Norman Wells resident Josh Ferguson believes "every personSA国际影视传媒檚 life is infinitely interesting if you look close enough." That's partly what drove him to create a new podcast out of his studio in the community.
"You just need to look close enough, and the things that brought you to where you are today are unique and worthwhile," he said. "Even if we can help one person navigate their life through your story, itSA国际影视传媒檚 worth it."
Ferguson's project is called the Breaking Ice Podcast. He shot his first hour-long interview for the podcast about six months ago, and dropped the first episode about five months ago. Since then, he's published 13 more episodes, each of which also feature hour-long interviews with a guest. He's finalizing three more episodes.
So far, he has had a wide range of guests, and that is by design.
"I wanted to leave it pretty open in terms of who I could have on," he said. SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 so many interesting people up here. Basically the only criteria [for prospective guests] is you need to have some kind of connection to the North.
SA国际影视传媒淚t might even be a hunter who comes up here and does a big-game hunt. Even though 99 per cent of their life has nothing to do with this place, they did come up here for some reason, and thereSA国际影视传媒檚 something that drew them here.SA国际影视传媒�
Some of Ferguson's favourite interviews to date have been with politicians like Norman Wells Mayor Frank Pope and former Sahtu MLA and Dene national chief Norman Yakeleya. He also enjoyed interviewing aircraft maintenance engineer Robbie Craig; Sylvia Clement, who is fighting cancer; and George Grandjambe and Mary Pierrot, who were evacuated from Fort Good Hope by the recent wildfires around the community.
Several of his interviews already have hundreds of views on YouTube.
Ferguson couldn't compare his interview style to that of any other podcast or radio hosts, but stated "I have a fair amount of charisma and ISA国际影视传媒檓 able to make people feel comfortable."
He said his show is recorded with "high-quality film and audio assets," and is similar to the popular Joe Rogan Experience podcast in the way that interviews are not heavily edited.
"I donSA国际影视传媒檛 edit much," he said. "I use an AI editor that cuts back and forth while [guests and I] are talking, and 90 per cent of the episodes donSA国际影视传媒檛 have anything cut out.
"What you see is what you get: thatSA国际影视传媒檚 what ISA国际影视传媒檓 aiming for.SA国际影视传媒�
Time will tell how far Ferguson can take his show, but as a dedicated podcast listener for some 20 years, he's very much enjoying the experience of hosting his own.
"I love the opportunity to talk to everybody," he said.
