Meet Charlie Birney | Founder/President Podville Media

We had the good fortune of connecting with Charlie Birney and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Charlie, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
If you have ever seen an animated film called “Robots” the large robot (Big Weld) has a saying, “See a need! Fill a need!” – with Podcast Village, now Podville Media, I knew there was a real need to communicate across many new types of media. As a person who worked in real estate, golf, and tourism, and finally establishing a corporate charity – the common shared need that we all have is improved communications. I guess I saw the potential of podcasting a little sooner than some. For years I had to explain what a podcast was – now I just ask, “why aren’t you podcasting?

It all began in a coworking space in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and I just kept improving the studio – we are still upgrading every piece of gear and system.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I draw podcasts, you can find them on Instagram @podcastsketchbook.

But the thing I am really excited about is the book I am writing about my father’s 21 folksongs. I have collected his old journals, photos and super 8 movies (and much more). I am recording all of his songs, writing about what he wrote about, and why I think he wrote the songs. It is absolutely fun.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well, all the band members have changed over the years, but as a resident of Washington, DC I would always take my friends across the river on Thursday nights and go see the “Seldom Scene” at the Birchmere in Arlington, VA. That was always just fantastic! And of course a diner on the way home!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I had the great opportunity to work with my father, Arthur A. Birney, starting in 1984 until about 2010. We ran some small and large real estate assets together and then one day he had a crazy idea to build a golf course – and 5 years and 45 public hearings later, we built a 36 hole course on Maryland’s Eastern Shore – and one acknowledged by many state agencies as being an example of environmentally beneficial development. He definitely showed me never to be hesitant to try something that you might just have absolutely no experience with in the past. Our company had never built and managed a golf course: we built and managed three golf courses, 81 total holes. Over 40 years ago, being a casual waterman, my father saw a need for a type of marina in Annapolis, Maryland which did not exist at the time. It has been a premier location on the bay for over 45 years. He inspires me to this day.

Website: podvillemedia.com

Instagram: @podvillemedia

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charliebirney/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cbirney