5 questions with ‘Startup My City’ podcaster Nick Martin

Nick Martin may be best known locally for his work with the Wilmington STEAM nonprofit Fouryouth Productions, but nationally, he’s building a reputation as a podcaster.

Over the last few months, Martin’s life has taken a new direction, as he travels all over the country to interview social impact startup founders based in cities that, like Wilmington, are not often considered to be tech hubs – places like Lincoln, Nebraska; Fargo, North Dakota and Detroit, Michigan – for his podcast “Startup My City.”

We wanted to know more, so we sent Martin five questions about the podcast:

Technical.ly Delaware: How did “Startup My City” get started?

Nick Martin: The inspiration behind “Startup My City” really started after I graduated college in 2016 and was thrown into a world of networking. Through this exposure I quickly realized my affinity towards creators, whether they be in startups, nonprofits, or big businesses. More specifically, creators who are looking to have a social impact. My personal involvement with Fouryouth Productions, a Wilmington-based nonprofit teaching STEAM to under-served populations, only heightened this interested in networking with fellow social impact entrepreneurs.

The ultimate catalyst to Startup My City was my mother’s sudden passing in July of 2018. As someone who thought they had their life figured out, it really took an event like this to re-evaluate and take a step away, literally. Combining my passion for social impact work with my love for traveling, the idea of “Startup My City” came into my head. The plan was to travel around the United States interviewing social impact startups and focus on the founder, the organization’s mission, and the significance of being based in the city they are in. After 46 days of traveling, I was able to visit more than 30 cities and interview 22 amazing entrepreneurs.

Not in Delaware anymore: Martin at the Devils Tower in Wyoming. (Courtesy photo)

TD: Do you have a favorite episode or guest? 
NM: Each of my guests was truly unique, and I found myself connecting to each entrepreneur in a different way. It is too difficult, therefore, for me to pick a favorite. I will say my favorite part of the interviews were the “off camera” conversations when I really got to learn more about these amazing people and what motivates them to continue to do good.

TD: Any fun stories about making the podcast? 
NM: My favorite stories come from the crazy amount of traveling I had to do in between each interview. I was easily on the road for four hours every day and got to see every corner of the continental United States. The one story that sticks out, though, is where I almost stayed at an Airbnb in the suburbs of Portland, Ore. that neighbored a scary shrine known as “The Temple of Oculus Anubis”. Go Google it! Needless to say I did not stay at that Airbnb.

TD: Tell us about your podcast setup.
NM: I keep things simple. Me, a few notes on my notebook, my laptop, and my tabletop microphone. This is intentional because I want my interviews to be authentic and conversational. By having limited notes, I am truly able to listen to my guest and ask targeted questions based on where the conversation is going. From a more logistical standpoint, it is just me doing the traveling, interview preparation, and post-production. The less I had to carry around the easier I knew the process would be.

TD: Dream guest/city?
NM: I can’t say I have a dream guest, but would love to find guests in Hawaii and Alaska! My trip around the continental U.S. showed me that innovation is happening all over from big cities to small towns.Without giving too much away, I am giving thought to taking this podcast international!

“Startup My City” is available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, with new episodes released on Mondays and Wednesdays.