Big news! Crafty Brewers: Tales Behind Craft Beer, was just named Best Video Podcast in the 2025 Quill Podcast Awards! 🏆 And it all started with a phone camera. As the executive producer of the show, I’d like to give you a behind the scenes look into how it happened.

Just under 2 years ago, Brian Noonan and I launched Crafty Brewers. At the time, I was NOT a video editor. Brian asked me if a brand-new podcast should have video, and I sighed and reluctantly said “I mean… I GUESS.” It just felt like “the thing to do.” It’s the direction the podcast industry was heading in, and who doesn’t like to look at beer?

So how did we become the BEST video podcast? We started simple. Brian brought a tripod, I clipped my Galaxy S23 Ultra into place for a single steady “hard cam” shot, and we used three Sennheiser MD 46 mics wired into my Zoom H6 for crisp audio. I synced the audio and video together manually in post-production.

After a year, I realized… I kind of LOVE video editing. So I reinvested earnings from my side hustle producing B2B podcasts into two prosumer Sony cameras. I got faster in Adobe Premiere Pro. I started capturing b-roll and cutting highlight reels to publish as trailers on social media. I learned how to use motion graphics and started adding lower thirds and a title sequence to our episodes. I exported vertical videos for TikTok and subscribed to CapCut to caption them. In less than 90 days on TikTok, our clips have racked up over 1.4 million views.

In short: we’ve gotten a lot better since we started! And if you don’t believe me, then check out our episode with Forbidden Root. The audio and video turned out great, and in my opinion, it’s easily one of our best episodes.

So what’s helped Crafty Brewers grow into one of the best video podcasts out there? Three things:

1) My supportive wife. My kids are 2 and 4. Saying “Hey, I’m gonna go record a podcast at a brewery; I’ll be back in 3-4 hours” only works because I have a partner who fully supports my passions. Literally none of this would have been possible without her incredible support. She even listens to the podcast sometimes (as if she doesn’t hear enough of me already)!

2) A top-tier host. I’ve been working with Brian since our WGN Radio days in 2008, and I’ve lost count of the number of times a guest has told him “that’s the best interview I’ve ever done.” His radio background means we’re essentially live-to-tape, and I simply wouldn’t have the time or energy to edit a less polished host. He books our guests, he always comes prepared, his wit is razor sharp, and he takes direction like a pro.

3) Incredible guests. Brian always says that it’s “easy to talk to brewers” because they all care about what they do. And after publishing more than 40 interviews, I have to say I agree with him! Brewers love their craft and it’s always fun hearing people discuss the things they’re passionate about. There’s a menu on the side of our website labeled “breweries we’ve interviewed,” and it’s a pretty extraordinary list. We’re incredibly grateful to everyone on that list for sharing their stories with us—and with you!

We’re thrilled that we were able to turn a tripod, a phone, and a fun idea into a best video podcast. And we’re just getting started! So thanks to everyone who has supported Crafty Brewers. Here’s to more stories—and more pints—to come. Cheers! 🍻