Around the Kinky Kampfire Podcast
Kink, Geeky, C-NM and all things in-between. Working to make Kink and Non-Monogamy no longer a stigma. New episodes Thursdays.
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Around the Kinky Kampfire Podcast
Introverted Networking and the Art of Self-Promotion: A Podfest 2025 Recap | Pillow Fort Sessions EP 34
Is your podcasting journey crossing into the realm of taboo topics, and where do we draw the line between fantasy and reality? Join me as I recount my experiences at PodFest 2025 in Central Florida, where the buzz of conversations was as vibrant as ever, even in the absence of a dedicated track for taboo discussions. Reflecting on these engaging interactions, I question the evolving landscape of taboo podcasting and its intersection with sex work. Could my own podcasting endeavors fall under this controversial category? Get ready for a deep dive into these provocative themes in upcoming episodes.
Navigating the bustling world of podcast conventions has unexpectedly honed my networking and self-promotion skills, particularly as an introvert. Volunteering at events like PodFest has been a game-changer, pushing me beyond my comfort zone and into meaningful connections with fellow creators. From mindfulness to BDSM, my solo podcasting journey explores a spectrum of complex topics, all while collaborating with others to enrich content and expand reach. The drive to entertain and spread my message is ever-present, proving that podcasting is as much about personal growth as it is about sharing our voices.
The fusion of AI and podcasting is unleashing transformative potential, and I'm eager to harness these technologies in my creative endeavors. Networking consistently emerges as a vital tool for unlocking new opportunities, and I'm excited about blending improv into teaching and future creative projects. While solo podcasting poses challenges, it's also an opportunity to feature engaging guests and honest conversations. As I continue to integrate improv into my work, prepare for potential controversies and rich discussions on the horizon. A heartfelt thank you to Buzzsprout for their continued support, symbolized by a stylish new keychain that I'll be proudly flaunting on Instagram.
Got a burning question about kink, BDSM, relationships, and/or navigating the wild world of alternative lifestyles?
Send in your questions. No topic is too taboo, no curiosity too small! We’re all making mistakes, growing, and exploring together!Submit your questions anonymously at aroundthekinkykampfire@yahoo.com or slide into our DMs at Twitter-KinkyKampfire, YT-AroundtheKinkyKampfire, IG-KampfireKinksters. Let’s keep the fire going!
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Welcome back everybody to the bonfire. That is taboo. The pillars of fire that come down and strike you consensually in the butt or around the kinky campfire these are the pillow fort sessions with your hosts colonel mcbee, taco knuckle, fresno bob or hh jul, julius, if you're feeling fancy, or just Julius. Back for another episode where I am giving my opinion on certain events, goings-ons. Thus then there too, and it is a school night, so no ASMR, 30 seconds this time. Not really with the adult beverages, but I might just grab one in the middle. So you never know, might be a little bit surprised if I just pop up with something, but we'll see. For now, we're going to talk about a certain topic here, a certain convention that I went to last week. I just want to give my overall thoughts on it and the goods and the good goings-ons. I don't know if there's really any cons. It was pretty much cool. It just flew by really. I'm just talking to a lot of people. That is the convention I'm talking about.
Speaker 1:Is PodFest 2025 here in Central Florida, another good time from Wednesday to Saturday, sunday-ish closing ceremonies and everything like that. Yeah, that whole week just flew by for me. Once again, I was volunteering. This is my second year volunteering at the PodFest convention. It was a great time overall. Podfest convention. It was a great time overall. We were back in the place. We were I say we like I was there, like I was part of the team that put it together. I was in the nice hotel, the very nice hotel that we have in the touristy area of Central Florida. I like that hotel. It's pretty easy to get to. Yeah, it's very nice, and the whole middle part was amazing.
Speaker 1:But let me talk about the specifics of the PodFest 2025 convention. There was a lot of podcasters there, a lot of classes, different tracks, all those kind of things. No, taboo tracks, sadly this year I'm pretty sure I talked about it last year. We had a nice little panel and everything like that. I will say that the people running it were very busy, so we didn't get the taboo track. Hopefully somebody will take charge of that. Next year We'll have that taboo track back again Because you know, here at the Kinky Campfire Pillowfort Sessions, we are very taboo.
Speaker 1:We are here to educate the peoples and let them know that taboo needs to be educated. Okay, it's not all. Just I mean it's a lot of putting stuff and other stuff penises and vaginas and booty holes and every other places and mouths and stuff like that. Yes, we do that here, but we also very educational. I'm the more entertaining side of things. My guests that I have on and co-hosts and such and such are more of the educational side. We'll continue to have those throughout the year sporadically. Most of the time, it's probably going to be me ranting to y'all and myself as I stare off into the void and talk these lovely words.
Speaker 1:The podcast convention is just a good place to talk to people. Now, we didn't have a taboo track okay, we didn't have a taboo track but my fellow taboo podcasters were there and we were conversing when we were in classes or they were passing by me on a way to a class and I had to do the volunteering thing and I will say the gracious people that headed the thing. I always looked at them with awe and amazement because they do such a good job and they are fellow taboo people as well. It was fun chatting with them in between times about the uh, official goings-on of the podcast convention and also the taboo stuff. Hopefully we'll have some more information on that evil project 2025. I'll probably have to do an episode on that once I get some more information and, uh, specific information. I know, like overall, what's going on, but it's like the specific information and how it affects us um podcast, and if you guys are on the youtubes I don't think I mentioned that before, but there's around the kinky campfire on youtube right now. I have some videos on there, but it's just, uh, another place for you to watch, the watch the podcast, so you can watch it there's a bit there's something going on in the background but mostly to listen to the podcast if you want to go there. So I'm very interested how that's going to play out for us.
Speaker 1:Because technically, I mean, there's a definition for sex work, but it's like, who does it affect exactly? We know it affects the porn stars. Yes, we know, very sad. Not all of it is just, you know, gratuitous with I, I don't know, I don't even know what to call it. I have a different view, being on the A spectrum with porn. So it's like I understand, yes, no, kids should be watching porn. Okay, under age 18 should not be watching porn.
Speaker 1:Above that, it's like it's not, it's fake. It's fantasy, not really fake, cause people are actually having sex, but it's fantasy Not really fake, because people are actually having sex but it's fantasy. You're not going to get those situations most of the time in real life. I would say the kinky ones probably could. I've reenacted some of those scenes with a consenting partner. It was very much enjoyable for the both of us.
Speaker 1:But most of that stuff is, you know, clearly, sex work. But is this sex work? Am I doing sex work right now? Because I'm talking about penises and vaginas and smacking those booties, stuff like that, and having multiple partners being on the queer spectrum on both of them. It's like does that count as sex work? I don't even know, but that's a little bit spoilers for later, because we got to get into all that.
Speaker 1:Unfortunately, if you're still listening to me, I'm not even that that big. What am I saying? But there's people that are more affected in my field, as you all know. Hopefully, hope you guys are listening to other podcasts, not just listening to me. As I say, don't listen to me. Do your own doggone research.
Speaker 1:Go out there and use that internet that you have Probably most of us have in our pocket. You can go and search all these different things. Okay, now back to my point. We are talking about PodFest 2025. My main goal was to go there and network. A lot of that information, arguably, could have been found on the internet some way. It's nice that it is all there for you to listen, to go in the class or a panel or something. Get all that information related to podcasts and also all the vendors that were there that were selling services for you to either distribute your podcasts or help you grow your numbers and all those kind of things. Those are very nice, a lot of nice vendors. I was covering the vendor hall some of the time and everybody was very nice and I didn't have too much issues. So much people breaking rules.
Speaker 1:People wear your badges If you go to a convention. I think we talked about that in a convention ready episode. I'll probably talk about it again, cause people are out there talking about kink conventions and kinky parties and venues and stuff like that. We've got to talk about, specifically, conventions. Wear your doggone badge as a volunteer at different kinds of conventions, mostly taboo ones. There might be some other ones, geek ones, in the future, but wear your doggone badge. I don't care how much of a vendor you are. You can be a super vendor, for all I care. Wear your doggone badge. Anyways, that's my little volunteer rant People volunteering. Everybody's very thankful it was volunteering, but it's like, just follow the rules, just make it more simple. You can't go in that area, pay the extra $200 or whatever it is to get. Get to that area and you can go in that area. That's it Real simple. But most people were nice Talking to other people.
Speaker 1:It was great to be with other creators going out there and doing all kinds of things and they'd be like oh, I didn't know you could do a podcast about that. I kind of did, but it's like somebody did a podcast about that Interesting. There are dental podcasts. More power to you guys yeah, that's a thing you can do that and everybody was pretty much on the same creative route and then making connections and all that. I met a few uh people that I'm looking forward to hopefully you'll hear me on their podcast uh, julius, um, most of the time, and they, yeah, this interesting stuff and it's ooh, you have a podcast about that.
Speaker 1:I have something to say about that. It's like, exactly you know what I am gender fluid it's he or she, but not they, and sometimes motherfucking, because that's what I do. So I have opinions about that and experiences that I can talk about, because, yeah, half my partners are usually mothers. So mothers, you know, you get older, you still need to go out there and date. Well, you don't need to, but they still want to go out there and date and I'm here for that. If they're interested in the BSM, kink or queer areas lifestyles, I have an opinion. Y'all have heard it over the last few years. I have an opinion about this and I talk about partners and trials and tribulations of all the different lifestyles that I am part of.
Speaker 1:But it's great talking to people about that stuff, especially if they don't know about it, and it's like, ooh, you have a book podcast. Let me tell you about my friend. She is an artist or artist. She is an author. She writes smut books and they're like what smut? I'm like, wow, author, she writes smut books and they're like what smut? I'm like, wow, you have a book podcast. You don't know about smut. That's me being judgy, but I have somebody you can talk to. They will tell you all about the smut stuff. And then the whole wide world of smut lifestyle, the smut followers, smut readers, smut authors, all those kind of things, yeah, that's uh, very interesting. So not only am I networking for myself, I'm networking for my friends uh, either guests on the show, hosts on the show or outside of it. So very interesting to do those networking connections.
Speaker 1:I don't know if I mentioned before, but over the last year I've been heavily into improv and doing all those kind of things and I will say that improv for social skills is very helpful for us introverts especially, not justverts, extroverts and ambiverts, y'all can get in on it too. I will say that the improv skills that I have practiced habits have been working and I'm getting better at talking to the people, more so speaking my truth and just saying not really just what's on my mind, but saying. It's saying what I've been wanting to say and not having that moment where you're like a day later or even 20 minutes later, I'm like, dang it, I should have said that, or I should have asked for that, or I should have made note of that and then got back to it later. Let me get that person's contact information. I forgot who they are and what they do. That was a big mistake that I have mostly corrected this year. I got people's information before we got to talking about hey, let me get your socials and let me look up what you're doing exactly before I just run my mouth and be like, yeah, let me do everything, because I am that friend where, whatever you want to do, I'm usually down. Usually and I had to correct that habit because it can't just be anything You'll end up being thrown out of an airplane with a parachute before you realize it and, uh, sometimes you might need a diaper or something for that, because it's very scary. So you know, don't just say every yes to everything, just do your research, let me. It's very normal to say, let me get back to you on that. I'm going to do my research and I will get back to you. That also.
Speaker 1:Another thing is, if you are an introvert like myself most of the time is, volunteering is a good way to have forced social interactions, cause I would rather speak in front of a crowd and then go into a big room full of people and have to talk to people individually. That is Ooh, that is scary. I do not like it. Just random conversation out of nowhere, just talking to people no, I'd rather talk to a thousand people on stage. I have no problem with that, because they just have to listen. I don't, I don't, I don't have, I just talk and then they just listen. So it's like, cool, I can do that. But with the improv skills and then also with the volunteering, it's like enforced social interaction people.
Speaker 1:People have to ask you for directions and then I'm like oh, you have a podcast, what's your podcast about? Tell them what my podcast is about. And they're like oh, that's interesting, I want to know more. And it's like I feel like most of the time that wouldn't happen on a regular basis. A lot of people are very sociable, especially just conventions in general, but then also podcasters, because we like to talk. It's another thing. So asking people what their podcast is, what's about, or do you have a podcast, is usually the first thing that comes out of their. You know the first that starts the conversation. But then it's also like oh, you're volunteering. Uh, do you have a pocket? It's like so it might not be the first thing that comes out, but this is the next thing that comes out. So that's pretty funny. But yeah, for me I know my trick ease of interaction is to enforce the social interaction by being a volunteer. You gotta ask for you gotta ask for directions. That's pretty easy.
Speaker 1:Also, I will say, for me, volunteering is another good thing because I'm just one of those people that needs to know my uh, surroundings. Hey, primal people, you know what I'm talking about. If, If you are in a habitat, you have to know where all everything is. That's just part of the whole time you nest, that's part of the nesting thing. I need to know where everything is, where home base is, where I can reach out, come back, all those different things. That is something I do, being a primal person. So I got a lot of practice, a lot of practice with the networking skills and I will say I will congratulate myself. Thank you very much, julius. You did a great job getting all those contacts.
Speaker 1:I will take note for the future that there is a limit to people I can talk to, just because I need to remember I'm glad I talked to the people I did talk to because, yeah, I still had a moment where I was like I might not say anything, but I wouldn't have said I'm glad I talked to the people I did talk to because there, yeah, I still had a moment where I was like I might not say anything, but I wouldn't have said it anyway, cause, improv. You just say what's on, speak your truth. So I did and I was like, oh, I was pleasantly surprised when I talked to people One, they were nice too, they were willing to talk about their podcasts or what they had going on and then elaborate on it and I was like, oh, that's amazing. So, yeah, I got a lot of homework to do. I've gotten through most of the people's podcasts that I wanted to contact, to be on with or whatever work on something, and it's like, oh man, there's a lot of notes that need to be taken and all those different kind of things. So, yeah, I made some business connections, people. I did a good job.
Speaker 1:Julius is not a business person. I'll tell you that right now. I was not raised that way. I don't even know how to say the word. That is not how I was raised. So that is something that I had to realize and I realized that, like podcasting and all the social medias and stuff, you're selling yourself. So technically, you are a business. I will say that right now, have you do anything in this realm of entertainment whatsoever? Content creation, whatever you want to call it. You are selling yourself. I did not realize that. I will say that I started this whole podcasting thing not realizing that. So within the last years that I've done this podcast, I'm like, oh, I'm selling myself, that's interesting, I need more product. So, yeah, within this last year of mindfulness, I was like, oh, I need more product. So no, good way to get more products is work with people, Cause that just if you work with people, that get makes you have to do less work. There's another thing I had to realize recently. Yeah, so this is pretty much just me giving my experience on all these different things that I've learned out, just not because I've learned on still learning.
Speaker 1:The BDSM and the non-monogamous stuff and queer stuff Also represents representation, all that there, but also just like the fact of running this thing presentation, all that there, but also just like the fact of running this thing. I don't know if any of y'all campsters know that like running a podcast, especially by yourself, is a whole thing on its own. And then you have all the social medias and the YouTubes and all those different kinds of things, algorithms and stuff like that. It's like, oh God, all right, my goal is to. I don't really super care about making money. That's great, I would love sponsorships and all that, but I want to get it out to more people.
Speaker 1:Okay, as a um delusion person that is struck by the virus, the need to speak and entertain you all campsters love you. I, uh, I need, I need to uh get the word out. Somebody has something, something. So, yeah, all that stuff is helpful. So I learned a lot about monetization and automation and all those shuns at the podcast convention and it's great and, yeah, talking to the people is like I need to do more research, research on selling myself and research on making this stuff easier. Yeah, uh, yeah, I don't think.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'm not gonna shout out specifically all the podcasts I was working with uh or talking, talking to people about, but they're out there. They may, may or may not be listening. I appreciate it. Uh, just not gonna do that right now specifically, but there are a lot of great podcasts out there. We'll see. I might, you might see me on there and then I'll put that on the instagrams. Remember campfire kinksters, campfire with a k on ig? Go ahead and check that out. Just hit that like button and uh on the post and follow and all that kind of stuff. On ig you get a little bit more clips for the preceding episodes and at one point julius will go ahead and make some shorts and stuff like that, the ones that I have. Yeah, we'll make some shorts and stuff like that More serious, not serious, no, kind of serious, not really Okay.
Speaker 1:So another thing I found out talking to people is different kinds of motivations. As y'all know, here at the Pillow sessions, especially junius likes to know and talk about certain um aspects of life I guess you could say so, along with the love languages and the attachment styles and stuff like that. Motivation is another thing. That's just, oh, chef's kiss. Love talking about motivations and finding out different people's motivations as to why they started the podcast. I would love to get more people not just talking about taboo stuff, but life stuff as well.
Speaker 1:Thank you for listening to the Pillowfort Sessions. As you know, it's not specifically related to BDSM and non-monogamy but in my opinion my humble opinion that stuff is helpful for healthy relationships. Okay, that stuff is helpful for healthy relationships. I would say so. You don't have to listen to what I say in those episodes, but I would argue it is very beneficial to you to go and do your research on those topics and figure out what your view on it is and hopefully you can apply it to your life. If I can help one person, I would find that very beneficial for my life. I guess the purpose something like that, whatever those people view the whole point of life is. I would argue that that's part of it. And then, oh my goodness, yeah, I'm just going to touch on this just very quickly because it blows my mind all the different topics that were going on.
Speaker 1:Yeah, ai is a big thing. I need to, I need to figure out so if you guys aren't even using okay, you don't even have to be podcasters, but ai, go and mess around with those gbtsT, open source or whatever the heck it is Open AI. Go ahead and mess with that just a little bit. Y'all, if you don't know what's going on, watch the YouTube video or something, because whatever your industry is, ai is going to help you. The stuff I learned just for podcasting is like what I didn't even know you could do that, but it's helpful. So hopefully you guys are learning about ai because you okay, that's my little nerd minute don't even listen to that part.
Speaker 1:It was just ai is just blowing my mind right now and you know, moving on from that is oh boy, back to the networking thing. It's not about who you know, it's not about what you know, it's about who you know. Goodness, it's just ridiculous, ridiculous. Got to know the different people so you can go out and do all the different things. I'm just so excited. I'm gonna keep harping on this point because I'm so excited.
Speaker 1:What the alternative lifestyle has brought to me, and also the improv, is like oh, people want to use this stuff and I would argue, I'm going to teach a class some point that mixes improv with dynamics and negotiations. There's something there that I'm going to do at some point. Look out for it on the youtube channel because I'm going to talk about it, because improv is life. No, uh, improv is amazing and very much passionate about it, and it is going to be a thing that I incorporate in my teachings. I just need to figure out how just need to learn a little bit more. It's going to be a thing that I incorporate in my teachings. I just need to figure out how just need to learn a little bit more. It's going to be part of it. But I will argue, go and check some improv out. It will help you with your dynamics and negotiating and relate negotiating negotiations and your relationships. I would argue that so much, just uh, if you have questions, hit me up on the instagrams campfire kinksters because I will answer them for you, but until then, just wait for the class.
Speaker 1:Okay, so thanks for next year, podfest 2026. We need a taboo track. I say that like I'm going to be leading it, but I'll be very helpful if anybody's listening. I will be very helpful for the taboo track, but I will be very helpful if anybody's listening. I will be very helpful for the taboo track. Hopefully we'll be out next year. Hopefully we'll all still be around after stupid project comes out. Oh my goodness, yeah, this, yeah, so frustrating, but hopefully we'll still have it some, some form of it. I'll be be very helpful with that.
Speaker 1:And I just oh my goodness, I just want to interview so many people, so many fascinating people doing things Like what motivates you to give yourself a headache like this? I've got to tell you all what sometimes campsters doing this podcast thing is like hitting your head against a very hard wall. It's very, very frustrating at times, especially if you're doing it by yourself. So much praise, applause, all that for my solo podcasters out there. Y'all are doing great. This stuff sucks sometimes, but in order to get the word out about whatever you're passionate about, you just got to hit that record button sometimes and just keep on going.
Speaker 1:Boy, I just got to think back, ruminating on why I started this whole thing in the first place and my motivations. I definitely want to have more interesting conversations with people. I feel like, um, and weigh in on this if you want to, once again, campfire kinksters, ig. Weigh in on this if you want to. I feel like I should have a a steady uh rotation of people. I don't know if I really want to just rant, randomly, go out there and and uh, interview people. I feel like I have like a good radar on good people that are good conversationalists, like miss rue and shannon, and have more people just rotating in and talking about different topics, because guests are good most of the time and I don't really want to deal with it on the other time. So I learn to talk to people that I enjoy talking to and I'll figure that out in real life and they're like oh, you should come do the podcast. So that's my goal, just so y'all know not going to have too many new people.
Speaker 1:So if you hear somebody out here. Just assume you kind of assume that I will try to get them on on a regular basis. People have lives and they got stuff going on. It's the beginning of the year. Most people is very busy at this point of years or this point in the year and yeah, it's, uh, it's interesting, but we're gonna, we're gonna keep trying. I'll keep bugging people until they finally come on and or they ask me to go on their podcast. So if you hear about anything, I will post that on the instagrams. Oh boy, okay.
Speaker 1:So I mentioned improv, how I'm going to mix that up into dynamics and some some part of the bsm and definitely non-monogamy. Good lord, people need that stuff. Speak your truth, just say it. People have trouble with a difficult conversation. I keep saying that I'm getting rid of those stupid assumptions, especially the incorrect ones. Get them out of here. Just say what's on your mind. Make it difficult, but this is your partner or your top or your bottom, something it's like. Say what you need to say, just say it out there. Oh boy, might be some controversy coming out later episodes, just so you all know All kinds of stuff going on, people being accusated and all that.
Speaker 1:But yeah, I'm going to incorporate the improv and also I've started twice now doing stand-up open mics. So how is julius going to incorporate the taboo relationship stuff with his standup and, of course, the improv? That is a question to find out. Maybe I'll put some clips on the IG at some point when I get a good laugh. I don't even know, because I'm a very much an entertainer. But I also want to be serious at the same time and give the people the accurate, accurate, mostly accurate Get those stereotypes out of there of all the Bdsm and the non-monogamy stuff people make jokes about it. There's another reason why I want to start this progress podcast to get all that stuff out of there. Yeah, all that stuff.
Speaker 1:So I yeah, I did a little open mic at the convention. I think I did well for the time I have, but there's much more work to do. So look out for all that stuff people, more people, more guests, co-hosts, whatever, rotating in and mixing all the different passions that I got going on, and y'all are entertained. Entertained and educated at the same time. That is the goal get that out to as many people as possible, and I thank you for being on the journey. Now, that was just a little update on the convention that I went to.
Speaker 1:I just wanted to tell you all about it because it's not specifically on the topics we usually discuss here, but it is. It kind of is because there's taboo podcasters out there. People Make sure you listen to them. Yeah, that's pretty much all I got to say. Just go out there and listen to them as well.
Speaker 1:You got to support our taboo podcasters because, arguably, most of us are out there trying to educate the people because there are states in these United States where it's illegal to have sexual education, which is freaking crazy. How are you supposed to know? Frickin' crazy. How are you supposed? No, abstinence is not a good anti Abortion, anti-pregnancy no, that's not good Anti-pregnancy practice. No, gotta educate people. Ridiculous, don't make any sense. Oh goodness, then AI is gonna come in and there's gonna be sex robots and people are just gonna be living with their sex robots and not going out and talking to people anymore. But Julius will be here with the helpful social hints and practices. Hopefully I mean the birth rate will go up more. I don't even know what I'm talking about. People will continue to have relationships with other people, hopefully in all the different kinds of forms.
Speaker 1:But for now, this is Around the Kinky Campfire at the Pillow Fort Sessions. This is your host, the Taco Knuckle Fresno Bob, colonel McBee, or formerly HH Julius or just Julius. Sometimes Jules Jules is coming out. Eventually You'll see her at some point. These episodes come out on most Thursdays. We're doing pretty well so far for the new year Most Thursdays on all major platforms Spotify, itunes, yada, yada and YouTube now Amazon, all those kind of things and YouTube YouTube channel around the Kinky Campfire as well. And of course, once again go to IG and follow that. Campfirekinksters Campfire always with a K.
Speaker 1:And I think I've talked enough about the PodFest convention. I'm just so happy it's a thing and that I went out there. Thank you, buzzsprout. Buzzsprout is my podcast distributor. Those people are great. They give me a nice cool-looking keychain which I still need to take a picture of and put up on the IG, so hopefully you guys will see that later. It's a little fake leather keychain with QR codes on the back. It just looks so freaking cool I can just whip it out and show it to people. Not talking about my dick, talking about my keychain, okay. Talking about my key chain, okay. But for now, this is Julius and I'll talk to you next time, hello.