BHostel Podcast: A Platform for Storytelling in the Hostel World
How BHostel Podcast Began
Hostels are unique in many ways. Their main function is to be a safe, affordable place for travelers to stay. But, as many who have spent significant time staying in hostels have realized, they’re much more than that. Bryant Perkins, the creator of BHostel Podcast, was working at what used to be Drifter Jack's Hostel in Austin, Texas, back during the peak of the pandemic, when it occurred to him that there was a wealth of stories at his disposal; they only needed a way to be told.
“Seeing all the people come through, I realized, there are stories here. People here are experiencing life, death, birth, and everything in between. Someone needs to do this,” said Perkins. And, so, he did. It helped that Perkins not only had a background in journalism and multimedia storytelling but also that he had moved to Austin with all of his recording equipment. With his vision clear and the means to make it happen, Perkins set up his equipment in the common room at the hostel and, effectively, said, ‘come one, come all,’ prompting anyone with a story to come and share.
While Drifter Jack's is no longer in operation, BHostel began in that space, and it was there that Perkins was able to record and produce the first full seasons of the podcast before moving over to Firehouse Hostel in Austin, Texas, where he recorded the second season of BHostel. It became a vessel for travelers to tell their stories, a space to be open, honest, and candid about where they came from, where they were going, and how they saw the world. But after putting out two seasons, Perkins decided to take a break. At the same time, things were changing in the world of podcasting, as well as the world of social media.
“I knew I couldn’t continue without evolving with the way social media was evolving. Anyone can set up an amp and record, but how can you push that out to the masses if you’re not out looking for where people are looking to create content? Then you’re just spinning your wheels,” said Perkins. In the time he spent away from producing the podcast, Perkins began tapping into a community that he knew quite well: non-profits. Having seen firsthand how the non-profit sector is centered on lifting marginalized voices, Perkins realized that the vision he had for BHostel followed a similar path, and that there was also a wealth of talented, altruistic, and driven people in the non-profit world.
Building the Team
It was not long, then, before Perkins began reaching out to people he met in the non-profit sector who had the skills and outlook that would be an asset for the podcast. From there, he was able to assemble a team of producers. The podcast is now featured on YouTube, as well as other streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and iHeartRadio. As we spoke about the podcast and the focus it maintains as a platform for the storytellers, Perkins stressed how BHostel is not something he wants associated with one single individual, despite being the one who came up with the concept and put it into action.
“No one works for me. We all work together. It’s not my crew, it is a crew,” said Perkins. That mindset carries over to the process of creating content for the podcast, which, as Perkins sees it, requires being selfless, particularly as a storyteller. Especially in today’s day, where content creation can ultimately take on the personification of the person behind the camera or keyboard, Perkins stressed how important it is for him and BHostel to be the vessel for the story, rather than the focus of the story.
“The best piece of advice I can share with anyone trying to push content out to an already crowded market is to take yourself out of it. You are not the important part of what you’re trying to make,” said Perkins. “You will struggle to find a foothold with any audience if you are shamelessly pushing yourself.”
It’s no surprise, then, that the mantra behind BHostel is being a place “where strangers become storytellers.”
The Bigger Picture
As it was when it began, BHostel will continue to be the entity that captures the journey of the hostel life and hostel culture, as told through the individuals living the experience. Perkins, as he did then, sees the podcast as a vehicle for telling stories, but also a way to make an imprint on how we look at one another.
“My hope is that our impact will be felt by society as a whole, and that, in general, our society will be more open to its neighbors. More open than they were before they listened,” said Perkins. “By listening to each episode, you’ll understand that each person does have a story. And so no matter where you are, your neighbor might have a story that you want to pay attention to.”
Perkins finished by adding that the podcast and its goal of breaking down walls by helping people understand their neighbors better is, in many ways, a mirror reflection of staying in a hostel. So, naturally, it will continue operating in a space that constantly brings in new people, new stories, and new perspectives, each day, all with something to share.
BHostel Team:
Bryant Perkins: Producer & Creator/Host
Brooke McKelvey: Producer
Larry George: Producer
Emma Pion-Berlin: Producer
