BLOG: Tony Merkel Featured in 'CanvasRebel' Online Magazine

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Written By Lindsay Merkel

The Confessionals host and Merkel Media CEO Tony Merkel was featured this month in the online publication CanvasRebel. Check out the full interview directly on CanvasRebel or read below for more!

Meet Tony Merkel

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Tony Merkel. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Tony, thanks for joining us today. What do you think it takes to be successful?

In my experience, the first step is to focus your attention on your vision and block out distractions from your surroundings. Most people tend to socialize with a core group of individuals who know them for who they are today, not necessarily for who they aspire to become in the future. If a visionary can’t set aside the opinions of those who don’t share their dreams, they may feel isolated and encounter challenges in achieving their goals. The key is to take one step at a time, persistently moving towards your objective. Some days might seem like an uphill battle, but in those moments, remind yourself that today’s extraordinary effort paves the way for tomorrow’s extraordinary achievements. Work as if success is on the horizon, but also have the endurance to continue pursuing success in the long term.

Furthermore, life is remarkably malleable. You have the power to shape it according to your desires, and the primary obstacle you face is often yourself. Steve Jobs, in the 1990s, emphasized this notion. He suggested that life becomes more expansive when you grasp a fundamental truth: everything you perceive as life was created by people no more intelligent than you. You possess the ability to reshape, influence, and construct your own creations that can positively impact others. One of the most critical steps is letting go of the misconception that life is rigid and that you are merely a passive participant in it. Instead, embrace life, modify it, enhance it, and leave your unique mark upon it.

Tony, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I devoted a significant portion of my young adult life to exploring various entrepreneurial ventures. However, my ultimate path led me to a career as a truck driver, or so I thought. Amidst long hours on the road, I became an avid consumer of podcasts and radio shows, which sparked a new ambition in 2017 – to become a podcaster myself. That’s when I launched “The Confessionals,” a podcast where I dive into people’s accounts of paranormal experiences, ranging from encounters with creatures like Bigfoot and werewolves to UFO abductions and classic hauntings. If it exists on the fringes of the supernatural, we discussed it.

Back then, there were only around 700,000 podcasts globally, but today, the podcasting landscape has expanded to encompass about 3 million shows. Realizing that if I wanted to escape a lifetime of truck driving, I had to treat podcasting as a career, not a mere pastime because the competition was growing very quickly. I dedicated myself to this entrepreneurial endeavor, working tirelessly for five years until it finally became my full-time occupation.

During this journey, I established Merkel Media. Originally, the plan was to focus on producing podcasts for individuals with significant platforms. However, in the fall of 2021, things took an unexpected turn when I led a team to Kentucky to film what was initially intended to be a simple YouTube video about a mysterious werewolf in the Daniel Boone National Forest. To my surprise, that video evolved into a documentary of our expedition which we titled “Expedition Dogman.” For a first film, it has received unprecedented notoriety as it has now garnered nearly 1 million views worldwide.

Seeing the potential and realizing we were onto something special, I expanded my team and shifted the focus of Merkel Media. It transformed from a simple podcast company into a comprehensive production company, handling not only podcasts but also movies, and documentaries. In the future, we have plans to venture into children’s cartoons, music, book publishing, and other media-related endeavors, all with the overarching goal of influencing and shaping culture through the arts.

What’s truly remarkable is that I had no formal training in filmmaking or media. I never graduated from college, and it would have been easy to settle into a career as a truck driver. However, I held onto a dream and a vision, working tirelessly and consistently for years until that dream materialized into a thriving reality, capable of providing for my family.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I pride myself on my straightforward and authentic approach when interacting with people. I don’t expect everyone to echo my views or only express things that align with my preferences. Instead, I value each person as an individual and treat every conversation I engage in as an exploration of human nature and individuality.

I’m also unreserved when it comes to revealing my own identity and background. Those who engage with my films or podcasts will quickly learn about my strong faith in Christ and my unwavering commitment to being the best father and husband I can be. I embrace transparency, and I’m more than willing to share my entire self with anyone who chooses to listen.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

On a broader scale, the significant takeaway I learned is that a college degree isn’t the sole path to success in one’s career. When I graduated from high school two decades ago, the prevailing wisdom pointed in that direction for success, but I realized it wasn’t the right fit for me. After a few years of attempting to fit myself into the college mold, I dropped out and embarked on a journey of self-discovery filled with trial and error. My journey was anything but conventional and far from easy, lacking a clear blueprint to follow. However, I ultimately found my way through a maze of failures, carving out my unique path to success.

On a more personal note, I’ve discovered that the sooner I refrained from engaging in negative criticism, the more peacefully I could navigate the creative process and the world of producing content for people to enjoy. It’s tempting to respond to criticism with the intention of proving someone wrong or sharing your perspective, assuming they’ll understand your viewpoint. In reality, the anonymity of online interactions often means people aren’t looking to understand your viewpoint or change their minds. Recognizing this has brought a sense of tranquility to my creative journey. It’s perfectly acceptable for someone not to appreciate your work; they can seek content they resonate with because, in truth, not everything you create will appeal to everyone. There will always be individuals who take issue with your work, and the sooner you embrace that reality, the better.

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Lindsay Merkel
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