Conversations with Dan Levely

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dan Levely.

Hi Dan , so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always said that I wish I found podcasting 20 years ago, because I’d be Joe Rogan already lol. I could tell you my whole life story here, but I have to save some stuff for my tell all, that I’m going to write in about 20 years. My life dream was to play in the NBA, but I’m short and can’t jump so that didn’t pan out, so I became a cook instead. I was a short order cook (not a Chef) for 17 years with the same company. I HATED IT, but it paid the bills. On the weekends my Dad hosted karaoke at a bar in Auburn, MI called Sporty’s, it’s a restaurant now, but in my 20’s it was a nice hole in the wall bar to hang out at. So I’d go out and do karaoke, I only did one song though, Eminem’s Without Me. and from time to time the alcohol would kick in and I would kind of take over my dad’s show. I mean it was kind of his fault because he knows you can’t give me a microphone and expect me not to saying anything. So one night I was hanging out at Sporty’s and had a few friends with me, so in normal fashion I took over my dad’s show and one of my friends girl friend said that I should be on the radio. That thought lingered in my head for years, I mean I love to entertain people, I loved being the center of attention and went out of my way to do so. Mostly though comedy and music. I’d get up tell some jokes, do something funny or start rapping. Anyway to get eyes on me. It wasn’t until 2020 when the pandemic hit that I found podcasting. It started out as just something to do because I wasn’t working, so my friend Carl and I started a podcast called “The Attention Span Podcast” it was a comedic based podcast where we tell funny news stories, talk about sports and pop culture, but after a couple months we went our separate ways and I started a podcast called “Oops Caught Me Smoking.” That show was a cannabis based podcast to spread the word about the medical benefits of cannabis with a comedic undertone to it. That was where I fell in love with podcasting. I started to learn the ins and outs of the business aspects to it. Also found out that I love to edit audio and video also creating designs and logos. The problem was nobody could see my show, I was being buried by algorithms and the thousands of other cannabis based podcasts out there. So that’s when I hit a wall. “What do I have to do!?” So I took a couple months off I completely rebranded my show to what it is now “The Dan Levely Show” where we give a platform for musicians, comedians, podcasters and even the occasional Paranormal Expert to share their stories, music or just want to come on and hang out. That’s where we are today. I’ve had the privilege to meet and interview some really awesome people like Saginaw Legend/Rapper/Songwriter Astray, Detroit’s Hatch Wiseguy, Bag of Tricks Cat out of Pheonix, AZ, American Idol Scout/Rapper VinChi Shakur and even Tommy Chong. I finally found what I was put here to do, granted it was at the age of 37, but I found it and the sky’s the limit.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Smooth Road? I have no idea what that is lol. So many ups and downs when it comes to having your own show. Algorithms, Marketing, Advertising, but before all that my main struggle was finding my niche. Where did I fit in? What did I want to talk about? Who do I want to talk to? Do I even want to talk to anyone? I luckly stumbled a crossed it. I love music, generally hip hop and R&B, and I didn’t listen to main stream music, I enjoyed “finding” artists on the independent scene and sharing with my friends. That’s when I had the idea to go away from cannabis and start reaching out to these independent artists and having them on my show and it took off from there.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m the host and creator of The Dan Levely Show, where we give Independant musicians, comedians, podcasters and the occasional paranormal expert a chance to reach out to a whole new fan base. I’m most proud of making an impact in the music scene, a lot of these local/independent musicians are better then some of our main stream artists now a days. I’m glad that I’m helping them get their music and life stories out to the world, because people need to hear them. Most creative people come from sketchy backgrounds, me being one of them. We all have a story, we’ve all been through some kind of trauma. It’s therapeutic to get it out. That’s what sets me apart from everyone else. I want to know the person behind the music, plus your not only a guest on my show. You become a friend, a part of the circle, I talk to almost everyone that I’ve had on my show as a guest on Facebook or Instagram weekly, some more than others. I’ve made some really cool friends along the way. I talk to these people more than I talk to my friends that I see everyday. It’s crazy.

What does success mean to you?
One Word. Happiness.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/thedanlevelyshow
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thedanlevelyshow
• Twitter: http://www.x.com/@danlevelyshow
• Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/thedanlevelyshow