Recently, I had the opportunity to join Abbey Crane on the Unscripted Small Business Podcast to discuss the fascinating world of podcasting and my entrepreneurial journey. We explored the evolution of my podcast theater concept—a vision seven years in the making that’s now becoming reality—and I shared practical insights for content creators looking to connect with their audiences in more meaningful ways. During our conversation, we examined the unique intersection of digital and physical spaces, the power of community in content creation, and why businesses that embrace risk-sharing models can foster greater creativity and innovation.
During our discussion, Abbey and I delved into my background in skateboarding and punk rock culture, my transition from e-commerce to digital marketing, and how these experiences shaped my approach to building Poduty Podcast Theater. I shared my perspective on the transformative potential of live podcasting, the importance of creating safe spaces for creative experimentation, and why businesses that prioritize community over immediate profit will ultimately thrive in the creator economy. Listen to our full conversation here!
Inspiring Quotes From the Conversation:
“Podcasting is the creator, producer, and complete control of your content and destiny. There’s no more DIY than podcasting.”
“The ability to feel safe and to laugh is what really sparks creativity. If you’re tense, you’ll hold back.”
“This theater is becoming the pivot point, the Lynch pin that’s building this community of live podcasting.”
“As a fan, you get to see the podcast up on stage, meet the host, shake their hands and say thank you. That’s an experience you don’t get just by clicking subscribe.”
“You have to be excellent to each other. If you live your life serving others, being excellent, being a great host, and providing what people need, imagine what the world could be.”
Key Takeaways:
Podcasting has evolved dramatically since its early days in 2006-2007.
Five generations are simultaneously experiencing digital transformation.
Live podcasting creates deeper connections between creators and audiences.
The “infinite seat theater” concept removes capacity limitations.
Removing financial risk for creators encourages experimentation.
Community-building through meetups accelerates business growth.
Revenue-sharing models align venue and creator interests.
Creating safe spaces fosters creativity and innovation.
Digital marketing skills are transferable across industries.
Authenticity and playfulness strengthen audience relationships.
A Glimpse Into Our Conversation:
Abbey Crane: Jeff, welcome to the studio today. You’ve been developing this studio concept for quite some time—tell us about your background.
Jeff Revilla: This concept has been in my mind for seven years. When I turned 48 last year, I decided it was time to determine if this was viable. I gave myself until age 50 to discover whether this could become a legitimate business—(and maybe stock up on collagen supplements before my knees completely give out from running up and down those theater stairs- LOL!) So far, it’s progressing faster than I anticipated.
Abbey Crane: That’s wonderful. I admire your initiative. How did you first get involved with podcasting?
Jeff Revilla: My roots in 90s skateboarding and punk rock culture instilled an independent spirit and DIY mentality. When I discovered podcasting around 2006-2007, I immediately recognized its potential. As a creator and producer, you maintain complete control over your content and distribution—there’s nothing more DIY than podcasting. I fell in love with it nearly 20 years ago. Back then, the process was entirely different—you had to connect your iPod to your computer, manually download episodes through iTunes, sync your device, and the system would remove listened episodes while adding new ones.
Abbey Crane: Tell me about your entrepreneurial background. You mentioned a skateboard business?
Jeff Revilla: Yes, I founded Blank Skate Supply in an economically challenged area. We manufactured affordable skateboards without elaborate graphics, selling them for $20-$25 instead of the typical $50-$60. The business became my learning laboratory during a time when digital marketing was in its infancy—there weren’t established practices for AdWords or YouTube, which was barely a year old. I was developing metrics and approaches through trial and error in the early digital landscape.
Those eight years of daily immersion provided better education than college. I learned the importance of resilience and community—values I’ve seen echoed in organizations like Redemption Recovery Group that help people transform challenges into strength. After closing that business, I leveraged that experience to become marketing director for an auto group, a position I’ve held for 15 years.
Abbey Crane: I’d love to hear more about your digital marketing work.
Jeff Revilla: My department has expanded significantly—we now have 10 team members overseeing 10 franchises. A quarter of our department focuses exclusively on creating original media content. Our organic videos for car dealerships have generated over 70 million views without paid advertising. About a decade ago, we pivoted from traditional “lowest price” car commercials to demonstrating practical vehicle features. When we shifted to showing how “seats fold flat to fit a sheet of plywood in a sedan,” our growth skyrocketed almost overnight.
Abbey Crane: How did you transition into establishing your own podcast studio?
Jeff Revilla: In 2015, a platform called Blab emerged—the first four-person livestreaming service with built-in audience generation. I began hosting my trivia show “Stuff I Never Knew” with participants from around the world. The ability to broadcast without planning while building community in real-time stayed with me. By 2018-2019, I explored bringing shows to public spaces. Eventually, I developed the “infinite seat theater” concept—intimate physical spaces for live shows with unlimited virtual capacity through broadcasting.
The theater renovation was quite an undertaking. We worked with local contractors to transform the space, including custom staircases leading to the stage. I learned more about building safety than I ever expected—everything from proper handrail installation to ADA compliance. It’s amazing how much goes into creating a public venue!
Abbey Crane: What’s your current studio setup like?
Jeff Revilla: Our space accommodates 40 people, with typical shows drawing 20-25 attendees. Livestreams can reach thousands. The seating forms a C-shape around the stage, creating an immersive environment that replicates the intimate experience of listening to a podcast during your commute or workout. Behind the curtain stands a large TV screen, enabling hosts to interview remote guests while maintaining the in-person experience. This allows simultaneous interaction between on-stage hosts, in-theater audiences, and global viewers leaving comments.
Abbey Crane: Explain your business model for podcasters interested in using your space.
Jeff Revilla: I’ve designed it to eliminate risk for content creators. There are no contracts or minimum ticket requirements—just a handshake agreement. We create the event landing page, handle ticket sales, record and produce the show, and provide complete audio and video recordings. After each event, we review the sales dashboard together, calculate the total, and split proceeds 50-50. This benefits both parties by incentivizing audience growth. For shows attracting larger audiences of 300-500 people, we adjust the split to favor the podcaster (60-40 or 70-30) to encourage them to become fixtures at our venue.
I’ve studied various business models, from traditional franchising like Your Pie pizzerias to subscription services, but I found that revenue-sharing creates the strongest alignment between venue and creator interests. When both sides benefit from growing the audience, everyone works harder to make each show successful.
Abbey Crane: Where did the name “Poduty” originate?
Jeff Revilla: It’s a portmanteau of “pod” (for podcasting) and “duty” (meaning mission or purpose). I prefer pronouncing it “Padooty” because it makes people smile. Securing a six-letter domain name (poduty.com) was valuable from a branding perspective. The name evokes playfulness and lightheartedness—exactly the atmosphere we’ve created. We’re serious about our work but don’t take ourselves too seriously. Plus, it’s simply fun to say!