Transcript of The Torin Talks Podcast Introduction ft. Dallas Nichols

[singing]
From topics A to Z via one, two, three.
You'll always be fun to me.
Your hyperfocus will never be mocked.
So, let's deep dive on to talk.

Dallas: Uh, do you want to start off introducing yourself?

Torin: No. No, it's fine.

Dallas: Pass.

Torin: Good. It's fine. Just ask a question.

Torin: Hello everyone. I am Torin. I am a voice actor and digital artist and now podcaster question mark. I totally know how to do this. I don't. Um, I'm the creator of Torin Talks podcast and yeah, a lot a lot of other weird little things that I put out on the internet to hopefully bring some cozy times and some moments to just take a deep breath and exhale. I think exhale is important. Take the deep breath but actually exhale at the end as well. Very much so. Yes. Yeah. That's me.

Dallas: So, I am Dallas Nichols. I am also a voice actor. Uh, Torin and I have known each other for a little while now. And we are here today to talk about the upcoming podcast.

Torin: Yes. Yes.

Dallas: So, let's start with the obvious question. Uh, what is Torin Talks? How does it differ from the other content that you do?

Torin: Oh. Uh, so Torin Talks is what I would call an interview podcast. Per season, I talk to a different collective of people. So, the first season is Twitch streamers, uh, people that go online on platforms and broadcast shows and different media. And the idea is interviewing not necessarily just about what they do and what makes them similar, but interviewing them on a deeper level of what makes them happy and what makes them excited.

Yeah. and-and show that we are different and there's things that we can't really get into all the time on streaming or or via the business that we're in and um seeing the what makes them happy and joyful and this the joy of that.

As far as the different content versus what I do normally, a lot of the content I've done in the last five years, which is mind-boggling that I've been doing it that long, but is entirely community-based or or outside of me, if that makes any sense. So, I do things on Twitch primarily at the moment, but it's things like gaming, um, uh, co-working. That is all only me on camera, only all the thoughts from me, if you will. And this is the first project that I've that I've created, produced, everything that includes other people. And yeah, it's it's been lovely. It's it's purely community driven in all literally every aspect of it.

Dallas: Yeah, that's awesome. Sorry, I'm trying not to speak over. Um, but no, that's amazing that I I'm really looking forward to seeing this because I think especially given the community that you have, you've already got a good head start on doing something like this. And because so many of the people in the community that you've built are creative people, whether they do it for work or just as a hobby. I think most, if not all of us have had those moments where we get super excited about something and hyperfocused on something and people don't want to hear it.

Torin: People tell you, you know, shut up, you're talking too much. Okay. Oh, that's really great.

Dallas: Right. Exactly. So, it's nice to have that sort of space like that. Mhm. So, you've talked a little bit about, you know, how it differs and everything. Why did you make the podcast?

Torin: So, so honestly I I made it because I personally am very bad at small talk and I'm very unable sometimes to tell by like facial expressions or anything how a conversation is going. So, if you can't tell, I'm neurodivergent. Yay. Um, and I made it because we've been the first season people and myself were all streamers on Twitch stream Twitch streamers. And we've been in each other's ecosphere for like 5 years. I've known most of these people since I started on Twitch 5 years ago plus. And Twitch chat, if you're not familiar with it at all, it's a chat room. You know, there it's hard to either not be on topic. you kind of got to go with the flow of what's going on. It's not a place to have deeper conversations and I'm like I want time to talk to my friends.

But and truly not just that, that's definitely the main thing for myself in a selfish way, but also I wanted to highlight what makes these people fantastic and um what I see about them like, you know, cuz there's there's certain things that as subtext or certain vibes that you get, if you will, depending on how you want to look at it, of these people are good or like they're people you want to be around and and you you want to support and thus hope that they support you too and and build that community together. And so that that was the main two reasons.

I'm bad at small talk and I want to talk to people.

Dallas: No, I mean and that that works because again, I think it's something that a lot of the people that you're doing this with probably have similar Hello. Like have similar issues sometimes. But it, you know, it's something we deal with. Not only do you deal with as a streamer, but you deal with it as a voice actor, too. There are times that we work with people that we've followed on social media for years or maybe even been in a project with and we look up to them and we go, "Oh my god, you're so cool. I want to get to know you." And you don't always have the chance to.

Torin: Yeah. Yeah. Especially cuz I don't want to say streams a dump. But like, you know, the avenues of which that occurs when you do cross paths, it's got such borders on it and rails, if you will. And you're there to do a job. You're there for a purpose. You've got to get done. Exactly. you know, and it it's places that small talk fosters and I'm bad at it.

Like, well, fine. I'll just make my own space. But truly, yeah, you know, even watching back watching like the interviews back when I edit, it's really fun. Like, I'm smiling smiling at myself, which I I don't know if you went through this as a voice actor, but listening to yourself is something you really got to get over. Like, yeah. Yeah. Like, because it immediately makes you hate it. At least I think I was a little surprised how quickly I got over it. But yeah, it is absolutely a thing you have to get used to. Yeah. And I I crossed that barrier a long time ago, right, many years ago. Now it's I have to watch myself. I have to see it now and I'm like, but even even with that, watching it back, it's been really lovely. Like I find myself smiling at it. Yeah.

Dallas: Okay. So, we've talked about um hyperfocus and that sort of thing and and you've used the word hyperfocuser before.

Torin: Yes.

Dallas: Um now, of course, if you are a hyperfocuser, chances are you may have some idea of what we're talking about when you hear that word, but explain what that is. Sort of your your target audience.

Torin: Yeah, I this kind of goes along with hyperfocuser and probably ADHD, even though hyperfocuser spans a lot of different things. Um people I mean we get excited about different things, right? That's obvious because we're all human. We're all different. But you've either been the person and or been around the person that when you hit like a certain button topic, they just go here's my entire encyclopedic knowledge of everything that you've ever known and has ever been discussed on this topic. And uh so that is a hyperfocuser in my mind. um people that have certain interests that hit that encyclopedic knowledge level. And then the other part of that is you get excited about it. And so there are some people like myself where I may not understand or know the topic, but I can see that they're excited and so they're exuding excitement and thus I'm like, "Oh, what's this? What is this excitement? Tell me all about it." So, and part of that again just highlight like what I think highlights and makes us really interesting people in general of humans if you will, but I like to see why they're excited about it even if I don't get it so I can ride the train of excitement, if you will, but also highlight how cool it is.

Because I don't know about you, but do you ever just like watch someone do something that they're a master level at and you can't stop watching? Yeah. Yeah. Like a master chef just, you know, they can just cut it three onions in like 30 seconds and you're like, "What? How does this magic work?" And I'm sitting over here like, you know, I chop an onion, it goes and you know, then I lose half the onion. Um it's that kind of thing. uh for me what I think a hyperfocuser is. So whether you are the one with encyclopedic knowledge and mastery or you're the person that likes watching people go to that level. That's what I that's what I think it is.

Dallas: No, that absolutely makes sense. And you're right. It's not always especially depending on what the topic is, right? As the topic changes, it's not always the same person that's doing it. Yeah. But we've all been around it.

Torin: Oh, yeah. Yeah. are fallen in the YouTube spiral of like how how am I here at 3:00 am watching someone roll origami

Dallas: like just especially when you have no sense of time because of ADHD. Hooray.

Torin: Yeah. Time boxing is how Yeah. Jesus. It's so true.

Dallas: All right. So, as the podcast comes out, what what's the the format of the podcast? What can people sort of expect when they sit down to watch an episode or listen to an episode? I guess I should say.

Torin: Yeah. Either. Um, honestly, because this is such an experiment, I didn't really have one set in mind, but I realized as I was doing them that either through my OCD or my autism, it flowed into something of, you know, something that you can expect and rely on, if you will. So yeah, the the first part is always just, you know, like how are you? You know, is this intro correct? Did I get it right? But also, so it's like a get to know the person, what makes this whole season similar. So talking about streaming in this case in season one and the end of their hyperfocus and deep diving into that. Um cuz I I really something that's kind of bubbling up from my subconscious now that I'm doing it is really just the you know we're all similar in this bucket but there are things that make us unique in it and make us shine because of that. And so naturally somehow pat on the back to myself it flowed that way. So every episode you know get to know who they are through my view. uh see what their streams are like and what I appreciate about them and then their hyperfocus and you know what you can find to love about them as well. I like that.

Dallas: No, it's nice to have that sort of uh rhythm to it, but yeah, it sounds like it's going to be wildly different from episode to episode with each person's particular interests.

Torin: Yeah, like yes, in a weird way, but no, in a weird way. I I don't know how to describe that well, but watching it back, you know, it even though some of the topics like Yeah, you're totally right. The topics are very different when we get to like the back half of it, you know, um but as I was trying to pull things for like marketing and things like that, truly there's so much laughter and appreciation throughout all of it. It feels the same. So I'm like, "Yes, but no." But like it's Yeah. Yeah. I hope people will find it fun. Yeah.

Dallas: Absolutely. Okay. We have to talk about this. Oh god. Who made your intro jingle?

Torin: Oh, I did. [anxiety noises]

Dallas: So, let's talk a little bit about that.

Torin: Anxiety.

Dallas: For anyone who hasn't heard it, it's really good. It's very clever. It's very, very on brand.

Torin: I don't have captions yet, but I'll just put anxiety noises. Um, yeah. So, I wrote it. Oh my god. And I sang it and I even played the ukulele in it. And as far as finding the not finding the notes and I guess what would be arrangement of uh that was actually my husband. Yeah. Because I'm not a musician - Thus anxiety noises. You know, it's funny. I wrote the lyrics first, oddly enough, and then started just singing the melody on my own. Um because again, I don't know what I'm doing. And thus, when that came together, I was like, cuz I can sing. I can't play any instruments. Like like I can barely read music, that kind of thing. And I went to
my husband and I was like, "Help." Just gave him a bunch of stuff and I was like, "Help me." Um, so he found like a few chords that were easy to play and so I I can play that and then um he actually plays if you hear it um the uh kalimba.

Dallas: Okay. Yeah.

Torin: I don't know what you call and I know this is a weird motion but this is how you play it. Um, thumb piano maybe. Um, and he plays that because God, if if you had me do it, it would have taken four hours, but um, yeah. And then, uh, I did the drums, the little like at the very end. Yeah.

Dallas: Very cool.

Torin: Thank you. I just got a a wave of proud like pride where they're like, I did that. Shocking.

Dallas: And that's that's one of the fun parts about doing creative work like this is there's always the more you get into it, the more you start making something, you're like, "Oh crap, I need that. I don't know how to do that. Well, guess I'm going to learn."

Torin: Like God story of millennial life.

Dallas: Yeah. Constantly.And you know, the the best part about it honestly is like I said, every step of this is community focused, right?

Torin: So ukulele and kalimba, I don't know if that's an odd choice. It might be. Um cuz I'm like I don't know what I'm doing. Um but those two were gifted to me from uh one of the community members who goes by Commander Falcon. So years ago, yeah. Yeah. Years ago, I God, I've always had it in my head. I really want to be able to be a musician of some kind and just be able to play. It's always fascinated me. Anyway, um so she gifted me years ago both those instruments and I was like this is going on this track whatever I can do and um without her help and especially without John's help would have never happened. Yeah.

Dallas: No, that that's that makes it even better when you can fold in because like you said it's community things. So being able to fold in things that have come from your community and sort of make them a part of this, that's really amazing. Which actually brings me to my next question.

Dallas: Uh you know, you have the the visuals for the podcast for for that. Anyone who's watching it on the uh streaming service or or not service, but streaming platform rather.

Torin: God, I wish here's my own service. I'm this good.

Dallas: Like talks on Hulu. Um maybe not Hulu. Maybe not. Um, so let's talk about the visuals because I'm getting the impression that any choice that you made in the design of this, whether it's visual, whether it's auto audio audio, uh, is deliberate.

Torin: Yes.

Dallas: So, what is the significance behind some of the visuals that you've pulled into this design?

Torin: Sorry, I'm smiling because I was about to be like "tism". No. Um, that's the answer. No, no, no. I mean, it is, but honestly, I for me being a like the the best chats and times I've had before pandemic were always in cozy bars. So, like not bars that were raging or had dance floors or anything. Not that there's a problem with that at all, but for me, I've always like not dive bars necessarily, not like that kind of vibe, but places where you can just like go in, sit down, maybe there's like some, you know, good background music going on with a musician and it's not so loud that you can't hear yourself think or talk. Yeah. But it's, you know, a place to just dress down a bit. And I because I know I thrive in things like that. I wanted this to not necessarily mimic that but capture that feel. So even all the visuals like even down to the color scheme are what I think of hot totties. I don't know if you ever had one of those or know what that is.

Dallas: I know of them. Yes.

Torin: Yeah. And so um it's for anyone who doesn't know typically a a alcoholic drink. What I do is I do lemon ginger tea in it with like bourbon or whiskey and then honey. And it's very warming. It's spicy and just something you can just like grab a big coat on and just like sit like snuggle in and like drink it. You're like, "Yes." And just, you know, talk talk about your day and talk about things that you know are a little deeper than like, "Hey, how are you doing?" Good. Yeah, I'm good. Thanks. Oh, how are you? Great. And again, small talk.

Dallas: Yeah.

Torin: Yeah. And so that's why there's like the wooden table. That's why there's like the the warming yellow colors all over it. Uh just to capture that instead of like a harsh, you know, medical white light, you know.

Dallas: And it fits your brand. You know, when you're when you're streaming, which is what a lot of people are going to find this through probably, you know, you have the the very cozy, inviting music that plays before and after the stream and and the leaves and the color scheme that you have for that and everything. So, it feels very on brand, but also distinct. It is its own process, its own project, and so that's nice.

Torin: Yeah. Thanks. I'm excited. Okay. Yeah. Sorry. Go ahead.

Dallas: So, bonus question. Uh let's let's maybe have a little bit of a uh sneak peek insight here. What is the without going into too much detail because of course you want people to watch uh what is the most surprising thing that you learned about one of your friends in season one do you think?

Torin: I can already answer that. Um the so one of the guests and I you know the funny thing is I won't tell anyone who but if you see the lineup you know exactly who I'm talking about. if you've met any of them. Um, there was a surprising amount of depth to the conversation and not that that surprising of that person, but this person has always been like mental health focused and things of that nature. And like when you are that way or you talk about it very frequently, you know, you've been through something, you know what I mean? Like it had to come from somewhere. And I didn't know like there's never been a chance to talk about it on stream with them or with me either because we're both this way. But it it truly just highlighted again just you don't really know people and they will surprise you and the amount of genius and depth of feeling and the well that's there. It was it was not necessarily surprising. I just was, I think, more happy that they shared it with me and that they felt comfortable and I was like, "Oh my god, okay." Like, and it just it was such a nice and warming feeling, especially with I know no one can see this if you're just listening, but motioning to the world all of this. Um, but it it did take me aback of just how willing they were to tell me about it and how much it made me happy that they were, if that makes sense. is it was it was almost a very validating kind of thing like how validated I felt in all the things that I've been attempting to do and getting that to happen. I was like I guess I'm right. Well then also that this is the venue or the avenue that you sort of reached that point through. Yeah.

Dallas: That sort of validation that this time that you're pouring into this podcast because you've worked really hard on this that it's leading to those moments that you you can sort of step back and go, "Oh, wow. That's that's the product of what I've been doing here, you know, and even beyond just the the podcast right now.

Torin: The season is honestly whatever universal things align to make this happen in my brain. Honestly, it was one of the best choices I made because like I said, we we've known each other for fiveish years, right? and we've never really had chances to talk in depth, but but truly streaming is such a weird thing where it's a kind of a black hole. Like I know all creative endeavors are like that.

Obviously voice acting too, but if you if you run your your streaming like a business like I do, you have goals, you have things you want to do and you don't see the return. Not necessarily you don't see the return, you maybe feel like you don't get the return, right?

And so beyond just what I've been like this podcast is kind of the epitome of all the things I've tried to do in the past where even I may not even have known the goal necessarily in the past.

The podcast is becoming a manifestation of the things that I've been thinking and trying for the last five years truly. And I didn't really know it was that deep. Oh god. Um but until this moment Oh, that's terrifying. Um, but it's it's building up that way in a way that I just didn't expect. So, yeah,
it's it's validating, but also now really scary. Okay, that's fine.

Dallas: You know, if you're learning to because you draw, you know, this if you're learning to draw or if you're learning any new skill, you don't you don't sit down and try to make your masterpiece straight out the gate. You you try different things. You learn little components and you learn how to compound them upon each other. And that's what you've done here. you you've taken all these steps to learn all of these things so that you can make this the way you want it to be the first time.

Torin: You know, yes, you say that and I only agree with you out of age now where I have-

Dallas: Okay. All right. We have all tried to make the masterpiece straight out the gate. Fair. I will give you that one.

Torin: I am as a recovering perfectionist. I agree with you now. Ask me, you know, five 10 years ago, no.

Dallas: But truly, I watched the cooking video today. I am going to make cocoa van. I don't know.

Torin: Yeah. Right. Like I can now make a four tiered wedding cake. Why? Because they made three tiers and I can do it better. Like Yeah. That chef that's been practicing for 30 years.

Dallas: That's the worst is going to like a nice restaurant or seeing something online and you're like, I could do that now. You can't, stop talking.

Torin: It's so You can It's going to take years. Yeah. But I could do it right now. Oh gosh, man. and ADHD and neurodivergence is sometimes really great then it's really sucks. That's so true. But no, you're you're absolutely correct and I'm I'm literally one of the things just a small thing that I've been working on for the last 5 years is taking compliments. It truly is hard and it really it truly is for me and a lot of streamers and having to be in this space. That's part of it, buddy. and I learned that real quick and and but still again, you don't get it right the first time, still having to practice even that. So, thank you and I really appreciate it. Thank you. I'm I'm excited. I'm really excited.

Dallas: No, I'm I'm excited to hear this and I think there are a lot of people who are sort of lining up to hear this when it starts coming out. So, are all of the episodes going to come out at once or they going to come out sort of spaced out? And where can people listen to them?

Torin: Oh, thank you. Um, they're going to start on the spring uh equinox and solstice. Oh god, now I'm confused now that you've asked me this question. But essentially, I wanted to spread them out from there every two weeks and go until uh June 21stish time. So, summer-solstice. Yeah, it is equinox. So, um capturing those times of change and also not the in quote extremes of the year. And I know that sounds weird, but but go with me, right? So, from March-ish into summer, into June in the northern hemisphere, that's when people are kind of like ramping up, you know, and but you're still kind of stuck in that weird like, do I need a jacket? Do I need layers? It's going to be hot today, you know, in those weird changing parts of the year. Uh where things are still cozy and then kind of just, you know, let free. You don't have to worry about this podcast anymore. It'll be back. Um, and then the second season intended to be the fall equinox into the winter solstice when people are winding down. You're starting to kind of get jackets on again and want, you know, cozy food, but you still want to listen, you know. So, that's the idea. It makes sense to me.

Dallas: Yeah. No, absolutely.

Torin: But yes, uh every two weeks and then um uh it will be on Apple podcast and have RSS link so people can listen to it wherever. Right. And then also there will be a YouTube companion to that. So if people are more visual they can watch it versus just listening to it.

Dallas: That will absolutely be me. I have no auditory attention whatsoever. So I look forward to watching the podcast.

Torin: I'm glad because I'm the same way. I need and all that. And again, you know, part of the neurodivergence. It helps me understand when I can see and hear. Yes. Yeah. If I'm missing one component or the other, then my brain's like, "Wait, what did they mean by that?" Yeah. So, anyway, I I will be too.

Dallas: Well, good. I'm glad we had this conversation. I'm glad you got to to share all this with everybody and and sort of answer some questions that people may have leading up to it and everything. So, you guys heard it. Uh, spring equinox. Look forward to Torrent Talks podcast.

Torin: Oh, thanks. I'm so excited. Thank you for doing this, by the way. I really appreciate it. You're so great. Okay. Thanks. Okay.

Both: Bye.

Torin: I'm so good at this...

[singing]
From topics A to Z by one, two, three.
You'll always be fun to me.
Your hyperfocus will never be mocked. So,
let's deep dive on to talk.