“Downtime TV” is a podcast which was started by three Sacred Heart University alumni. The show is recorded at the Knowlton Studios in Bridgeport, Conn.
The podcast has three sections, the first of which being “The Dream is Free,” which showcases the stories of people from various places and has new episodes every Monday. There is also “Screen Time,” a segment that covers topics within film and television with new episodes released on Wednesdays. Additionally, “The Sports Port” is released everyday at 5 p.m. and covers many aspects of sports.
“We are real,” said Executive Producer Michael Theophil. “Nobody is sugar coating; nobody is acting, and if you are, you aren’t on ‘Downtime.’ Also, we put an emphasis on making our content educational, inspirational and motivational.”
Although “Downtime TV” has only been in production since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has already made its way to major streaming platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Twitch and YouTube.
“March hit, then COVID, and the world shut down. It was a time to either sit back and relax or to grow. I chose growth. We got our first studio, and it didn’t work out for certain reasons. I went away, regrouped after losing my room, a friendship and my business essentially with gear and certain things of that nature,” said Theophil. “I went away to Fire Island, meditated, prayed, and called my brother from the island and said we are getting a room at The Knowlton. From there we have been nonstop. ‘Downtime TV’ really kickstarted right and we haven’t looked back.”
Theophil, who graduated from Sacred Heart in 2019, works alongside former classmates Anthony Mattariello and Geno Gonnello. The three manage and produce the podcast, which is a detailed process involving various kinds of equipment.
“Whenever we’re producing something, we have cameras and set up lights. We have a slider camera and the little studio area with green screens, chairs and microphones,” said Gonnello, who joined the podcast later on in Dec. 2020 while simultaneously working as a reporter for News12 in New York.
Although the equipment is important to the recording process, what is used to make the podcast available for streaming?
“When we stream, we use something called StreamYard, where we can stream on YouTube and Twitch at the same time,” said Gonnello.
StreamYard is a service that allows for interaction with the audience while streaming the podcast on multiple platforms. The audience can comment during the stream, making for a community-based environment.
“We love to hear from you all. Like and comment and be a part of our live shows,” said Theophil.
Because of the community surrounding ‘Downtime TV,’ listeners are often featured on the podcast, such as on the “Dream is Free” section. This allows for people to share their stories, whether they be founders or entertainers.
“If you want to be a part of the show, call in and DM us for info,” said Theophil.
When new episodes are released, viewers can be alerted on Instagram and Twitter, a way in which “Downtime TV” creatively grows their following in addition to streaming services.
“My inspiration was to create a media company where we offer educational, motivational and inspirational content,” said Theophil. “But also, to travel the world, and have a company where people can work, be themselves and be as creative as they want.”
People can stream “Downtime TV” on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw0j-9vADju_sOD85Cg9XxQ and Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/show/3g89rMZ48JjM1HQPOcrbEJ. Fans also have the opportunity to follow or subscribe on either platform to get updates for new episodes automatically on their feed.
