• "Well written, well researched, and the thesis put forth is well argued.... Woods has opened up an area of historical analysis that should invite further study."
    -Journal of American History

  • "During these times that challenge our freedoms there is no one more qualified to make U.S. history relevant to the fight against big government than Thomas Woods."
    -Barry Goldwater Jr.
    Former Member of Congress

  • "I strongly recommend Woods's work."
    -The Honorable Ron Paul,
    U.S. House of Representatives

  • "Written with great clarity and fluency, making the complex philosophical and theological concepts approachable."
    -Journal of American Studies

  • "A must-read."
    -Barron's

  • "An excellent reading source for anyone interested in financial markets, and much more so for anyone interested in learning about capitalism without all the misinterpretations being thrown about in the financial media."
    -Asia Times

  • "Provocative, well-written, and deserves to be read."
    -Catholic Historical Review

  • "An engaging and important contribution to scholarship on the history of American Catholicism."
    -Journal of the Historical Society

  • "Woods and [co-author Kevin] Gutzman appeal to both left and right in this constitutionalist jeremiad…. The authors' exegeses of the Constitution and court decisions, heavy on original intent arguments, are lucid and telling."
    -Publishers Weekly

  • "A marvelous read. Every chapter taught me something new and unexpected."
    -Tom Bethell, senior editor,
    The American Spectator

  • "The hottest book today is Meltdown, by my friend Tom Woods."
    -Judge Andrew Napolitano, senior judicial analyst,
    FOX News Channel

  • "Should be required reading."
    -Economic Affairs (London)

  • "Woods, one of the best classical liberal [libertarian] scholars of his generation, has once more placed us in his debt with this lucid and tightly argued book."
    -David Gordon, The Mises Review

  • "Tom Woods is one of my dearest allies in the struggle against wrong-headed and dangerous economic policy."
    -Peter Schiff

A Tom Woods Show? I Need Your Advice

I have been getting a lot — and I mean a lot, or I wouldn’t be writing this — of inquiries from readers, particularly since becoming a regular fill-in host on the Peter Schiff Show, regarding whether I have any intention of starting a show of my own. I’ll say this: I’m definitely interested.

But I’m not sure exactly how to proceed, and I’m interested in your thoughts. An online network (which also syndicates some programming to traditional radio), GCN, has expressed interest, but they’d want me to shell out thousands of dollars for equipment, something I’m not sure I want to do. A traditional podcast has its benefits, but I like the discipline that a Monday-through-Friday show would impose on me. Otherwise I’m afraid the podcasts would become irregular and infrequent.

What do you all think? What options exist for me? I know BlogTalkRadio is out there, but their platform seems clunky to me.

I’d love to have a one-hour show with a format similar to Peter’s: I open the show by myself, commenting on whatever, maybe take a couple calls, then spend time with a guest, then back to me, then end of show. The show can then be downloaded later for people who weren’t listening live.

Thanks for your input!

Unlearn the Propaganda!

  • Wayne

    http://seriousmagic.net/ THE WAY to do it on a budget!

  • Jon Schipp

    I’d like to see a podcast show with debates, critiques, and scholarly subjects. Oh! and book reviews!!! I really like the Lew Rockwell Show, something like that except less one sided.

  • Billy Bublitz

    Tom value for value model that noagendashow.com has I like. There is no advertising so you can say what YOU want to say.

    The listeners support you. Free market at its best! If you have a great show and add value people will be generous and donate to the show.

    http://noagendanewsnetwork.com/ 

    It’s open source radio. You can have your own show. I learned about you and Ron Paul though this network so you would fit right in. Before bumping into no agenda you and Ron Paul I did NOT see the world as I see it now. They have about 500,000 listeners so you would get a decent head start.

    I think you would be a great addition to this open source radio.

  • http://twitter.com/JohnCAnselmo John Anselmo

    What about a segment in the show called “Commissar of the Day” or something like that, where you smack down a thought controller. Basically comeback from a break, (depending on format) with the After the Fire hit, “Der Kommissar”.

  • Dean Cameron

    I may be missing the question, but I think you could do something on Ron Paul Radio. 

  • Lisahoppman

    I wish you could get a full-time show…replace rush or beck or something. But anything you do WILL have an audience. 

  • Karen

    The Freedom Broadcasting Network!  These guys are trying to get an alternate media network in place and need content!  http://freedombroadcastingnetwork.com/#7  SO many people are hooked on Beck, Rush, Medved.  They NEED someone like you to tune into instead!

  • David

     Whatever route you take I think you need to have it downloadable. I love listening to when you host Peter Schiff, but I can never find the time at home to listen to the whole show. If I were able to get it on my Ipod, then I would have tons of time to listen to it. Yet many of us, similar to my situation, have lots of free time in the car commuting, with sadly only Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh to turn to.

  • Paula B.

    I’d love to hear your show! I don’t know much about formats, RSS feeds, etc. but here are some ideas in addition to traditional guest interviews:

    1) A once per week roundtable with three guests (representing different sides of the issue) on a current event events topic, OR a direct debate between two opposing views;  2) A regular feature spotlighting an event in history and its relevance to today (good or bad), e.g. Washington’s farewell address, the Sherman Anti-trust Act etc.;  3) A weekly theme focusing on one aspect, idea, article/section or amendment of the U.S. Constitution or the Declaration of Independence  4) Book reviews (maybe this could be incorporated into the roundtable); 5) Lots of interviews with liberty candidates for office at any level.

    I would definitely like to see your show heavily marketed to the college and young adult demographic, as that could literally be the greatest return on any investment of your time/money — inspiring the next generation of voters, party leaders and office holders.  Of course we want your show to appeal to all, but this young age group is ripe for the picking, as Ron Paul has proven.  You could capitalize on that.

    I listen to Peter’s show a couple times per week, but I always tune in when you are hosting!  You are on the most persuasive speakers I have ever heard, and you don’t talk over peoples’ heads.  A radio program is the perfect venue for you.

  • Jim

    Tom,
    In my opinion GCN (AKA Alex Jones network) is not the way to go.  GCN has kicked too many good people off their network for minor differences of opinion.
    Check with Jeff Rense – I bet he would love to have you on once a week and may be able to set up a one hour slot for you daily on his network!
    Otherwise, I think you having your own show is great!

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Paul-Sedkowski/100001467305337 Paul Sedkowski

    Hi Tom,
    Possibly the best way to go about this is as follows:
    1. Develop a format for your 1-hour (or whatever length) daily or weekly (again, whatever you decide) show.
    2. Work it for a few weeks, fine-tuning and tweaking. Devise all aspects of the entire “package”, from promos to what comes when, how, etc. Ensure that it’s got the right balance of content and form.
    3. Initially, it’s enough to simply upload simple mp3′s and share them in one specific location, rather sign-ups, etc. Set up a (free) membership area with some benefits to joining (e.g. ability to take part, etc), but also ensure that all content is free to one and all. You could also do this using videos – even if they only contain stills.
    4. Once you reach a point where things are rockin’ steady and you believe your format is exactly “right”, you can re-structure this in a slightly different way. For example begin streaming your show at a certain hour and after it’s “aired”, make it available in the archives.
    5. You might even want to consider creating a 24-hour channel in that manner, but then you would additionally need to consider what your “filler” content could be. It could be alternative music, or authorized clips from other talk sources, etc.
    6. Setting all that up, technically, is actually very simple. You could do it yourself and for free, if you had the time and inclination – or you can hire someone to set it all up for you, and do a whip-around for some funds to support it.
    7. Ensure there is SOME form of monetization going on. That’s a whole separate issue and should be tackled in a separate discussion, but suffice it to say that you can monetize ANYTHING “indirectly” if you do it right.
    8. Now – once it’s all rolling smoothly, you can start to syndicate your content. Initially you should simply syndicate it around the web, but you should keep your eye on the bigger ball – terrestrial networks. I’ve had a show developed exactly as per above syndicated with ABC and later with a couple of other networks, so I still have all the contacts. Except mine was a music show. But the principle is the same.
    9. Once you present your format to the network, and if they like it and can see some kind of proof that your audience online might translate into terrestrial audience, they will develop their own presentation for your show which they will pitch to their network of PD’s (program directors). The PDs will then make a tentative commitment to carrying the show once it’s made available.
    10. All going well, you’ll have X affiliates (ideally 100+) right off the bat and the network will want to sign you up. Your incomes will come from sharing ad revenues, typically on a 50-50 basis, but there are many other types of arrangements. You should have a seasoned radio consultant at that point helping you get a good deal.
    11. Once you’re syndicated, the show runs and proves itself, You’ll typically want to make all your online content available as archives and no longer “live” (unless it’s streamed from your syndicator’s site). This way they get the priority and your online fanbase still get everything, albeit with a delay. Other solutions are also possible.
    12. Let it grow and expand from there!
    I’ll be happy to give you any technical input you like, if I’m able.
    cheers :) paul

  • http://www.facebook.com/guy.zino Guy Zino

    It would be great to have a show like yours. I would watch or listen or whatever.

  • http://www.facebook.com/guy.zino Guy Zino

    I think it is a great idea.

  • Tridus Drakthorn

    Tom, let me know if you need any help with artwork (logo, ads, flyers, etc). I did the design work on the Nullificaiton documentary, and would be more than happy to volunteer my efforts to help see a podcast or other type of show get off the ground. I’m over at Missouri Tenth (http://www.missouritenth.com) and tridus (at) live (dot) com

    A weekly hour-long podcast would be great – or every other day with a 15 minute micro-casts. The thing that I really think is important with podcasts is the ability it gives the listener to feel a part of what the organization is doing – and keeps the information presented through a podcast, depending on the regularity, pretty fresh in the minds of the listeners. This is why I’ve really enjoyed the Tenth Amendment Center’s podcasts since they started a short while ago. It helps me feel in tune with what they’re doing, and keeps me motivated to help them work.

  • Lisa P

    Either way, please start updating the podcast again.  Whether you are on live radio or not, I will only be able to listen to the podcast after I get home from work, which is how I listen to other shows like Peter Schiff and Corbett Report Radio.  I don’t have time to sit at my computer and watch your youtube videos – sometimes I listen to them on my iPhone, but it’s definitely “clunky” to do that and much easier to download and listen to you in the podcast format.  Thanks!

  • Tpartyforever

    good idea Tom. make it at least 2 hours. hope you do it soon. i’ll call in.

  • JToday

    Use a crowdfunding platform to get money for equipment.  We want you on the air and we’ll pay.

  • http://www.TomWoods.com Tom Woods

    I had a ChipIn a month or so ago and raised all the dough!

  • Rick49572

    You gotta make the show happen, I’ll be listening for sure!

  • Foible17

    Great idea. Gotta be better than listening to the conservative talk shows that will spend an hour on one subject even after the listeners get it. If your show could be DL’ed as an MP3 so we can listen to it when we’re not busy would also be good. And bring in guests such as Jeffrey Tucker, Lew Rockwell, etc.

  • Darby

    I have learned more listening to your seven to 15 min. infomercials for lack of a better term than I did in eight years of college. You said it yourself in a video I recently observed you are a teacher not a radio show host in your strength is in explaining things so the average man can understand them.

    The thirty second soundbite just will not get the message of liberty across to the masses.in my opinion we’re early on in this game government is entrenched if we hope to win we need to persuade. I believe a brief explanation of the key concept that can be widely distributed preferably by video is your best chance of converting our country back into a decentralized republic.

    I have no doubt you would do great and develop a huge following on radio the question you have to ask yourself and I’ve heard you mention this in one of your videos how is my time and talent best used in this marathon to reclaim America.

  • http://profiles.google.com/patrokov Pat H

    Personally, I like the traditional podcast.  You could do it live like Peter used to do with Wallstreet Unspun if you think you need that external discipline.  Or you could do it like The Survival Podcast where it’s still a Mon-Fri show but not broadcast live.

    I think you are a fabulous interviewer and would definitely encourage you to pursue that as a large part of the show.

    I like the freedom of a podcast, because I think that you are too often restrained by the format of the radio show.  The podcast also has the advantage that you don’t have to have the guest on at a specific time.

  • Doughtyman

    You might consider contacting Mark Mandel. winningonwallstreet.com His radio show has been doing well for several years and is growing. I’m no expert but a quick call can’t hurt.

  • Don Wills

    I don’t think delayed podcasts are effective. Live radio is the way to go, whether with XM-Sirius, GCN or something more direct like what Rush and Glenn Beck do. Whether you stream it or not, you’ve got to make money off of it, so quite frankly, I’d model it like Rush or Dennis Miller does. It’s a big commitment. A few thousand dollars of equipment is minimal compared with the commitment to show up every day with fresh material. One hour per day is different from the standard practice, but I think could become a model used more in the future.

  • Nathan

    It seems like a good thing. You would have to be careful to stay on track and not drop into the frivolous finger-pointing that people tend to do, I won’t name names. Your views, I believe support the welfare of the people and their protection. Topics like state nullification are extremely important to the impoverished and poor, these are the ones below peon status. They need the chance to learn without being drained of their resources. A group of you, Shiff and others should work together to teach people outside of the colleges and schools, even though they are important you yourself said the solution may be found bottom up. Anyway thanks for what you are doing, its great, I love your speeches keep it up. Signed sub-peon Nathan

  • Tim McGahan

    I’m only 31, but the show Bill Buckley did is something I always thought was great. There wasn’t much glam in it those days as it should be today. Objectivity would be something great to focus on.

  • Sandy Monroe

    I would love to see you on a show! I also like Dan’s suggestions in the comments. I would suggest, about cost of equipment, that if you choose to consider something like this you go to those who want to hear you to contribute towards the setup. I would help.

  • vince33x

    I think you should replace Hannity on FOX!!!

  • Rotondo352

    Tom, I think you will make an excellent host and I’ll put my money where my mouth is. How about a money bomb for Tom’s equipment gang?

  • http://www.TomWoods.com Tom Woods

    Already done, in fact. A combination of family health issues and technical issues has slowed us way down, but we did some testing the other day and I think we are finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

  • victorkiriakus

    I would love for Tom to start a show. GCN distributes The Alex Jones Show and some other good shows, but I don’t think Tom should invest his own money. How much money do you think they will invest in promoting the show?

    I say go to Alex Jones directly and tell him I will do a show for a % of any profits with no salary. Alex has the money to fund your equipment needs and he does have a need for a fill-in host as well. The current fill-ins he has are good but I think Tom would be a significant upgrade.

    It is a win-win. I think Tom’s show would be a hit. In a couple of years with ratings skins on the wall, Tom would be in a position to negotiate a better deal. I think Tom Woods is a future star!!

  • BB

    I listen to Peter Schiff every day, have for over a year and don’t plan on stopping. I would do the same with your show Tom. Whatever form you will decide on, you are an excellent source of education, knowledge, and inspiration, and you will have a solid audience no doubt.
    Can you get the same producer as Peter and duplicate that set up?

  • ZSorenson

    Can you join Peters network? He wouldn’t have to loop his show all day long, and I’d finally subscribe.

  • ZSorenson

    Meaning baby steps.

  • ZS

    Just out of curiosity, would you still tune in if one hour of programming had an ARI guy and another hour a Reason guy. That is, if the channel featured pure libertarians, would you mind other libertarians?

    I say so because right now I see pure libertarianism as a niche, but a libertarian channel could attract tons of viewers.

    Also, I have an inside connection to the cable tv world – sort of – and the attitude there is that fox business is the ‘basically libertarian’ channel. And it gets very few viewers.

    Also, Glenn Beck has brought his programming to Dish network, so the market is saturating.

    I think the demand is there, but it would be hard to bring this to market. Plus remember the powers that be…

  • http://twitter.com/Rockenomics Rockenomics

    Tom,

    I just came across this and admit I haven’t read all the responses, but couldn’t you work something out with Schiff and his producer, to utilize his equipment and studio for a 1 hour show immediately following Shiff’s own show? It would help Peter defer his station costs, and you wouldn’t have to shell out for the whole thing yourself. You have already proven how well it works and as you don’t normally use the audio clips that Peter uses, it would require less production. In my opinion, this would seem like the simplest short term solution.

  • John14:6

    Tom, GCN is awsome! Alex Jones is with GCN and I am able to listen to his show on podcast anytime, so you would be in good company! You and Alex are two of the most important patriots we have, you better do the show Tom! I’m sure you have the money for the equipment, just do it, educating the public is too important not to!!!

  • Kim

    Tom, if you would do a podcast that I could download to my MP3, I would listen everyday. Even 15 minutes a day of your wisdom would be GREAT! I am a subscriber to Liberty Classroom, and I love it.

  • Nick

    Tom, would love to have a regular Tom Woods podcast show. I think many would benefit from it, especially now that Freedom Watch and Capital Account are off air. Look forward to listening to the first show.

  • onceproudamerican

    I’d love to listen to you regularly, but I do not have an understanding of the various Internet Radio options and costs. I know what you mean about the clunkyness of blogtalk radio, but the price is right!!

  • Dan Hegelund

    I think you should contact The Blaze TV