We were lucky to catch up with Mike Bauman recently and have shared our conversation below.
Mike, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
The meaning behind my podcast’s name of “March Forth” is perseverance and moving forward. The goal of the podcast is that the conversations inspire listeners to persevere, overcome obstacles, and chase their dreams in their own lives.
Everybody has a story, and every story has an ebb and flow in terms of ups and downs along the way. Just like the highs of joy and love, life is also full of the lows of pain and sorrow. Whether it’s self-inflicted wounds, heartbreak, death, anxiety, depression, addiction, stress, betrayal, or conflict of any kind, there’s always going to be a certain amount of darkness we’ll all experience at some point in our lives.
There’s always going to be a balance of that dark and light, even though none of us like it when those storms and waves roll in. That said, those storms and waves can be great teachers. I can’t speak for anyone else, but in my life, I’ve often had to trudge through that darkness to get to the light. And in my experience, I’ve found that exploring my own darkness, negative thought patterns, and understanding my triggers helps me get back to the light.
On the podcast, we explore that darkness in the conversations not in an exploitative or grotesque way, but as a way to show people that it’s okay to talk about these things, that they’re not alone, and that other people have found their light again after difficult times. I never take guests anywhere they don’t feel comfortable going. It’s all done out of wanting to connect with listeners in a positive way.
We’ve all been there as far as tough times. I just want to use the time I have while I’m here to let people know that we’re not alone in our struggles. We all have it in us to persevere, to bounce back stronger, and to create positive ripple effects in our communities. The podcast is my platform to ideally connect with listeners on that level, and hopefully put them on to musicians, business owners, and people who maybe they weren’t aware of previously.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
The best way I think I could describe myself to someone who doesn’t know me is that I’m an extroverted introvert. Since I was a kid, I’ve always been pretty observant and curious in general. Even though I definitely can be a reclusive hermit (some close to me may describe me as an old man trapped in a 35-year-old’s body), I do enjoy getting to know people beyond a surface/superficial level. Given that, I guess it adds up and makes sense that I have a podcast where I have long-form discussions with guests about themselves.
Growing up, I played football, basketball, and baseball, with hoops being my best sport and favorite sport to this day. That said, I realized by the time I was 15 that I was not going to be the next Michael Jordan, but that the talents and interests I did have could be sports adjacent. Writing was always something I enjoyed, so I decided after high school to attend the University of Toledo in my hometown and study journalism, with the goal of becoming a sportswriter. An important note here, too, is that I’ve also always loved and been deeply drawn to music since childhood.
After graduating with my Bachelor’s Degree in Communication with a focus in Journalism, I was able to get a job as a private contractor covering the Toledo Rockets for the Toledo Free Press, a former biweekly paper in my hometown. Around that same time, I also started doing sports broadcasting for Toledo Sports Network, which covered local high school sports. Initially, I did sideline reporting and color commentary before getting into play-by-play.
A little over a year into my time with Toledo Free Press, I was with our Editor-in-Chief and other older dudes who had been in the journalism field for awhile at a party for our publisher. At that party, all these guys were trading stories from over the years, including ones about various musicians. My love for music was revealed to him at that party during those conversations, and the next week, he sent me my first music feature story.
From there, I started writing music feature stories on artists in the local music scene, as well as national acts that would perform in and around Northwest Ohio. Sometimes, I would get to talk to these artists on the phone for awhile, and we’d have interesting conversations. There was only so much I could fit into 700-word stories, and I eventually thought, ‘Man, it would be cool to give people the whole thing.’ I was a fan of podcasts and subscribed to several of them, so I thought I’d give podcasting a shot in addition to the local writing and sports broadcasting I was already doing.
In 2012, I launched my podcast. Originally called Bauman’s Breakdown, that podcast featured several of those phone interviews I got to do for the music feature stories I wrote for Toledo Free Press. Initially, I recorded it at the home studio of Mike Jameson from Toledo Sports Network. He was one of the first people who gave me my shot in broadcasting, and a good friend to this day. I had no idea how to record anything back then, so he was a huge help in putting the pod together in those early days.
Like I think a lot of people do, in my 20s, I was trying to figure things out through the various work opportunities I was getting. Within that trial and error, I didn’t do the podcast consistently. However, it was always an itch I needed to scratch, because I truly loved doing it.
When I had the opportunity to move to Nashville in 2015 for a healthcare job at a great company, it was always in the back of my mind to get back into podcasting, especially now that I was going to be in the Music City. I rebranded the pod as March Forth with Mike Bauman in 2019 and did a handful of episodes. When the pandemic hit in 2020, I was working from home, and spending a lot of time in isolation like a lot of people during those days. I needed to scratch that itch again, and I was like ‘Dude, there’s no better time than now. You’re by yourself a lot working from home, modern technology can allow you to connect with anybody around the globe, so you have no excuse. Just do it.’
Over three years later, the podcast has been downloaded in countries around the world, and I’ve been able to connect with some really awesome people. The goal isn’t just content; it’s to truly connect with the guests and listeners. It’s been cool to see it grow incrementally little by little with each step over these past few years. I’m extremely grateful for all of the guests, and anybody who takes the time to listen, share, and connect.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
This may sound cheesy, but being creative is just as important as food, water, and air for me. Even though I have a very analytical side that I get to exercise in my healthcare role, I truly have a need to be creative. If I’m not taking the time to be creative, I just feel very anxious, like I’m going in circles. Drawing was my first love as a kid, and my love for basketball even comes from the fact that it’s truly poetry in motion. It’s a very creative sport.
The most rewarding aspect of being creative is the connection that comes from imagination. Just think about all of the movies and shows you watch, the books you read, the clothes and shoes you wear, the vehicle you drive, the works of art you see at museums or throughout your city, and the impact they all have on you. Those all started in somebody’s head, and eventually they became the physical manifestation of those dreams or inspirations from the ether that other people now get to experience. I have no words to describe how beautiful that is when I really think about it. What’s life if we’re not connecting with each other?
Creativity is the conduit to connection. For me, my podcast is the culmination of all of the creative, journalistic, and life experiences I’ve gained throughout my years. I feel like it’s the truest form of my self-expression, and in that process, I get to connect with people all around the world in a positive way. It’s a mind trip, and I’m truly thankful and grateful that I get to do it.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
Ultimately, I just want to connect with people in a positive way.
When my time here is up, I hope that the people who knew me or came into contact with me will look back on their time with me and smile. No matter how brief or how long they were in my life, I hope that’s what happens when I cross their minds.
My goal is to have a platform where people who tune in know that they’ll hear real conversations that serve to connect and inspire. And, hopefully they’re entertained, too.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/marchforthpod
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marchforthpod/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@marchforthpod
Image Credits
Mike Bauman