazon) ——————————————————————— Affiliate links earn a commission from qualifying purchases which helps support my channel at no additional cost to you. ——————————— CONNECT ——————————— Electronic Mail: tom@enthusiasmproject.com Main Site: https://himynameistom.com Social Medias: @sodarntom ——————————— PODCAST GEAR ——————————— •Rodecaster Video: https://bhpho.to/3Ub88j2 (B&H) •Rodecaster Duo: https://geni.us/ULKDFkp (Amazon) •Elgato Prompter: https://geni.us/elgatoprompter (Amazon) •Mic Arm: https://geni.us/zc7hAbW (Amazon) •Elgato Stream Deck Plus: https://geni.us/EzyY6o5 (Amazon) •Headphones: https://bhpho.to/3JNacqg (B&H) •XLR Cables: https://geni.us/bluexlr (Amazon) S13E07 | Series Episode 181 Podcast Artwork by Kevin Ramirez Original theme music written by Patrick Boberg and performed by Mike Alvarez Support the show

March 3, 2025Episode 61 hr 8 min

Pobody’s Nerfect: Being Human in the age of AI

Send a text message to the show! Many content creators work tirelessly to level up the quality of their work, but at what point does perfection go too far? 🎙This week's mic: •Lewitt LCT440 Pure https://geni.us/ygRb95l (Amazon) ⚙️ Gear of the Week: Hollyland Lark M2: https://geni.us/wxwfX (Amazon) Rode's MIDI Control Guide ——————————————————————— Affiliate links earn a commission from qualifying purchases which helps support my channel at no additional cost to you. ——————————— CONNECT ——————————— Electronic Mail: tom@enthusiasmproject.com Main Site: https://himynameistom.com Social Medias: @sodarntom ——————————— PODCAST GEAR ——————————— •Rodecaster Video: https://bhpho.to/3Ub88j2 (B&H) •Rodecaster Duo: https://geni.us/ULKDFkp (Amazon) •Elgato Prompter: https://geni.us/elgatoprompter (Amazon) •Mic Arm: https://geni.us/zc7hAbW (Amazon) •Elgato Stream Deck Plus: https://geni.us/EzyY6o5 (Amazon) •Headphones: https://bhpho.to/3JNacqg (B&H) •XLR Cables: https://geni.us/bluexlr (Amazon) S13E06 | Series Episode 180 Podcast Artwork by Kevin Ramirez Original theme music written by Patrick Boberg and performed by Mike Alvarez Support the show