Patrick Hinds, podcast co-creator and co-host of True Crime Obsessed and Golden Girls Deep Dive, uses wit and compassion to revolutionize audio. With a legacy in Broadway podcasts, including Theater People and Broadway Backstory, Patrick is a leader in the podcasting space.
Receiving over 200 million podcast downloads for TCO, Hinds and his co-host Gillian Pensavalle, unpack true crime documentaries weekly. Together, they became the first podcasters to perform a live show on Broadway in 2022.
With a 2024 debut in the top 100 on Apple Podcasts, each week Patrick and his GGDD co-host Jennifer Simard dive into the episodes, characters, and cultural impact of The Golden Girls, all while sharing admiration for the series and its stars.
Patrick’s storytelling prowess extends to his Fall 2023 release, “Failure is Not NOT an Option,” a humorous memoir that became a Wall Street Journal and Publisher Weekly bestseller. His sold-out “Book Party” has captivated US and London audiences.
You can follow Patrick on TikTok, Instagram, X and Facebook or visit his website https://www.patrickfails.com/
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
My work days are very structured. I have really great people behind the scenes who help focus my attention on the most important tasks. Huge kudos to my director of operations. It’s so important to surround yourself with people who are motivated to get the job done and willing to support you.
My days are both long and exhausting, and can range from preparing and recording a podcast, to sitting in meetings or getting ready for a tour and tying up the odds and ends behind the scenes.
On recording days, I tend to start at 4am and spend 4-5 hours watching a documentary and taking notes so I can use the information for a recording later. I usually watch 2 documentaries a day with a 20 -minute break in between to go to the gym or get food. Once I’m prepped, I’ll record with my co-host for, sometimes, up to 4 hours.
To be productive, I’ve had to learn stamina to get through my work days. Also I’ve learned it’s okay to say no and let others handle a meeting or task sometimes.
How do you bring ideas to life?
Collaboration and an organic flow of consciousness. I enjoy the energy exchange I have with my co-host. We each come to the table with our own perspectives and by communicating, we land at a middle ground that can be a great challenge but is always a great honor to accomplish.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Waking up early. This is key for me, my work day starts at 4am, so by the time the rest of the world is at their desks, my work day is more than half over.
There’s something about the peace and quiet of the world at 4am that makes me super productive. I can’t recommend it enough.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Stay strong, follow your instincts, and have faith. You’re headed in the right direction and it’s all gonna work out. You’ll end up exactly where you should be, with your loving family around you.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you.
I believe that you should do something that you love for your job. I also believe that you should take chances.
I realize that both of these beliefs come from a place of privilege. The privilege to not always have to worry about where the money comes from and the privilege to have a support network (like my wonderful husband) that allows you to take a chance. I’m very grateful that I’ve been able to find both in my life.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Exercise! There’s something about exercise that clears the mind, helps me get perspective, and can completely elevate my mood–all of which make me a better worker, husband, and dad. Even if you hate it, do the push ups!
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
Power nap. I’m a big believer in napping. I don’t do it very often but when work gets to be too much and I need a reset, I’ll pop in my airpods to play some white noise, and grab a 20 – 40 minute power nap. We have a couch in our office that works great for this.
Occasionally treating myself to the biggest coffee I can get my hands on at Dunkin’ does the trick too!
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Building a community and fostering it. One thing I’ve learned by making podcasts and the True Crime Obsessed podcast in particular is listeners want engagement beyond hearing a standard 1 hour episode. We built a place for listeners to go to connect with us and each other. For us, that was our Facebook group.
We saw the discourse shift from only discussing the TCO episodes to forming real friendships and connections. We also saw that regional groups started to form on their own and they would often result in local meetups. I plan to visit 10+ cities to join the local groups for their meetups to continue to cultivate our community.
I’m really proud to say that because of what we’ve built, after our live shows, people who came alone would end up leaving with a bunch of new best friends.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
For a long time I struggled with work / life balance. I work a LOT of hours. When I was working, I’d feel guilty about time away from my family. When I was with my family, I’d be thinking about work.
I realized that I had built a life where my work and my family were very intermingled. I built a company with my husband and my daughter travels with me when I go on tour. It was easy to bring work home every single day.
I learned that balance wasn’t shutting work or personal life off completely for periods of time, but more about being intentional and present when I’m operating in each capacity (a worker or a dad / husband). I now know that some weeks my life will be more about my work and other it will be more about my family.
What is the best $100 you recently spent?
I’m a big advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and I want to make sure our history is told. During my last tour I had extra time and was able to make a stop in Laramie, Wyoming, the historic town where Matthew Shepard was beaten to death in 1998 for being gay. I happened to help his close friend write a book about it in 2005 called The Whole World Was Watching—Matthew’s story has made a big impact on my life.
While I was in town, I visited the bar where he unfortunately first met his killers and spoke with the bartender about Matthew’s story. So, I would say the best $100 I spent was for drinks for me and my friends at that bar where we could remember Matthew and share his story.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast from which you’ve received much value?
I have two favorite books that go hand in hand. Autobiography of a Face by Lucy Grealy and Truth & Beauty by Ann Patchett.
They’re connected because Ann and Lucy became friends in writing school and Ann named her book Truth and Beauty after one of the chapters in Grealy’s autobiography.
They are both incredibly moving and deep stories and talk about how struggle influenced their lives which became an inspiration to me after reading.
Key learnings:
- Structured routines and early starts significantly boost your productivity. Beginning workdays in the early hours when it’s quiet can enhance your focus and output.
- Community building and engagement are essential for business growth. Strengthen your efforts to create interactive and supportive networks for community members will lead to stronger connections and loyalty.
- Teamwork is key. Surrounding yourself with motivated and supportive people can help you concentrate on tasks effectively.
- Regular physical activity helps mental clarity, improves your mood, and enhances overall productivity.
- Balance your professional and personal life by being present and intentional in both roles as a way to manage demands of each without compromising on either front.