What started with a small recorder, a microphone, and two people sitting on a couch has turned into one of the longest-running podcasts about geocaching.
Since 2005, Sonny and Sandy have been bringing listeners news, tips, stories, interviews, and plenty of fun from the world of geocaching through their podcast, PodCacher: Geocaching Goodness.
Based in sunny San Diego, PodCacher is a family-friendly weekly show built around a hobby that combines the outdoors, technology, exploration, and a little bit of adventure.
Geocaching may have started in 2000, but PodCacher has been there for much of the hobby’s history, helping introduce new people to the game while keeping longtime geocachers informed and entertained.
This month, Blubrry is proud to recognize PodCacher: Geocaching Goodness as our September Podcaster of the Month.
A Podcast Born on the Couch
The story of PodCacher actually starts a few years before the first episode.
Sonny discovered geocaching in November 2002 after reading about the hobby in National Geographic Traveller. He began caching under the name “iTrax” and quickly became hooked.
Then, in January 2004, he introduced Sandy to geocaching on their first date.
She was hooked, too.
The two eventually got married and continued geocaching together as “iTrax and FoxTail.” When their son Sean joined the family in 2008, they became Team PodCacher, making geocaching a family activity.
By then, podcasting had entered the picture.
In the summer of 2005, Sonny started learning about podcasting and realized it was something he could do from home with relatively simple equipment.
They needed a topic.
Sandy suggested geocaching.
The PodCacher Podcast was born in July 2005, with Sonny and Sandy literally sitting on the couch and passing a microphone back and forth.
It was a simple beginning for a podcast that would eventually become an internationally recognized voice in the geocaching community.
More Than 20 Years of Geocaching Stories
Geocaching is essentially an outdoor treasure hunt using GPS technology.
People hide containers, or “caches,” and share their locations online. Other people use GPS coordinates to find them, sign the log, and often share their experiences with the community.
It’s a hobby that can be enjoyed by people of all ages, and that wide appeal is a big part of what makes PodCacher work.
The show covers much more than simply where to find the next cache.
PodCacher features:
- Geocaching news
- Tips and tricks
- GPS and geocaching tools
- Stories from around the world
- Interviews with geocachers
- Live audio events
- Giveaways
- Community news and discussions
The result is a variety-style show that can be useful for someone discovering geocaching for the first time while still giving experienced players something new to listen to.
And after more than two decades, there’s a lot of history behind the microphone.
A Family Podcast With a Family Hobby
One of the things that makes PodCacher different is that geocaching isn’t just the subject of the podcast. It’s something the family actually does together.
Sonny, Sandy, and Sean have spent years geocaching as Team PodCacher, exploring the outdoors and experiencing the hobby as a family.
That family connection is also reflected in the show’s approach.
PodCacher’s goal is to create a high-quality, family-friendly podcast that informs, inspires, and entertains.
For a hobby that can take people anywhere from a neighborhood park to a remote trail, there are plenty of stories to tell.
And having a family involved gives the show a perspective that goes beyond simply explaining the mechanics of geocaching.
It’s about the experience.
From a Hobby to a Community Resource
PodCacher has grown into more than a podcast.
The PodCacher.com website serves as a resource for people interested in geocaching, with information designed to help listeners and contribute to the larger geocaching community.
That community focus has been part of the podcast from the beginning.
The show doesn’t just talk about geocaching from the outside. It brings the people who participate in the hobby into the conversation through interviews, stories, events, and shared experiences.
Over the years, PodCacher has also built a presence across social media and other platforms, giving the community more ways to connect with the Team PodCacher.
Recognition From the Podcasting Community
PodCacher’s longevity has also earned recognition beyond the geocaching world.
The podcast has been featured in Apple iTunes for many years and has been nominated four times for Best Produced Podcast by the Podcast Awards.
That’s notable for a podcast built around such a specific hobby.
Geocaching has a dedicated community, but PodCacher has managed to turn that niche into a long-running show with an audience that extends internationally.
It’s a good reminder that a podcast doesn’t need to appeal to everyone to build something meaningful.
Sometimes, serving a specific community really well is the better strategy.
Why PodCacher Has Lasted
There are plenty of podcasts that launch with enthusiasm and eventually disappear.
PodCacher has taken a different path.
The show has been publishing since 2005, staying focused on a hobby that continues to give its hosts and listeners new places to explore, new stories to tell, and new people to meet.
The formula is fairly simple:
Find something you’re passionate about.
Build a community around it.
Keep showing up.
For PodCacher, that has meant more than 20 years of sharing the latest in geocaching while celebrating the people and experiences that make the hobby special.
And because geocaching itself is built around exploration, there is always another cache to find, another trail to follow, and another story waiting to be told.
Blubrry’s Podcaster of the Month Spotlight
Blubrry Podcasting is proud to recognize PodCacher: Geocaching Goodness and Team PodCacher as our September Podcaster of the Month.
From two people passing a microphone back and forth on a couch in 2005 to a family podcast recognized around the world, PodCacher has built something that has lasted.
For more than 20 years, Sonny, Sandy, and Sean have combined their love of geocaching and podcasting to create a show that informs, entertains, and brings people together.
Whether you’re completely new to geocaching or you’ve been searching for caches for years, there’s probably a little geocaching goodness waiting for you.
🎧 Listen to PodCacher: Geocaching Goodness and join Sonny, Sandy, and Team PodCacher on their next adventure.