Why Is Podcasting So Underappreciated?

From the Computerworld Blogs:

Podcasting is the most under-appreciated, under-utilized media ever. Some people never try it. And many who do wind up giving it up unimpressed. Too bad. A new study found that students who listen to lectures on podcasts test better than those who listen in class. Podcasting is a powerful educational medium, second only to books, in my opinion. But unlike reading books, you can listen to podcasts while doing the dishes.

I believe the reason people give up on podcasting is that they don't take the time to choose the best podcasts. In that sense, podcasting is no different than other media.

For example, the average book isn't worth reading, and bookstores are filled with garbage. But when you shop for books, you browse and consider many books before choosing the one or two -- out of theoretical millions.

Likewise with TV. Almost all of the shows on TV are a complete waste of time, even for people who love TV. But once you discover that one show and reject 100 shows, you can really enjoy TV.

Radio, magazines -- all media are the same way. Most of the content is lousy, but if you take your time and find what you really love, the media is wonderful.

Trouble is, people don't take the time with podcasting. They try a few podcasts, then give up. And because podcasts are free or nearly free to produce, the ratio of junk to gems is even more extreme. There are a huge number of really bad podcasts out there. And it can also be surprising when a great source of content produces lousy podcasts -- which in fact often turns out to be the case. The New York Times podcasts, for example, are horrible. Great newspaper, lousy podcaster.

Finding the right mix of podcasts, in fact, takes weeks of trial and error. But once you find the best podcasts for you, you're set.

---

More here. I agree with a lot of what he says. I truly can't understand why podcasting hasn't taken off the way many of us podcasters *think* it should. One reason I can think of is too many podcasters use their shows mainly to speak to other podcasters. That probably turns off a new listener coming in for the first time. I know it keeps me from listening to a show for very long. Who wants to listen to a show that is nothing more than inside jokes you needed to hear three shows ago? A show needs to make sense to a listener coming in for the first time, every show.

What do you think could be keeping podcasting from truly becoming the next radio?

~Dani

What Makes A Podcast A Podcast?

As I was browsing through the reader today I happened upon a great blog post on Podcasting via Radio Drama Revival. It's very in-depth and lengthly, but touches on many points I agree with, and reminded me of exactly why I love podcasting as a medium above all others (I know, like I need reminding?). An excerpt of a part I sorta-kinda agree with:

Podcasts do not Have to be Polished and Professional

This one is non-negotiable. I was horrified and offended at Podcast Michigan by a presenter who spoke about how podcasts have "lowered the playing field." Among his talking points were many words to the effect of "be professional."

I couldn't disagree more. The podcast world is vast, and contains multitudes. "Polish" is code for "make it sound like everyone else does, or we will look down on you." "Professional" is code for "people without a lot of money need not apply." Oh, and also "people who want to record something important and true to them, but that won't fit into a recording studio, or sound just like NPR, need not apply." Really? I love some of what goes down on NPR, but it ought to be obvious that there is an NPR "style," and expecting everyone to conform to it is just as bad as expecting everyone to conform to the commercial FM radio style.

Read the entire entry here:
http://generalpurposepodcast.blogspot.com/2008/11/what-is-podcast.html

Why do I sorta-kinda agree? Well, the thing I love the most about podcasting is there are no boundaries, no limits. Only what you place upon yourself. That being said, in some cases I agree that there is no need to ever have that polished sound, depending on what you're podcasting about. (See the last entry and the audio on reasons your podcast sucks to get more details on that). It really depends on your audience and the reason you are podcasting (i.e. who you are podcasting for). There are also so many inexpensive and free choices out there to record/edit some very decent audio, which definitely can help anyone have a decent show if they are willing to put even a minuscule amount of effort into it.

Of course in special cases, such as a audio cinema podcast, some polishing is certainly necessary, but even then not 100% required. The beauty of it all is there is no one else you need to answer to other than you.

These of course are just my opinions of one part of a big blog post, and I'd love to know what you other audio addicts think!

Discuss! :-)

~Dani

Wrapping Up The Expo

All righty... I have some time now to put some thoughts together. The first few days after the Expo always seem to drag. Many stayed through Sunday night or came home Monday, because of the extra day. I came home Sunday afternoon myself.

Where did I leave off? Day 1 part 1? Heeheeee... yah. I'm still waiting for audio so I'll bring this post back up to the top later and add things for ya. I wanted to share the Women in Podcasting panel I was on, as well as the Political Round Table. The round table is my fault for not having audio ready, since I'm the one in control of the audio. But it should be up soon, I'm planning my next podcast around it. I will update this post when I have the audio.

UPDATE: Audio of the political round table can be found right HERE.
UPDATE 2: Audio of the Women in Podcasting Panel can be found right HERE.

Anyway, the rest of the expo was really nice. I did notice that there did seem to be less people walking around the expo floor. Just didn't seem quite as crowded. I did catch more panels at the LA Podcaster's booth, and the Podango Booth. Which is great if you are not able to afford the tracks the Expo provides. (for a lot of us podcasters, travel and hotel are about all we can do.)

It was also different this year personally, as a podcaster with now 18 months of podcasting under her belt. I actually have listeners, and they knew who I was and recognized my show logo. That was both weird and cool at the same time. I also noticed the importance of swag. People actually do pay attention to buttons and shirts.

But still, overall, the best part always comes back to the other podcasters. Meeting the voices I have been listening to for the past year, and meeting new voices to check out. Re-connecting with those I met last year. Some even remembered my past association with Sonic Society, which I found rather amusing. But hanging out with new and old friends (and in the podcaster world, you really are friends for the most part, with the way so many of us are so open on our shows), still trumps everything for a socialite like me. :-)

This was the last year of the Expo being held in Ontario, CA. Next year will be in Las Vegas. There are absolutely many good points to this move. The Expo is growing- and Vegas is pretty much the convention capital of the US, if not North America. You have a convention in Vegas, it means you want exposure. Can't really do that in a little place like Ontario. Another plus is there are always good deals to Vegas from wherever you might live, so that means more are likely to actually attend next year.

On the down side- there is definitely more distraction. In Ontario if parties become too crowded or stifling, people escape and gather in lobbies or by the pool or wherever- because you have nothing else to do at night but be social with each other. Well, I definitely don't have to tell anyone about the extra distractions Vegas will bring. It could create a disconnect, which would be sad. I'm all about the community. Those planning the Expo will have to work extra-hard to make sure there are enough things planned to keep people from opting for the gambling and heading out to the strip.

Along with the change in venue, they have also changed the name. Again. This time it bothers me a bit more, since they dropped "Podcast", and left it simply as the New Media Expo. I do understand that podcasting fits under the new media blanket. The problem I see, as a podcaster, is with how difficult it has been to get the word out about podcasting, and explain it, to drop it from the title just seems like a step in the wrong direction. Heck, on the way to the airport last week I was explaining to my brother-in-law how you do not need an iPod to listen to a podcast! So, there is still a lot of teaching and awareness to bring to people about this neglected form of media.

So, overall I am still very glad I went, and I will do my darndest to get there next year. It's right at the time school begins here in AZ, so it will take a little more juggling than normal.

I'd love to know what other thoughts are out there from those who attended this year- so please leave a link in the comments to your writings!

Some of the hottest ladies in podcasting

Podcast Fresh did an entry with who they say are the four hottest female podcasters. I felt they were missing a few, especially since I had only heard of one of them, and do not listen/watch any of those shows.
So, in no particular order, allow me to add to the list:

*Grammar Girl: With well over a million downloads of her podcast, several national newspaper and magazine articles written about her, and an appearance on Oprah, Mignon is definitely a hot podcaster! In terms of content, her show has no boundaries, as everyone uses and needs grammar tips!

*Mighty Mommy: And while I'm on the QDNow site, there is nothing hotter than a Mom! CJ brings down-to-earth and actually useful parenting tips to you every week, from smack dab in the middle of the fray.

*Tag In The Seam: You want a down-to-earth, no frills, no "mother-faking" hot lady, then Leann Mabry is your woman. Telling it like it is, yep that is hot. She knows that women fart, sweat, and cuss like sailors, and she will tell you all about it. Fo Rill.

*Twilight and Thebes: Hot and smart, that is what Miss Twilight is. The co-host of this radically-left political podcast will talk about everything from impeaching the president, and calling out all the government lies to her work as a phone sex dominatrix. All while helping building her own cabin up in northern New Mexico.
A woman building her own home from scratch? Very. Hot.

*Strangely Literal: Fan-fiction geek? Like stories? Like to write stories? Then you need to start listening to Tabz. Strangely Literal is only one of the many fan-fiction related shows she either hosts or participates in. Since my own husband heard her voice and said she sounds like me, then how can she NOT qualify as hot? Her current project in motion is a fan-fiction audio drama based on Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Ok, there are five of my picks for hottest women in podcasting, but there are SOOOO many more! Feel free to comment and add your own five, or hell, do your own blog entry and tell everyone who you think are the hottest in podcasting!

And now a message from the RIAA

Via Christopher Penn via Steve at Wicked Good: An LA Times article today discussed the Recording Industry ASSociation of America's new way to squeeze every single penny possible out of those who love to bring music to listeners. The RIAA is now seeking royalties from broadcast radio stations. From the Times article (requires free registration):

"For years, stations have paid royalties to composers and publishers when they played their songs. But they enjoy a federal exemption when paying the performers and record labels because, they argue, the airplay sells music.

Now, the Recording Industry Assn. of America and several artists' groups are getting ready to push Congress to repeal the exemption, a move that could generate hundreds of millions of dollars annually in new royalties.

Mary Wilson, who with Diana Ross and Florence Ballard formed the original Supremes, said the exemption was unfair and forced older musicians to continue touring to pay their bills.

"After so many years of not being compensated, it would be nice now at this late date to at least start," the 63-year-old Las Vegas resident said in Milwaukee, where she was performing at the Potawatomi Bingo Casino. "They've gotten 50-some years of free play. Now maybe it's time to pay up." "

Um... they still have to work to pay their bills.... okay....

Excuse me, Ms. Wilson? If I could have a moment to speak with you, and Lars, and other starving musicians like you? Thanks.

Come closer. OK, are you paying attention, cause I'm going to say this once, and in language I know you will understand.

You're dumb.

OK, go off to your concert now, I know you will most likely have to raise ticket prices if this falls through. After all, you've got bills to pay, right? And I know it completely sucks to have to keep working in order to pay those bills, caught in your dead end job doing something you can't stand.

Oh wait- why is it you are artists again?

Like Chris Penn put in his blog post- go ahead. It can only help podcasting and podsafe musicians.

Who knew the Onion spoke truth?

On Money and Podcasting

I've had some thoughts banging around in my head lately concerning podcasting and money. I think it all started with the debate that went on concerning the new Tip Jar that is now a feature on the Podcast Pickle podcast pages. A few select people, out of dozens, asked that they have an option to not show the tip jar button. (For an idea of how completely obscene* it looks, take a gander at mine.) The reason for wanting the option was basically that it ruins the "image" that the podcaster has. The image that content is provided for free, with no profit whatsoever.

Um, ok. I found this argument rather confusing, because by no means would giving someone the option of throwing a few dollars your way for job well done be considered profit. At least not to me. Not to mention the fact that we are all using space generously provided to us for free by a man who just wants to help promote podcasting, and watch this genre grow. Besides, other than those who stumble across the pickle page randomly, you'd pretty much have to ask your listeners to go over and give you a tip for anyone to know it's even there. And out of all your listeners, realistically how many actually would?

Bless Gary Leland's dear heart, he made the tip jar a removable option. I hope those three podcasters are happy, because I never would have catered to their request. I tell you, I respect Gary more now for his expertise in dealing with this, and have a little less respect for those who caused such a ruckus over nothing. In my eyes, their image has all ready changed.

Image. I completely understand the image that podcasters would like to keep. It's free. It's independent. It bucks the system, sticks it to the man. (Insert your own cliche' here). Yet, even in the midst of keeping the medium free, there are those who have their very own podcasts and blogs geared towards helping you profit from your podcasts. Leesa Barnes and Paul Colligan come instantly to mind. I subscribe to both of these blogs, as they provide a plethora of information on how to make your podcast better.

Is this a bad thing? Of course not. Everyone podcasts for their own reasons, and wants to put forth their own content. If you want to profit, and people pay you, great. If you want to remain independent and never see a nickel, go for it. Me? I just wouldn't mind offsetting my costs a bit. My show would be a horrible thing to try and profit from anyway, considering the content. I look at my show like any news/talk show... once you profit, your content can easily be dictated to you. I refuse to let myself do that.

This issue will be debated forever, and that's fine to debate. What bothers me is the harsh judgment of those who might want or need to make some money doing what they love to do. If you love what you do, AND get paid for it, isn't that the best of everything? It only makes the quality of your work better, in this case, it would be your podcast.

Do I dare add that Podcast Pickle is now offering an option for your Amazon and Ebay store, linked directly to your account page? ;-)



*not.

In defense of the podcast... and this blog

UPDATE: I just had to move this to the top again, there have been some good comments from readers!


From 12/5:
Well, I suppose it had to happen eventually. A- a- criticism. Of my beautiful audio world!

You all know by now I'm a bit of a podcasting fan. Well, perhaps freak is more like it. Doors open all over with endless possibility of what you can do with the podcast, from content, to even marketing your wares. Musicians do it all the time with their work, giving you a taste in the hopes you will buy their entire CD, or see them in concert. Why not the same in the audio drama world?

Well, it does happen, not just in podcasting, but in radio too. I have several Shadowlands CD's as well as an Afterhell CD because of hearing them on the radio.

What makes podcasting such an important medium is the ease. Both in creating, and in cost. The proof is in the podcasts out there, audio cinema is popping up all over the place! Anyone can create a podcast and get it up in a feed- no radio stations airtime needed. Hell podcasting even gave Sonic Society major exposure, and in turn brought exposure to all the great audio cinema groups out there.

We would all love to make a living off of doing these podcasts and shows, oh I know it. That is part of the reason why we work so hard at it, the number one reason being our love for what we do. I feel though that podcasting some or even all of your content can only help that along. I honestly think if you are not podcasting your content, you're missing out on a great marketing opportunity.

That's a big reason I began this blog. To help spread the love. A fan (I suppose) of the blog wrote me and asked me why I had veered away from blogging about audio drama, and have been blogging about podcasts. This was a confusing accusation to me. As I went through my posts for November, 11 of them were about audio drama of some form, out of 19 posts for the month. Sure, they podcast. But how is that any different than if they were all on the radio? There would most certainly be less posts if I stuck to only one medium. Podcasting happens to be the most prominent right now.

Why not use it as an advantage, rather than thinking of it as a hindrance?

I'd be lost without you , podcast

Well, if you head to the link, you will get to read my adventures at Chicago's O'Hare airport over the weekend. Isn't it funny how after you tell folks you were layed-over for 18 hours in an airport, you find out from people how terrible the place is to begin with?

However, thanks to my trusty mp3 player, I had several podcasts lined up to help me get through my ordeal. It may be a small list, but I had several episodes of each to catch up on, so trust me, it adds up!

My life savers!

~ROFLcast (another awesome music cast!)
~Mike and Evo's Wingin' It! (geez I miss them- I need to get my ass up there for a show again!)
~AndyCast Podcast (this guy is FUN-NEE! Check him out, the Uninformed Biography is definitely a must-listen!)
~Democracy Now! (Well I had to get my news in. What was I going to do? Sit there and watch CNN on the airport monitors all day?)
~Decoder Ring Theatre (I am nearly caught up with Season Two of The Red Panda- yay me! And it rocks, I might add...)

I had plenty more I wanted to get to, including the non-podcast production of Colonial Radio's Captain Blood. ( I can feel Jerry's eyebrow raising now...) But hey- Christmas break is upon me, and I venture BACK to Boston with the whole family! More listening time!

Again, hit the link below and get an idea of my (non) adventure!