Story & Lesson Highlights with Cullen Blake of SOMETHIN’ CRUNCHY

Cullen Blake shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Cullen, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
My young niece and nephew have completely flipped my perspective on life. They’re like tiny comedians who don’t even know they’re funny, and they bring me endless joy. The best part of co-hosting SOMETHIN’ CRUNCHY with their parents is getting to hang out with them a couple of times a week.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
SOMETHIN’ CRUNCHY is a comedy entertainment podcast with one mission: keep our listeners laughing. We spotlight popular comedians coming through Phoenix, and I co-host alongside my sister, Blair and my brother-in-law, Tyler Dressel. Our built-in family dynamic gives the show a natural chemistry, whether we’re interviewing a big-name actor or breaking down the kind of offbeat headlines you won’t find in mainstream media. Our focus is on consistently producing smart, lighthearted content with a fun energy.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
Trust. Trust really is the glue that holds any relationship together, and it’s often what breaks those bonds when it’s lost. The same is true when it comes to building a brand or a following… others can sense when you’re not being genuine. Authenticity is everything. If you’re open, real, and consistent, people will feel that honesty and connect with you on a deeper level. Whether it’s family, relationships, or podcast listeners, trust isn’t built overnight, but it’s what keeps people coming back and what makes those connections last.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
I think everyone in podcasting hits that wall at some point, especially in the beginning, when you’re asking yourself if all the hours are really worth it. You can pour hours into one episode… research, recording, editing and then maybe only a handful of people hear it. That can feel discouraging. For us, the turning point came when we stopped trying to cast such a wide net and started putting more focus on promoting events right here in Phoenix. It sounds backward, but by narrowing our audience and going hyper-local, we actually grew our listenership by a large margin.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
Absolutely. When your co-hosts are family, there’s zero chance of getting away with anything… they’ll call you out in real time. I’ll admit my dial is turned up a little when we’re recording, but my favorite compliment is when guests or listeners say, “you sound exactly the same off the air.”

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What will you regret not doing? 
Blair, Tyler, and I share this borderline-obsessive love of comedy and filmmaking. Honestly, we’d probably regret it forever if we didn’t take a big swing at writing our own feature or comedy series. Over the years, we’ve been lucky enough to build real relationships, not just with the on-screen talent we admire, but also with the writers, show-runners, producers, and execs who make everything happen behind the scenes. We’ve got a handful of concepts we’re really excited about, plus the benefit of having spent the last seven years dissecting what’s succeeded.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.somethincrunchy.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cullenblakeb?igsh=MWNkZzJnbTJodHZpag%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/17Crwo4Ygp/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@somethincrunchypodcast?si=oArl3z4DnMeC6nAA
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@somethincrunchy?_t=ZT-8zylSRI2q8T&_r=1

Image Credits
Amanda Stover