15.01.2016
The Graveyard Shift Podcast – Challenging the Status Quo, One Milkshake at a Time
The Graveyard Shift Podcast began as a continued conversation among friends about faith and life and frustration and joy. It was the result of sharing life with one another in what some have called, “a missionary graveyard”…Ireland. Yet, Alan (Breen), Scott (Evans) and I, though finding it tough at times, also and mostly found it exhilarating. Then, around the country and beyond people were asking us our opinions – yes, we were all equally shocked – about not only living a life of faith but about church culture, societal impact and the issues of the day.
Fifty–four one hour podcasts later and here we sit at the top of the iTunes Religion/Spirituality charts in Ireland and in the top 100 of all podcasts in the country, all from a series of simple, intentional and consistent conversations run from the boot of a car.
Our “life verse” Luke 9:46 sets the tone of the podcast, “An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest.” It was meant as a tongue firmly planted in the cheek choice, but, if we are honest, the wrestle is in all of us and how we even practice our churchmanship. Ultimately, the podcast is three practitioners vulnerably wrestling amidst challenging conversation and humour with our very vocations.
The Stats:
We have an average of 250 weekly listeners, 8,700 listens since we signed up for stats (which means at least 9000 listens but probably 10,000). Our biggest listenership is Ireland with 34%, 30% in the US and 19% in Canada though we have listeners from unexpected places like China, Brazil, Australia, Israel, Jamaica, Turkey, Kenya, Fiji, Puerto Rico and the Palestinian territories.
The Crew:
“Being part of the Graveyard Shift has been a huge privilege. Greg, Scott and I have known each other for close to two decades and our interactions have been real, honest and raw. The conversations that we have on the podcast are fun, insightful and coming from our own personal experiences. Questions are a wonderful thing. One of my desires in being part of the podcast is to give people food for thought and also permission to not always go straight to the answer and to remain in the question. To remain in the question is a great way to ‘work out our salvation in fear and trembling’.” – Alan (Breen)
“It’s fair to say that the podcast has been a highlight of my life over the last 18 months. I’ve spent my entire adult life in church work of one kind or another so it’s crucial for me to have people around me who are as passionate about faith and give me permission to be honest. Whether it was being recorded or not, these conversations are life–giving and cathartic. What’s even more amazing is that we have had people from around the world listen, consciously choose to listen to them … over nine thousand times! It’s encouraging and exciting to know that a small project like this could gain such traction in one of the fastest growing mediums on the planet.” – Scott (Evans)
For me, Greg, my favourite part is the break in between the recordings when I can grab an Oreo milkshake…that and the camaraderie of journeying with good friends, of course. (insert wink emoticon)
The Details:
Listen by going to iTunes and typing in The Graveyard Shift or you can find us online at www.thegraveyardshift.rocks or on Twitter @gyardshift
Get online and join us weekly as we challenge the status quo, one milkshake at a time.
Greg Fromholz is an author, filmmaker and Dublin and Glendalough Young Adults’ Ministry Officer.
Pictured from left to right are: Greg Fromholz, Alan Breen and Scott Evans.