We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ricardo Dufresne a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Ricardo, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
My work ethic originated from observing my father’s dedication when I was younger. He worked tirelessly as a cab driver to ensure all the bills were paid. Meanwhile, my mother took care of our home, ensuring we were well-supported. Additionally, my passion for sports played a significant role in forming my habits and maintaining a disciplined schedule. This love for sports motivated me to develop a strong work ethic, driving me to practice harder and excel in competitive situations.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I initiated an anime podcast with two friends, initially treating it as a hobby. However, as we witnessed organic growth within the first two years, we decided to take the third year more seriously. I established guidelines and goals for the team, and with full commitment, we experienced tremendous growth on social media and podcast platforms. Structuring our episodes into a tournament style for swordsmen battles brought a new level of excitement to our recordings.
The beauty of running a series was the opportunity it provided for us to delve deeper into researching shows, characters, manga authors, and anime genres. During this period, our editing skills for short-form videos improved significantly. Peers in the podcast industry started inquiring about our editing process, to which we proudly revealed that it was all done in-house by us. Soon, we received requests to edit short-form videos for other podcasts’ social media.
Unexpectedly, podcasting led me to another venture: assisting a local recording studio in the Broward area, Florida. I managed all podcast operations, from producing other shows to editing their materials and overseeing the studio’s social media page. This experience not only honed my technical skills but also allowed me to build valuable social connections.
Now in our fourth year, the benefits of our hard work are evident. We went from 55 followers to 8k within 48 hours after going viral on TikTok. This success has positioned us to share our strategies with others, and we now find joy in teaching others how to implement the tactics we perfected in our third year.
Podcasting opened doors beyond our expectations, leading to the creation of a game show. As a crew, we translated that game into panel discussions at anime conventions like Animate Raleigh in North Carolina. Our crew is now traveling, participating in more panels, with exciting plans for the coming year.
Podcasting has allowed us to establish a production crew, secure sponsorships with recording studios, and tap into online sponsorship and affiliate marketing opportunities. The journey has been both fulfilling and unexpected, and we look forward to what the future holds for our podcasting endeavors.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
In past years, the most valuable skills I acquired were centered around consistency, a determination to outwork everyone else. This consistency manifested in the regular release of podcast episodes and the creation of engaging content on social media. However, one unexpected skill that emerged was the ability to be a leader and embrace that role within the team.
The final and perhaps most crucial skill I honed was the commitment to myself and the unwavering dedication to stick to the plans and goals I set. Throughout this journey, I’ve come to appreciate the importance of being a person of your word, especially when it comes to commitments made to oneself. This lesson has been transformative, illustrating that when you commit to something and follow through, it not only builds your character but also shapes the person you have the potential to become.
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
Last year, I delved into the book ‘Atomic Habits,’ a read that left a profound impact on both me and my team. This book, authored by James Clear, excels at dissecting the roots of habits. One of the most impactful teachings it bestowed upon me was the concept of building a system that could serve as a fallback during moments of burnout or procrastination.
Putting the lessons from the book to the test, I actively identified spaces that fostered my creativity. ‘Atomic Habits’ delves into how our brains associate different rooms in our homes with comfort and habitual behaviors, often performed automatically without conscious awareness. This underscores the importance of constructing systems that pave the way for success.
The book has been instrumental in guiding me through creating an environment conducive to productivity and creativity. It’s incredible how reading various books has played a pivotal role in my personal and professional growth
Contact Info:
- Website: https://freestyleanimepod.com/
- Instagram: freestyleanimepodcast
- Youtube: Freestyle Anime Podcast
- Other:TikTok : Freestyleanimepodcast where we achieved our biggest growth.
Image Credits
Radboyseby, inshanemedia and j.tyer.photo This their insatrgam name they shot some of the photos i attached
