CARY, N.C. -

Like many of my fellow cinema fans out there, I’ve been swept away reading the memoir of one of our national treasures: Matthew McConaughey.

I read about 90% of “Greenlights” this past weekend and I’m saving this last stretch to finish it right on time for a Zoom book club with my siblings (Yes, we’re THAT family).

One of the personal lessons I’ve learned from reading the wise words of this Texan sage is that what we often consider challenges or pauses on the road of life (i.e. red or yellow lights) might actually be opportunities. (Hence the title, which McConaughey explains in the book).

Professionally, one such challenge for me as a reporter these last 10-11 months during the pandemic has been the temporary halting of in-person interviews and attending conferences.

Both are particularly fruitful when it comes to recording podcasts. The in-person element makes the interview more conversational — which is the whole point. That’s what make a podcast different than a news interview.

A podcast is more so a chat more than it is a Q&A, and recording one sitting next to someone in an exhibit booth or convention center corridor makes it sound that much more, well, personable.

Based on my interpretation of Mac’s book, the pausing of in-person interviews and travel is a “yellow light.” Now here comes the “greenlight”: I started using Zoom audio to record podcasts this year, but for the most part, still talked with my guests via video.

The result (I hope) has been a continuation of good conversations and the feel of a fireside sit-down, albeit with barking dogs as ambient noise instead of expo hall chatter.

And thanks to the technology of the recording platform and the know-how of our producer Matt Rice, we’re going to transition the Auto Remarketing Podcast to include both an audio and video format for certain episodes.

We’re still working on a few production-related pieces, but stay tuned for this new offering as it develops this year.

In essence, you’ll have the option to listen to podcast audio on the go, just as you always have. But if you’re in front of the computer, you can watch the video edition of the show (and check out our cool office and living room backgrounds).

And one more thing.

I can’t speak for my rock star Marcus Mumford-resembling and charming co-host, but Matthew McConaughey would certainly make for an easier-on-the-eyes video podcast host than yours truly.

However, I can promise that our team  will continue striving to make our conversations more than just “alright, alright, alright.”