Freshmen Dylan and Shadrach Strehle practice their podcast broadcast.
Breana Noble | Collegian
Freshmen Dylan and Shadrach Strehle’s introduction to their podcast, “Twinovation,” sets the entertaining mood immediately.
“Welcome to ‘Twinovation,’ the show starring two very similar dudes and whoever they can drag in front of a mic,” Shadrach Strehle began the podcasts.
These fraternal twins from Snohomish, Washington started broadcasting just over a year and a half ago and brought their project with them to Hillsdale College. Dylan and Shadrach Strehle ask their friends to come onto the show for discussion of a particular, light-hearted topic such as beatboxing, being a twin, and college life.
“We always thought, I mean, it might be arrogant to say, that we were funny people,” Dylan Strehle said. He added that, as big fans of radio, having a podcast was a way to share their talent.
The Strehles have published 12 episodes – one has two parts – of just over 30 minutes of content on their channel. Two so far are broadcasted from Hillsdale. While the brothers uploaded podcasts infrequently in the past, they said they hope to post on a regular basis while at school, doing so once or twice a month.
Their goal is to have fun with the podcast.
“We do this more for us,” Dylan Strehle said. “We do this for our enjoyment first and foremost.”
The brothers said they hope others will appreciate it as well.
“It’s something they can listen to and enjoy, forget about their woes,” Dylan Strehle said. “We’re there to make your day better.”
They try to keep the production of the show simple. Shadrach Strehle writes up an outline of the show with bullet points, though the program is unscripted. Dylan Strehle typically does the editing, the most difficult and time-consuming part of the process, he said.
While they broadcast from their shared room in Simpson Dormitory, the brothers maintain an air of professionalism. They have a microphone with a sound buffer to record clearly — though it doesn’t stop their dorm neighbors from knocking on their door while recording, as they experienced in a recent episode. The mic plugs into a computer, and they use free sound-editing software to get podcasts ready for the public.
The Strehles said it would be a dream come true to broadcast after college.
“If we could get into radio and be successful, that would be amazing,” Shadrach Strehle said.
Dylan Strehle added: “We’ve always dreamed of doing entertainment for a living.”
Until then, they said they are excited about the college’s new radio station. The brothers have already developed an idea for a show with sophomore Brant Cohen.
“We’re thinking it would be great to do live radio,” Dylan Strehle said.
Shadrach Strehle shared similar excitement for the college’s initiative: “It would be the best day of my life.”
As for “Twinovation,” the Strehles dragged freshmen Sam Cassels and Josh Hoover on the air for their first podcast at Hillsdale.
“They’re very succinct with each other,” Hoover said. “The way they play off each other when interacting with other people is so funny.”
Cassels agreed.
“I think it catches them off guard when they disagree,” Cassels said. “It’s super funny to watch that.”
When selecting guests, the brothers look for those who are well-spoken and charismatic.
“Basically someone who can make a coherent sentence over and over again,” Shadrach Strehle said.
Prior to getting into broadcasting, the brothers performed improv. They said they hope to get involved in Hillsdae’s Ad-Liberty Improv Club while on campus as well.
Beyond the stage, the “Twinovation” Sound Cloud account includes an improvised sound-only movie called “A Sealed Deal.” They also use improvisation in their shows, especially in on-the-air games they do with their guests.
Beyond podcasts, the Strehles dabble into music. With the help of a friend from Washington state, award-winning tenor Garrett Hall, and input from Hoover, they wrote and recorded a parody rap song called “Tombstone.” Partially inspired by the movie “Straight Outta Compton,” the song pokes fun at hip hop. They said they hope to do more raps in the future.
While they’ve been side by side all their lives, the twins didn’t intentionally choose the same college to attend, but they both found Hillsdale to be special, Dylan Strehle said.
They even chose to room together, which is convenient for producing their podcasts.
“It’s great to put yourself into something,” Shadrach Strehle said. “It’s good to know you can use your talents for something positive.”
