Abbey Graves Productions

Some conversations stick with you long after you hit stop on the recording. My conversation with Scott Miller is one of those.

Scott is the host of The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, and when he came across my radar through PodMatch, his pitch alone made me say, “Yep, we’re doing this episode.” Broadcasting career. Wrestling a bear. Multiple life reinventions. Moving to Costa Rica. Building a podcast that now ranks number one in dozens of countries. There was no chance this wasn’t going to be a good conversation. What I didn’t expect was how deeply his story would connect to why I believe so strongly in podcasting as more than just “content.”

This is a story about reinvention, commitment, grief, love, and what happens when you decide you are not done yet.

Getting Started in Broadcasting at Sixteen

Scott’s career started the way a lot of great media stories do, almost by accident. At sixteen, after spraining his ankle and missing a track meet, he was asked to join a radio broadcaster covering the event. That moment changed everything. He realized he loved being behind the microphone.

From there, he worked his way through small-town radio before getting a shot at television, even though he had never been on TV before, never studied it, and did not even own a suit. He borrowed one. He borrowed a tie. He had someone else tie it. He nailed the audition. That pattern repeated itself over and over. Doors opened because he was willing to walk through them before he felt “ready.”

Eventually, he became a weekday sports anchor in Sioux City, then moved into bigger markets like Peoria, bouncing between TV and radio. Like anyone who has worked in broadcasting knows, it is a grind. Late nights. Early mornings. A completely upside down lifestyle. But he loved it.

Yes, He Wrestled a Bear

Somewhere along the way, Scott wrestled a bear. Twice. Victor the Wrestling Bear, to be exact.

The first time, he lost. The second time, he lost again and cracked his ribs in the process. This story is both hilarious and a perfect metaphor for Scott’s life. He is the kind of person who says yes to experiences, even when they are a little unhinged, a little risky, and definitely memorable. He is not here to play it safe.

When Life Breaks You Open

After decades in broadcasting, Scott’s life took a devastating turn. His wife of 32 years left him for another man. Around the same time, he was working as a news anchor, delivering story after story filled with tragedy and heartbreak.

One night, ten minutes before going on air, he broke down. He did the newscast anyway. Then he went back to the station later that night, walked through the empty newsroom, turned off the lights, and said goodbye. He knew he could not keep doing it. He moved to Dallas to live with his son, with no job, no plan, and no real sense of what was next.

A Love Story That Sounds Like a Movie

Then something incredible happened. He got a Facebook message from the woman he took to prom thirty six years earlier. They had only been on one date back then. He had been completely in love with her and never told her.

They reconnected. He drove five hours to see her. It felt like they were eighteen again. They got married in Belize on December 10, 2014, a date chosen because they had been apart for thirty six years. She wore the same shawl she wore to prom. One hundred thirteen days later, she died of a heart attack in his arms. It is one of the most beautiful and heartbreaking stories I have ever heard.

Starting Over Again, This Time in Costa Rica

Eventually, Scott found love again, this time with a woman from Costa Rica. They started with a Skype date. Then a visit. Then another. And finally, a decision.

In forty five days, he sold or gave away almost everything he owned, shipped his recording booth, and moved to Costa Rica. He thought he had freelance work lined up. It fell through. He was in a foreign country, unable to legally work, and needed a new plan. So he went back to what he knew. His voice.

He started narrating audiobooks. Then he discovered public domain science fiction stories. Then someone said, “You should start a podcast.”

The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast Is Born

In February 2022, Scott launched The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, narrating vintage science fiction short stories that are in the public domain. He did not know anything about podcasting. He hosted it on a platform that did not even show him his downloads. He made no money for almost two years. But he made one critical decision. He was not going to quit.

Today, he has over 450 episodes, tens of thousands of listeners, and his show ranks number one in science fiction in 33 countries. He monetizes through dynamic ads. He has built a real, sustainable income stream. Most importantly, he has built something that will continue to support his wife even if he cannot work someday. That is not just a podcast. That is a legacy.

The Real Lessons for Podcasters

Scott’s story reinforces everything I believe about podcasting. First, you must commit. The average podcast only makes it three or four episodes. That is not because podcasting does not work. It is because people quit before it has time to work.

Second, niche clarity matters. His show is not “The Scott Miller Podcast.” It is The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast: Vintage Sci-Fi Short Stories. You know exactly what you are getting.

Third, consistency beats everything. Not perfection. Not fancy gear. Not viral moments. Just showing up over and over again.

Fourth, podcasting is a long game. Most successful shows take years to build.

And finally, your back catalog is your biggest asset. Every episode you publish becomes another door someone can walk through to find you.

Why This Conversation Matters

I love stories like Scott’s because they remind us that podcasting is not just about downloads. It is about building something that lasts. It is about creating opportunities you could not have predicted. It is about giving your voice a place to live long after you are done talking.

Scott did not start this podcast to be famous. He started it because he needed to survive. He stayed because he found purpose. And now, because he did not quit, his life looks completely different.

That is the power of podcasting when you commit to it.