Darren Austin AEBN Shock Jock with a Heart
Interview by Kath Blackwell
Adult webmaster radio's Golden Boy has found his way back home...
to North Carolina, to his family, to AEBN and to his listeners.
Darren Austin is oh so much more than your typical radio talk show
host. His mission to educate, inform, entertain and bring people together
has earned him a respected reputation among his peers. His repertoire
of guests has included the extremely controversial, virtual unknowns
with unique outlooks and perspectives on both our industry and on
life - as well as a few A-list celebrities who came on to entertain
and surprise the audience! Those who know him - love him. Those who
have only heard - are intrigued.
Now, back home where he belongs with friends, family and a brand new
radio AND video show [TheDarrenAustinShow.com], he is ready to truly
take on the world. Fans can expect a few twists and turns in the Darren
Austin Internet radio/video show format, but will appreciate that
their host has remained the same - totally grounded, true to his guests,
his listeners and himself.
On Monday, October 6th, in a video "sneak peek" from The Darren Austin
Show studios in North Carolina, Darren told his fans: "The season
premiere is in video form, but while the set is getting built, we
will go back to radio format" until the set is complete. If you thought
that I wasn't working at all during my little month and a half hiatus
- then you were wrong... The last show was very hard-hitting, but
this new Darren Austin Show is about real life... real issues. Trust
me, if you thought the last show was controversial - get ready for
this show."
Armed with a brand-new theme song and knock-out opening credits, Darren
is ready to start tackling issues, greeting guests and keeping audience
members on the edge of their seats. His first show - the premiere
of the brand new Darren Austin Show, kicks things off by diving head-on
into a well thought-out consideration of The Patriot Act and John
You-Know-Who Ashcroft. The premiere show is complete with interviews
of industry and non-industry folks, video from a protest that was
staged during an Ashcroft tour visit to North Carolina - even on-the-street
interviews with attendees of Ashcroft's speech.
If his premiere show is any indication of how this first season at
AEBN.net will go, Darren is proving once again that he will "go wherever
he has to go, do whatever he has to do" to bring the story to his
audience. Anyone who has any affiliation or connection in the adult
entertainment industry - be it Internet, video or adult community
based - this show should be considered "must-see online TV." Mark
your calendars - The Darren Austin Show is NOT to be missed.
Klixxx: Congratulations on your move Darren - how does it feel to
be back home?
Darren: It feels so good. It's just all so familiar. The AEBN family
is very familiar and welcoming to me, so in more ways than one, I
really do feel like I'm coming home. Not only to my family, but to
AEBN as well.
Klixxx: So what will you be doing at AEBN.net - what are your actual
duties?
Darren: Well, I will be working as the division manager for GayStreams.com,
in charge of the gay division. I'll be handling accounts and of course
will also be the Executive Producer for TheDarrenAustinShow.com. Our
slogan for the show is "real life - real issues."
Klixxx: Do you have any sneak peeks you can offer to our readers on
what we can expect from the upcoming season of The Darren Austin show
in the next few months?
Darren: Well, I've had a little hiatus [during the move] and I've
had a lot of time to think. As a host I've grown quite a bit. There
were a lot of things that I couldn't do that I wanted to do [at Darren
Austin Live]. I want to take real life topics, news and industry related
- but also gay community related. I want to explore them, dissect
them.
I want to build a larger audience - not just gay, but straight. My
goal is to bring people together and change their views and perceptions
of gay people. I want to unite. It's really the fear of "not knowing"
when it comes to straight peoples' opinions of gay people. They have
fear because they don't know. I think that once people can conquer
that fear - they can move forward.
Klixxx: As a host, you have a very large and dedicated listening base
- one that I'm sure would follow you anywhere. How do you feel about
that - and has that fame affected you or changed you in any way?
Darren: Well hopefully I still do after such a long hiatus (laughs).
But I'm glad, I'm really glad. I think that if I can continue as I
have, to unite people and to show that gay people in general are really
normal -we're just like you - that we will still find success.
There's nothing different though about me - and I think that's part
of the show's success. What you see is what you get - this is 100%
just me. Every single person who has supported the show has helped
to make it successful. I never take the credit - because without the
listeners and the people, it wouldn't be what it is today.
As far as letting it change me? Not at all! I would never allow that
to happen. I never become complacent with where I am - I don't think
of myself as a "celebrity" - but as someone who has been blessed and
has a gift. I happen to know how to work the gift, but it's not something
that I invented - it's something that I want to share with everyone
in a positive manner and in a way that won't make people scared.
Klixxx: How does someone become a guest on your show? What do they
need to do?
Darren: Anyone can become a guest. Either I find them myself -
or they can e-mail me directly via darren@thedarrenaustinshow.com.
I am always looking for new guests - I can never have too many.
Klixxx: What is your ultimate goal with this show? What is it that
you hope to accomplish with this program?
Darren: Well, we talked about this a little already, but it definitely
bears repeating. The ultimate goal is to take on political, controversial
and life issues - bring it all to the table, and maybe even change
someone's thinking or empower someone to become their own being. I
want people to come away with a better understanding of themselves
- and of others. As long as they walk away with something new and
positive, then I've accomplished something.
Klixxx: In the past year I have seen many more gay-friendly sites
pop up from the big companies... What do you feel is the industry's
attitude towards the gay webmaster community?
Darren: I think the industry's attitude toward the gay market is
completely changing. What I am starting to see is that many gay sites
are interacting more with other gay sites - networking. One of the
things that I am personally trying to do is to bring together both
sides of the industry [gay and straight]. NoLabelsNoLimits.com - a
new industry-positive message board supported by Gay Streams - is
going to enhance that mission. It's a positive thing and it's working
really well so far.
Klixxx: What's your biggest pet peeve about this business? What would
you change about it if you could?
Darren: (laughs) Oh wow... (deep breath)... oh my gosh - you stumped
me!
Well (after a long pause), I think it would have to be how some newbies
are viewed. I would definitely change that because you just never
know who the next big company is going to be. It could be that tiny
little newbie that you didn't pay any attention to, didn't have time
for - that person could be the next big thing. Pay attention to the
newbies because you just never know.
Klixxx: Switching gears now - what keeps you here? Why do you stay?
Darren: It's definitely the people that keep me in this industry.
I love meeting people - whether they stay or go on - I still get to
meet them along the way. There are so many good-hearted and genuine
people in this industry.
I also love it because it's so creative - people get to live out and
produce their own types of creativity.
Klixxx: How important do you feel it is for webmasters to attend industry
conferences - and especially to attend the workshops and seminars?
Darren: I think it's very important for anyone - big companies
and newbies. Things are constantly changing, the way things are done
- it's a great way to keep abreast of the information. Just because
you are a big company, webmaster or newbie - doesn't mean you don't
need to go. Getting seen and being heard, building relationships -
it's all so important. Other than communicating on ICQ, these shows
are the most important for getting to know people. You can never stop
learning.
Klixxx: What would you tell a new webmaster that is just starting
out? What advice would you share?
Darren: I would tell them to be true to who they are. If you are
blessed enough to become big, don't forget where you came from and
who helped you to get there. Don't listen to the bad stuff that gets
said [on the boards], the higher you go, the more people will attack
you. This is a personal lesson that I'm learning.
Klixxx: What do you feel is the number one mistake that straight webmasters
make when trying to target a gay surfing audience?
Darren: Just not being well informed, not doing enough research.
Also assuming that you know what gay people want based upon just what
you've seen - it just doesn't work. Do your research. A gay pride
flag on the site won't get you traffic. Making your site pink... won't
get you traffic. Putting a poodle on your site... won't get you traffic.
I've seen it all.
Klixxx: Any final thoughts or comments for our readers?
Darren: Just be good to yourselves and each other. Listen to The
Darren Austin Show. And if you have any questions or want to find
out more about Gay Streams and the content we offer, contact me directly
at darren@aebn.net.
To see The Darren Austin Show live, visit www.thedarrenaustinshow.com,
Mondays at 5pm Eastern/2pm Pacific. You can also join in and ask questions
via the mIRC chat room at fledge.foreverchat.net, Channel #thedarrenaustinshow.
You can also check out all of the high-quality content available via
AEBN at: www.aebn.net
or at: www.gaystreams.com.
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