STATEN ISLAND, NY – After years of working in the media, 31-year-old Nicholas Durst of Prince’s Bay developed a catchy theme and hook for his podcast, which features a number of celebrities, including many well-known athletes.
It all started when his wife Rosalie gave him a t-shirt for Christmas that said, “You know I’m right.”
“It’s something we’ve always said to each other. When I started the podcast, I said to myself, “Maybe this will work.” [as a name]said Durst. “I have to give my wife full credit because she said, ‘You have to ask her what her ‘You know I’m right’ moment was.” So it’s like her “I told you so” moment. Moment. … This question addresses a time when, despite discouragement, our guests decided to pursue something and ultimately proved they were right.”
Pictured from left: Joseph Calabrese, entrepreneur David Meltzer, Nicholas Durst and former NFL star Shawne Merriman.Courtesy of Nicholas Durst
“You Know I’m Right” aired from Durst’s home in 2020, just as the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic shut down the world. And since then, he and his Great Kills co-host Joseph Calabrese, 31, have interviewed a range of celebrity guests on the podcast, from broadcasters, entrepreneurs and journalists to reality TV stars and Olympic gold medalists.
Some celebrity guests included NFL star Shawne Merriman, ESPN’s Tim Kurkjian, WFAN’s Marc Malusis, comedian Mike Marino, reality star Joe Gorga and singers William Hung and Constantine Maroulis.
Pictured are: Nicholas Durst, American Idol’s William Hung and Joseph Calabrese (Photo by Antonio Abrego)(Courtesy of Nicholas Durst)
“A LIFE-LONG AFFAIR” WITH ENTERTAINMENT AND SPORTS
“My passion for entertainment and sports media is a lifelong affair. In high school, I excelled in my freshman language class and participated in St. Joseph by the Sea High School’s morning television show, which sparked my interest in broadcasting,” he said, noting that he has a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications from St. John’s University, Grymes Hill.
After stints with the Brooklyn Cyclones, Bleacher Report, MLB Network, DAZN and Daymond John’s The Shark Group, Durst is currently a sports reporter for PDF Sports Network and the College of Staten Island, CUNY.
THE START
To start the podcast, Durst used his contacts from the various jobs he held to book “big name” guests. But for his very first show, he brought along Calabrese, a former schoolmate he had reconnected with while working at MLB Network.
“We met at IS 75. Shortly after Joseph’s first appearance on the podcast, he became my permanent co-host. My first guests on the show were people I worked with at MLB Network. After compiling my guest list, I was able to identify the email addresses of prominent media members and promote them as candidates based on my previous guest star level,” he said.
Pictured from left: comedian Mike Marino, Joseph Calabrese, reality star Joe Gorga and Nicholas Durst(Courtesy of Nicholas Durst)
Soon, Durst and Calabrese were inundated with celebrities who wanted to be guests on the podcast.
“It was like an avalanche and we recorded up to seven episodes a week in December 2020. While the podcast started before the pandemic, the pandemic played a role [because] Celebrity guests were more accessible while working from home. .. Recently, publicists and management agencies have approached me with guest suggestions,” said Durst.
PODCAST SUCCESSFUL
Durst says the success of the “You Know I’m Right” podcast is due to both his social media efforts and those of his guests.
“By targeting guests with active social media profiles, we ensure our interviews reach a wider audience when they share them. Building and expanding a network of well-known guests also contributes to the success of our podcast,” he said. “Hosting this podcast has allowed me to meet so many amazing people, and I’m always amazed when someone I’ve never met before tells me they’re listening to and enjoying the show.”
Pictured are Nicholas Durst and Joseph Calabrese. (Photo by Antonio Abrego)(Courtesy of Nicholas Durst)
He also credits his early success with the podcast to his hard work and determination.
“I am a doer, which allows me to effectively address potential guests. My willingness and thorough research ensure that guests appreciate our interviews. I maintain a concise and organized interview structure and ask direct and relevant questions. My active listening, observational skills and friendly demeanor ensure that guests feel comfortable during interviews.”
Pictured from left: Nicholas Durst, musician James Maslow and Joseph Calabrese(Courtesy of Nicholas Durst)
YOU KNOW I’M RIGHT. PODCAST AT A GLANCE
Social media links: linktr.ee/youknowimright
“New Businesses in Focus” is a weekly column that tells the stories of new business owners in Staten Island. If you have a new business on Staten Island, email [email protected].
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