People sure love to use numbers that are evenly divisible by ten as an excuse for celebration and remembrance. Had hexadecimal become the standard we would have celebrated four years ago, because today marks the twentieth anniversary of the first non-beta episode of the GeekNights Podcast.

We have been making this podcast for essentially our entire adult lives. It has not lead to fame and fortune, and we have made deliberate decisions which decrease the likelihood of that happening. At no point have we been close to being able to quit our day jobs and make a career of it. Our popularity has largely declined over time. There was no obligation to begin, nor is there any to continue. Why is it that we carry on?

I have often said that I make the podcast because I enjoy making it. I would keep podcasting if there were no audience whatsoever. I have been trying to think myself as a digital folk artist. I seek to create works representative of my culture for no sake beyond their own.

Despite lack of intent, it can not be denied that the podcast has had an absolutely enormous impact on the course of my life. It has opened doors to numerous opportunities and experiences. Most of all, it has introduced me to amazing individuals from around the world who I would have otherwise never known. There are several people I hold very dear that would be complete strangers today had I not dared to record myself running my mouth and make it freely available on the world wide web.

That’s not to say that podcasting was the wisest decision. There is no way of knowing if another endeavor would have lead to better results. Is there some other universe where I save the world instead of podcasting? Sounds unlikely, but it’s not impossible.

What I can say is that I can’t recall a time where the tree of GeekNights bore ill fruit. However small an impact this project has had, it is by most accounts a positive one. Nearly all comments we receive from the audience credit us with being a beneficial presence in their lives. It is at least a little bit frightening due to the parasocial nature of the relationship, but it is also a great source of pride to know we have created something that seems to be so clearly good.

It is not uncommon for people to find themselves angry with their past selves. Failures and regrets of yesterday become the crises of today. Twenty years ago I was foolish and wrong in countless ways, but I am not mad. To my past self I give thanks. Thanks for going on this journey, not quitting, and leading us to where we stand now. If others are thankful as well, so much the better. With some good fortune we can make it at least another twenty.