‘What a Lad’ attracts growing audience
Former Taranaki rugby captain James Marshall has gathered quite a collection of lads since retiring from the game.
Marshall, who led Taranaki to its first and only top level national title in 2014, started producing the ‘‘What a Lad’’ podcast series almost two years ago.
The podcasts, which have featured prominent past and current All Blacks Beauden and Jordie Barrett, Conrad Smith and Rugby World Cup hero Stephen Donald, have been downloaded close to half a million times, with Marshall developing the concept to a point that they are commercially viable, with sponsors on board.
The 33-year-old admits there was a ‘‘lot of admin’’ putting each episode together, but he was now seeing the commercial benefits.
‘‘I put that down to myself, as well,’’ he said.
‘‘I don’t have to edit it, but I like to so that I can give the guys the confidence to say what they want.’’
Since retiring, due mainly to a persistent hip injury, Marshall has moved back to Nelson where he teaches at the Nelson College Rugby Academy alongside former Taranaki academy manager Jono Phillips.
While that takes up a decent part of his week, Marshall devotes two days a week to the ‘What a Lad’ podcasts, which also have a reasonable social media following.
‘‘It’s a big way of getting new listeners because I haven’t gone down the road of paying to advertise it yet,’’ he said.
With a growing number of listeners, Marshall believes the podcast has a viable future with no shortage of requests from people they want to listen to.
‘‘I haven’t had too many guys not me back and not want to come on, so it’s not that hard in that sense,’’ he said.
‘‘I’ve even had guys contact me wanting to get on, so it’s pretty good in that regard, it makes my job a bit easier. But people who think they can make money off making a podcast straight away a probably a little delusional.
‘‘It’s been a pretty slow grind, but I’m at the point now that the numbers are pretty attractive to some sponsors.’’
Aside from the podcast, Marshall has also developed ‘‘Lad’’ apparel and merchandise, while there is also the release of a ‘‘What a Lad’’ beer coming up in the near future. ‘‘I’m hoping to have that out before summer this year, so that’s the next thing I’m going to try,’’ he said.