Sonic Gold Gearing up for April Launch!

"And the Audio Hits Just Keep On Comin'"
Jack Ward and Shannon Hilchie of the Sonic Society just announced in their last episode, that the long awaited "Sonic Gold" project will begin in April 1st.
Sonic Gold is a new subscription based show that will bring the very best of paid audio content to your podcatcher. As a member of Sonic Gold you'll get 36 weeks of amazing professional audio drama that you can't get anywhere free on the Internet.
So why buy audio drama?
As Jack Ward puts it, "If we're going to help revitalize the market for audio drama across the world, we need to prove that people are willing to pay for it. And after all, who wouldn't want to see someone like Gregg Taylor from Decoder Ring Theatre get paid to put out a new show?"

What's it cost of an subscription to Sonic Gold?
Early bird sign up is just 20 dollars a year. Get in on the ground floor and you can get a whole lot more than that, but things are moving fast.
Check the great deal and details Sonic Gold and sign up!

If you're doing this for a living, then you're not loving it

If I were to do a presentation at the Blog world and new media expo this would be it.

Hello, I am David "topper" Tobkin, and I have been a blogger since the late 90's for the most part. I have used text to begin with, just text on a page and uploaded to a website.

My earliest foray into the social networking of the so called new media would have been in the early 90's with what was available then, a BBS system called Top City, no relation. That was a message board that got as time went by a chat line. For what it was worth it was a good time. Non commercial on the fly by a guy that had a few computers in a cramped apartment.

But I wanted, in metaphoric terms, windows. I knew there was beginning to be a world on the world wide web. But I didn't have the pc to do it. When I did it was powerful enough for AOL. Not the window to the world wide web I wanted. But it served my online social purpose of getting to know people "out there". Oh yea, you can actually get to know people "out there". And I actually like you today set out to meet few of them in Seattle at a get together. Much smaller than this but fun.

Ok then, enough about me, let us get down to business and start talking about you. Some of you are podcasters. Where this new media really gets it start. And I have been noticing a trend. Commercialism. Even bloggers have ads on their sites. Sure there ads here and there that providers have but you are users why put ads on your own blog or podcast page? It isn't as though your readers and listeners are customers, they are not. They are your audience, say it with me, audience. And these folks can listen to you or read your blog any time they want. Which brings to another point of podcasting. It is considered to be a portable media, therefor people can take you with them where ever they go, on a trip, to the gym, on a drive, anywhere. The only reason that the term podcasting is getting a bad rap is because Apple wants to control it, so the controlling forces of podcasting want you to follow suit with "new media". Oh well sign of the times.

But being that you have an audience are you worth paying for? What I have is a passion for whatever moves me at the moment and it should you too. Everything you have learned about making a buck on this new media I am going to try and get you to forget. What is the motto? "If you are doing this for a living, then you are not loving it". Oh I know as well as the next guy that making a buck is a great thing, but I don't want the chase of the almighty dollar to get in the way of my passion.

Many things are built on passion. Many other things are built on need. You have the passion, Libsyn may supply the need, or whatever service you use. But these services are just that, services. There have been many services that have come and gone and one in particular comes to mind that had it ALL. It was a website that used google chat or gizmo to call in and it streamed audio for you. Also on the site was a chat room and it saved the chat for you. Some of you may recognize it. I liked it too before it became a commercial enterprise with even a target market. Now days it is a thanksgiving turkey, only problem is, they started cooking it in June. It was a great tool, but you all deserve better. Target markets are for magazines.

And about passion. Lets say you have a show, and something you read about fires you up. By the time you get to that day you set aside the passion is gone. Remember it is a portable media, why not do it anytime you want. Quantity is as good as quality as long as the quality is the same. That goes with blogging too.

But lets say you are time constrained. Well there are places to park your passion. Facebook ain't it. What the heck is that about anyway? If you have one reader as an audience you might as well take him or her out for coffee and get the message out that way.

I belong to facebook, and still asking myself why. Other enterprises to park things of interest is google reader. At least there is a place there to share with everyone, and my personal favorite News vine. Very active and sure it has ads but not all the time, and most importantly NOT to a target market. Male's in the 25 to 30 bracket like that place I eluded to earlier.

So to be counter productive to what you have heard from expo's in the past about making a buck doing something you enjoy, forget that chase and just enjoy. It will show in your work, podcast or otherwise that you have the passion and will be in it for the long haul.

My rule is, do it whenever. Most people use a feed anyway. As long as the quality is there, the quantity will not matter.

Take care and good luck.

PAB '09 Registration Now Open

From Podcasting News:

Podcasters Across Borders 09 Opens Registration, Calls For Speakers

Podcasters Across Borders co-founder and organizer Mark Blevis sent word that registration for PAB2009 is opening today (December 1, 2008) at midnight Eastern Time. The three-day podcasting and new media conference is scheduled for June 19/20/21, 2009, in Kingston, Ontario (Canada). This is the fourth year of the event, which focuses on not just podcast creation, but also on “building and engaging communities, using social media dynamics, and honing the skills we use in all aspects of our online presence.”

Early registration cost is cdn$120, rising to $150 on January 1. Registration is limited to 120 participants.

This weekend, PAB organizers also issued a call for speakers and presenters:

“The theme for PAB2009, Outside-in: Learning from beyond the fishbowl, was selected to evolve the conversation to draw on skills, communications styles, experiences, innovations and people from outside of the social media and new media communities. We want our program to energize, motivate and advance the community.”

The event features more structured 25-minute presentations (with Q&A afterward), and five-minute “Jolt” sessions. None of the sessions are used to promote specific businesses or services.

---
I've given up trying to convince myself I'll make it to PAB one of these years. It takes place at the BEST time of the year- both my daughter's birthdays! :-)
~Dani

The Dream Realm Update!

Lots of things still happening over at Dream Realm Enterprises. Not only are there new Dr. Who episodes, but they have also been re-releasing the first season of Robotz of the Company, as well as podcasting their Sci-Fi and horror mini-series, The Realm Weaver!

When you need to escape the influx of family during tomorrow's Turkey Day- be thankful for audio cinema! ;-)

And for those who still heart their radios...

From Cnet:

Sony's awesome but ridiculously cheap AM/FM HD Radio!

Posted by Steve Guttenberg

Sony's XDR-F1HD HD Radio has developed a real buzz among my audiophile pals, on second thought maybe buzz isn't the right word. It's the quietest, noise-free radio I've ever used.

These guys can be real snobs and only listen to ultra-high-end components, and some wouldn't be caught dead using mainstream gear with their hi-fis, and yet they're all going ga-ga over the Sony. We're all thinking it's too good to be true.

I originally heard about the Sony from Steven Stone, a writer friend, and then from an engineer at an American high-end audio company known for making awesome tuners that sell for thousands of dollars. The engineer was positively gushing about how good the XDR-F1HD is, not just that is sounded great, but also because it pulls in tough to receive analog stations with lower noise and distortion than tuners that sell for big bucks. You can read my full CNET review here.

I rushed right out and bought an XDR-F1HD from Amazon, and sure nuff, it's true, the little Sony is no baloney. Analog FM stations came in like gangbusters, clean as a whistle, and HD stations, like my favorite jazz station WBGO had "CD quality" sound. That phrase is tossed around a lot, but this time it's for real. Listening to WBGO with the Sony over my high-end system with Magnepan 3.6/R speakers the sound is amazing. It's day and night better than what I get from Sirius Satellite Radio, which is almost unlistenable over those speakers.

Right, Sirius sounds like a crummy MP3 over the Maggies. That's why I listen to Sirius over my Tivoli PAL table radio. Good enough sound is what most people put up with, and that's kinda sad.

WNYC, my local NPR outlet, multicasts HD on three channels: one is the same program as the analog FM station, the second is a 24/7 classical music stream, and the third is WNYC's AM feed, but in FM HD. One of my favorite shows, David Garland's "Spinning on Air" is a weekly musical journey; The October 26 all-theremin show was a mind trip, and sounded positively ethereal in HD. The theremin is an early 20th Century electronic instrument, it's featured on the Beach Boys' hit "Good Vibrations."

Thing is, not all HD stations sound great, in New York WPLJ and WXRK sound dreadful. So you see, HD Radio technology doesn't guarantee sound quality, its up to the stations to follow through and not mess with their signal. The XDR-F1HD is a gateway to the best of over-the-air analog and digital broadcasts.

Need a second opinion? Check out Gary Krakow's The Street review to learn more.

Steve Guttenberg is a frequent contributor to magazines and Web sites including Home Entertainment, Playback, and Ultimate AV. He is a member of the CNET Blog Network, and is not an employee of CNET. Disclosure.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13645_3-10106377-47.html

Merging Isn't Always A Good Thing

Found this post via The Consumerist. Seems satellite is going the direction traditional radio has. Maybe Clear Channel will take it over someday...

Sirius XM Merger Reveals True Face: Fewer Channels And 'Sanitized' Programming

By Chris Walters, 1:55 PM on Fri Nov 14 2008

This week, Sirius XM began consolidating its channels. In reality, this mostly meant jettisoning XM channels wherever there was a tenuous overlap with something Sirius already offered, which is bad news for anyone with a favorite station on XM who woke up Wednesday morning to find it missing. Alex wrote in to tell us that the four Spanish music channels have been condensed to one without regard to genre, and that the uncensored "urban music" station Hot Jamz has been cleaned up, rechristened "The Heat," and now leans toward radio-friendly R&B. The Motley Fool suggests that the new lineup may drive people to downgrade their subscription—it's "an incentive to downgrade to the cheaper plan that costs $6 less a month and lets users cherry-pick 50 stations."

In addition to the latin and urban channels, Alex wants to know why Sirius XM couldn't have better prepared its listeners:

First off, why such secrecy? Millions of subscribers were blindsided yesterday. No announcements of any kind were made over the air to let people know what was going on. To them, everything was fine on Tuesday, but all of a sudden on Wednesday, their favorite channel was deleted or changed fundamentally. This was a breach of trust between the provider and the consumer. We are the subscribers. We are paying for this service. We deserve a voice over what it is we want to hear. More importantly, we deserve input about programming we are willing to pay for.
Second, we the consumers, Congress, and the FCC were assured that allowing the merger would increase diversity and choice. Wednesday's change showed you acted in bad faith. On the XM side, we lost 75% of the Spanish music choice. To clump together the previous 4 genres of music offered by Aguila, Viva, Caricia, and Caliente into one channel shows either cultural ignorance or contempt for diversity. My congressional representatives will be hearing from me about this.
Third, the new censorship. I bought Sirius to free myself from the shackles of FM. Hot Jamz has been neutered into "The Heat," essentially a satellite version of my local R&B station. I simply couldn't listen to it today. The songs were heavily edited and censored. This is the antithesis of what Sirius once stood for, what bringing Howard from FM symbolized. Fact is, urban music is written in the vernacular. What "The Heat" did to Hot Jamz is an insult.
Fourth, continuing on the theme of less choice. Sirus XM acted in bad faith when it shrunk the available choices:

No more electronica from Boombox — now pop2k... isn't there enough pop with 90's on 9, the Pulse, and Alt Nation?

No more Old Skool.

No more Punk.

No more Fine tuning/free form.

No more educational radio via Discovery channel. (I'm still raw over that)

Instead we get less choice and shallower playlists on what used to be Fred, Lucy, and Ethel.
Mel et al., you really should listen to what you customers have to say.

http://www.orbitcast.com/archives/first-impressions-now-with-combined-channels-what-do-you-think.html#comments
http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/towerticker/2008/11/xm-radio-sirius.html?cid=138920090#comments
http://www.xmfan.com/viewtopic.php?t=96996 (these are your most ferverent fanatics, and yet their poll shows less that 33% are satisfied)

If you had asked us to begin with, you may have avoided this heartache.
Dual-sub non grata,Alex

As an aside, if you're a Mitsubishi Outlander owner experiencing problems with Sirius updates, Andy has figured out how to fix it:

Sirius recently merged with XM and my radio received an update as part of the merger. It killed the radio in my Mitsubishi Outlander with an "Antenna Error" message. I argued with 4 or 5 CSRs at Sirius that this was not a hardware issue, the timing is too perfect. I ended up pulling the #7 fuse and it reset the radio. Voila, the radio is back up and running. However, every time they send an update I have to pull the fuse. I hope this helps other MMS owners, and I hope Sirius gets this figured out asap. This is a factory installed radio part of the Mitsubishi Multi Messaging System premium radio system.
Here's a link to my forum post: http://www.mitsubishiforum.com/fb.asp?m=240820

"Sirius XM Has Crossed the Line" [The Motley Fool]

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

5 Reasons Why Your Podcast Sucks (and on iTunes!)

I'm finally getting around to posting some of the audio/video links to some of the Podcamp AZ goodness!

Podcast AZ was streaming all day both days, and many guests stopped by to partake in the fun. You can watch some clips from the weekend riiiiight..... here. Dan and CJ of the Love Long and Prosper Podcast were amazing taking on the task of running the podcast all weekend.

Unfortunately audio was scarce (and if you have audio from the weekend please post it in the comments!), but a couple of great sessions were headed by Evo Terra. He also had a cool slide show to go along with his sessions. Click and enjoy!

*5 Reasons Why Your Podcast Sucks
*5 Reasons Why Your Podcast Sucks on iTunes

PS, clicky on the photo to get more photos from the weekend courtesy of the talented Sheila Dee!

Indie Band Survival Guide

Wanted to repost this informative gem for all of you audio and new media addicts out there. Shamelessly swiped from the Fun Anymore blog, which is the home of all things Evo Terra:

If you are serious about new media, I highly recommend this book, The Indie Band Survival Guide.

No, you don’t have to be a musician in an independent band. Yes, it was written with them in mind, but there are a huge numbers of takeaways.

Props to the boys at Beatnik Turtle for craning out an enlightening and enjoyable book that cuts through the bullshit and tells you — specifically — what it takes to navigate the waters of independent media production.

The section on copyright is fascinating. This book gives it all the weight the topic deserves, but explains it simple enough to allow anyone to grok the concepts. Kudos to them for carrying the conversation over to Creative Commons licensing as well.

Podcasters: you need this book.

Video producers: you need this book.

Vloggers and Bloggers: you need this book, too.

Get it.


It's on the list- thanks for the info, Evo!
~Dani

This weekend- Podcamp AZ 2.0

Well here it is- this weekend the 2nd annual Podcamp AZ comes to the valley, and I'm so excited! We've worked so hard this year to put together a first rate unconference, and I think- no, I know- we will pull it off!

This was truly a community effort. I don't think at any podcamp meeting there were less than 15 people. I may hate the summer weather and the politics of AZ, but one thing I love and what keeps me living here is the sense of community and support in the Valley of the Sun.

One of the sessions I'm most looking forward to is Evo Terra's "Five Reasons Your Podcast Sucks". Many others have moved on to video, or streaming audio for their shows, but I remain strictly an audio podcaster for my show. Those are the sessions that are going to interest me the most! :-) However there are many MANY sessions planned on a plethora of topics- something for everyone!

You can register all the way up through the weekend if you'd like to attend- it's absolutely free! Though, if you want one of the cool shirts, a donation would be appreciated!

Still need convincing? The great AZ weather (in November, not the summer!) and all the great sessions isn't enough? Well how about some photos from last year?

See you this weekend!

Audeeoh!

Here's a neat new company to check out from Georgia- Audeeoh!

Actually, they have been around a couple of years now, but are breaking out onto the podcasting scene with original audio dramas, like Butta and the Tower of Bling and The Shyster Club.

Great quality productions and fun in a soap-opera drama sort of way. Check them out!

http://audeeoh.com

Podcast Award Nominees Chosen

Voting for the 4th annual Podcast Awards is underway, and I have to admit it's quite an eclectic mix of podcasters this year! I'm happy to see several of my friends in the nominations:

Buffy Between The Lines
Comedy 4 Cast
Grammar Girl
Extra Points
...and many others!

Somehow even my little political podcast made it through the nomination process! Head over to the site and check out all the categories and nominees!

Voting goes through November 6th, and you can vote once a day, every day until then!

~Dani

Know What I Did Last Podcamp AZ?

I had a really great time- that's what! That time of year is upon us again here in the not-quite-as-hot-now Southwest. Last year was the inaugural Podcamp AZ, and it was such a success it just had to be brought back!

What's Your Source? This year's unconference is taking a look at what is relevant in media today. Whether we are talking podcasting or radio, video or even print, all of these media outlets are a source that is continually changing and advancing. If you want to be on top of it, then you should be at Podcamp AZ November 1st and 2nd. Sessions and interaction focus on the creation of all relevant media sources, and how to use those sources to work for you for whatever you want! It doesn't matter if you are a newbie coming in who has never turned on a computer (and if you are I will want to shake your hand!), or a more 'experienced' person with relevant media sources. There are always new things to learn and talk about- and Arizona is one of the best places to do it.

The speakers lined up this year are also something to look forward to. More referred to as "hosts of an ongoing conversation", they bring their knowledge of a topic to you, yet are just as willing (and wanting) to learn as well. Some of the awesome speakers lined up this year are Evo Terra, Doug Welch, Kathy Jacobs, Francine Hardaway, Brian Shaler, and Chris Pirillo! You can learn more about these speakers and see who else is scheduled by clicking right HERE.

You really can't beat Arizona in November- the price is right and the community is awesome and inclusive. Head over to the website and register NOW and come be involved in the second annual Podcamp AZ!

http://podcampaz.org

If you'd like to help spread the word about Podcamp AZ, here's a little promo you can play on your podcast or radio show:

http://media.libsyn.com/media/audioaddict/PodcampAZ08PromoMix.mp3

... or you can always spread the word in the relevant media outlet of your choice. GO! Register! See you November 1st!

Giallo Podcast Going Offline!

This is a heads-up to let everyone know that "Bloodbath at the Giallo Hotel" will soon be removed from the Afterhell podcast feed. If you wanted to check out our tale of gangsters, zombies, and other strangeness at the dawn of the Afterhell, but hadn't had a chance, go grab any and all of the nine installments now! Copy and paste this address into your podcast-catcher of choice:
http://www.afterhell.com/audio/AHSD.rss

The good news is that "Afterhell Volume 3: Bloodbath at the Giallo Hotel" will soon be released on CD! This is the same award-winning story as on the podcast feed, but with a full stereo mix and without the podcast bumpers. There will also be a bonus track!

Please check out the Afterhell blog at http://www.afterhell.com/news for further updates on Volume 3 … and Volume 4, in work now! As always, thank you for your interest in and support of "Afterhell."

SFF Audio Now Podcasting!

Only several years in the making (hehe!) - my friends Jesse and Scott over at the best blog for sci-fi audio news- SFF Audio- have finally been bitten hard enough by the podcast bug!

Here's what they say about this momentous occasion:
"Hey look! We’ve got our own podcast. This is the very first one, which includes SFFaudio founders Scott D. Danielson and Jesse Willis talking about audiobooks, audio drama, and cease and desist orders. We won’t desist podcasting if you won’t cease downloading them - whatever that means."

Why, it means awesome! You can grab the feed right here:

http://www.sffaudio.com/?feed=podcast

Two Awards Ceremonies This Weekend

This weekend was the ever-popular sci-fi convention Dragon*Con. Many of my friends online and off travel to Atlanta each year to party, dress up, and help bring more attention to podcasting. There are two podcast-related awards ceremonies during the weekend, the Parsec Awards and the Podcast Peer Awards.

The Parsecs awards the very best of sci-fi related podcast content, ranging from stories and podiobooks, to audio drama and fan content. The Podcast Peers are awards given out by other podcasters, and range from all sorts of categories, from podiobooks, to couplecasts and music.

I was honored to be involved in both awards, each in a different way.

To see the nominees and winners for the Parsecs, head to this link:
http://www.parsecawards.com/node/542

To see the nominees and winners for the Podcast Peers, head to this link (the winners are not the top podcast you see for each category):
http://www.podcastpeers.org/finalistsPPA5.html

To see who won for each PPA category, you can go here:
http://www.podcastpeers.org/phpBB/viewforum.php?f=126&sid=0122675bb28cc747020e0515ff97c5c8

Congrats to all!

Misadventures Of Sherlock Holmes

What does it take to crash a website? One really great audio drama! Season 1 of Dream Realm Enterprises summer hit The Misadventures of Sherlock Holmes is complete, and awaiting your download!

UPDATE! Now this very popular series is being podcast! Get caught up and subscribe now!

http://dreholmes.blogspot.com/

This isn't your normal Sherlock Holmes mystery series. This series comes from the viewpoint of Doctor Watson, and the view isn't always positive when the light is shined on Mr. Holmes (or himself, actually). It's fun, witty, VERY well written (by Vince Stadon!), and still full of mystery and surprises!

The website also has interesting Sherlock Holmes history when you click on each episode.

Make the site crash again- head over and check it out today! ;-)

Sonic Society Live Call in Show Tonight and They Got an Amazing Voicemail!

The Sonic Society goes live tonight on CKDU in Halifax and will be taking you calls! The Cast of Gate (well some of them) will be there as well! So listen to the show live at http://www.CKDU.ca and look for the "Listen Online" link. You can call them after 8 PM Eastern Standard time at 902-494-2487 to be on the show!
Don't forget to leave them a message on Zug Beud, or email them at sonicsociety AT gmail.com

Oh, be sure to listen for the Zug call from The Big Goram Heroes, Nathan Fillion and Alan Tudyk. Yeah Those Big Damn Heroes.

National Parks Getting Into Podcasting

Having just returned from 6 weeks of traveling the US and the UK, I took special interest in how the National Parks are jumping on the podcast bandwagon. I found a couple great podcasts to help guide us around England, it's a very useful idea. If you are one who enjoys traveling around, podcasts are the perfect primer. All it takes is a little searching on the Google or iTunes!

From Podcasting News:

The US National Parks Service is getting into podcasting in a big way, and now offers 18 park service podcasts and virtual tours, offering hundreds of audio and video programs that you can get from park websites or iTunes.

The podcasts include:

1. Acadia NP
2. Antietam National Battlefield
3. Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP
4. Canyonlands NP
5. Clara Barton National Historic Site
6. Curecanti National Recreation Area
7. Everglades NP
8. Gettysburg National Military Park
9. Glacier NP
10. Grand Canyon NP
11. Jefferson National Expansion Memorial
    
12. Katmai National Park and Preserve
13. Mississippi National River & Rec. Area
14. Petersburg National Battlefield
15. Richmond National Battlefield
16. Rock Creek Park
17. Yellowstone NP
18. Yosemite N

Many parks offer interpretive podcasts about wildlife, history, and topical issues like climate change and fire management. The most extensive collection of park podcasts is from Yellowstone National Park where they are reaching out to new and nontraditional audiences to spark an interest in visiting the park. The Inside Yellowstone series has more than 50 episodes, which are one to two minutes in length. More episodes are on the way.

“Our podcasts give people from every corner of the earth the chance to fall in love with Yellowstone and become its stewards for the future,” said George Heinz, one of the writers and on-screen personalities for the podcast series. The park has another online series called Yellowstone InDepth that presents mini-documentaries on subjects like volcanoes, invasive species, bears, and wolves.

“While nothing can replace a personal experience in a national park, we think our podcasts will enhance people’s trips or give them the opportunity to learn about a park that they can’t visit,” said Mary A. Bomar, Director of the National Park Service. “Whether people download them to portable devices or watch them on their computers, these free electronic presentations give us another way to serve park enthusiasts of all ages.”

Other National Park Podcasts

Yosemite National Park launched a new monthly podcast called Yosemite Nature Notes. A printed publication of the same name began in the 1920s and existed for five decades. “Just like the earlier version of Nature Notes, our podcasts tell Yosemite’s stories from the perspective of the people who work here,” said Steve Bumgardner, videographer and producer at Yosemite National Park. “I like the idea that we’ve brought this institution back to life and that we use new media to put a personal face on the National Park Service.”

“My favorite podcast about Canyonlands National Park is the one on potholes,” said Carter, an 8-year-old visitor who watched all of the park’s podcasts before his trip. “It was so interesting to learn that tiny creatures are living in a bunch of dirt.” Carter’s sister Brooke, 11, appreciated knowing how to recognize cryptobiotic soils so she didn’t walk on the delicate crust. Their mother, Tiffani, thought the podcasts empowered her kids and said, “they loved being the experts and teaching us ( their parents ) what they learned while we walked around the park.”

At Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, people stop at overlooks along the South Rim Road and watch podcasts about geology, history, life, and recreation at those exact spots. Everglades National Park also has a car tour ( audio only ) that leads listeners on a guided exploration down the main park road. Four civil war battlefields – Gettysburg, Antietam, Petersburg, and Richmond – offer podcasts that allow you to walk or drive along as you listen to an NPS historian talk about decisive and dramatic battles.

Urban parks use podcast tours to reach local residents who may not know much about the parks they pass every day. For example, residents in Minneapolis and St. Paul can listen to information about Mississippi National River and Recreation Area while walking a four-mile loop near the river. Residents of Washington D.C. can download walking tours for Rock Creek Park and people in St. Louis can do the same for Jefferson National Expansion Memorial

Glacier National Park offers videos online about hiking, and rangers say the programs speed up the backcountry permit process. “Rather than having to watch the video at the permit station which is required, more and more visitors have watched it online ahead of time,” said Bill Hayden, Interpretive Specialist.

Other parks help people plan trips with podcasts, too. Visitors can learn about recreational activities at Curecanti National Recreation Area, like fishing, hiking, and camping. Katmai National Park and Preserve has an audio podcast weaving together music, stories, and tips for reaching that remote wilderness area.

Virtual Tours

While not available for download like podcasts, virtual tours are also available. For example, Clara Barton National Historic Site offers a virtual tour of Barton’s home, a building that served as the national headquarters for the American Red Cross. The tour allows visitors to navigate through all three levels of the house and gives access to images, text, and audio clips.

Acadia National Park has an eCruise along the rocky shores of Mount Desert Island and Glacier National Park offers eHikes that take visitors through stunning wilderness areas among glaciers, wildflowers, and bears.

New virtual tours are coming soon:

• Zion National Park will release an eHike for Angel’s Landing;
• Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks will launch eHikes that go through the Sierra Nevada foothills or among the giant sequoias; and
• The Statue of Liberty will provide an eTour covering Liberty Island, the inside of Lady Liberty, and a 360-degree view from her crown.

Some worry that creating podcasts and virtual tours about national parks may keep people, especially children, disconnected from the actual places. “Personally, I don’t think that people are going to give up on the real thing,” said Todd Edgar, Media Specialist at Acadia National Park. “After learning about parks from our online resources, people want to get outside and explore on their own.”

For many other national park podcasts and virtual tours, go to www.nps.gov. If a park unit offers online programs, you will find them by clicking on “Photos and Multimedia” in the left navigation bar of their homepage.

Well what do you know

This is interesting, but the Twilight Zone has been made into radio dramas. I have always loved the tv series of course.

Stacy Keach plays the host of the program, with Blair Underwood, Luke Perry and Chris McDonald for starters.

The Twilight Zone™ Radio Dramas feature a full cast, music and sound effects and today’s biggest celebrities in modern radio dramatizations by Dennis Etchison of creator Rod Serling’s classic scripts. Hosted by Stacy Keach, The Twilight Zone™ Radio Dramas will keep you glued to the edge of your seat whether listening in your home or while driving in your car.

The recordings are not a resurrection of the past but new and fresh. Very sound recordings with a high standard in production.

The twilight zone is available in a set, get all the info here. A few are available to listen to. I had just listened to "Long Distance Call". Extremely good.

Get three free downloads here.

-=t=-

"Gate" Swings in for Summer

"The Sonic Society began its Summer Season last week with "Gate". A new ten-part series written by Jack Ward and produced by Jack and Shannon Hilchie.
Gate is an adventure fantasy series about a girl in high school who finds herself selected for a title and a power that she was not ready for.
Gate is another anomaly in the audio drama community as it will has been written almost completely in the month of June, recorded within a month and a half and will be edited and released with a new episode every week in the summer. Gate completes its run of ten episodes with a two-parter.
Tune in to "Gate" Tuesdays in the Sonic Society feed at... http://sonic.rnn.beta.libsynpro.com/rss today!

Oh, and did I mention I'm in it? Well, it's a small part, But I'm in it!

JT

Mark Time/ Ogle Winners!

Yay I can finally spill the beans! (Who said I couldn't keep a secret?) Congratulations to winners of this year's Mark Time Award for Science Fiction Audio, and Ogle Award for Fantasy/Horror Audio productions!

The Mark Time Awards are sponsored by MISFITS, and will be presented at
Convergence on July 3, 2008 in Bloomington, MN.
------------------------------

------------------------------

MARK TIME AWARDS

GOLD
Space Casey
Written & Produced by Christiana Ellis
www.spacecasey.com

SILVER
Androids and You
By Bill Stuart
Adapted & Produced by
David Hinde Chapman
Rattenfanger Radio
members.shaw.ca/ratten

HONORABLE MENTION
Mission Control
By Cynthia McGean
Produced by Sam A. Mowry
Willamette Radio Workshop
www.radiowork.com

OGLE AWARDS

GOLD
The Stuff of Myth
Produced/Written by Roger Gregg
Crazy Dog Audio Theatre
www.crazydogaudiotheatre.com

SILVER
The Dead Girl
Written & Directed by Kyle Hatley
Produced by Robert Arnold
Chatterbox Audio Theater
www.chatterboxtheater.org

and

Something Wicked This Way Comes
Produced by Chris Snyder, Mark Vanderberg, Jerry Robbins
Colonial Radio Theatre
Written by Ray Bradbury
www.colonialradio.com

HONORABLE MENTION
Afterhell, Volume 3: Bloodbath at the Giallo Hotel
Ollin Productions
Produced by Joseph Medina
and Jamie Lawson
www.afterhell.com

---------------------------------------------------------------
Mark Time Awards - http://www.greatnorthernaudio.com/MarkTime/MarkTime.html
MISFITS - http://www.misfit.org/
Convergence - http://www.convergence-con.org/

Congrats to everyone, and thanks everyone who sent in entries. You gave me some awesome audio cinema to listen to!

~Dani

Vindicatum part 1

The incredibly talented people at Pendant Audio have started their 2nd cross over event in their DC Universe. Things are going to explode in this one.... no really. This is a combination of 4 DC Fan shows: Superman The Last Son of Krypton, Batman The Ace of Detectives, Wonder Woman Champion of Themiscrya and Supergirl The Lost Daughter of Krypton. The shows are easy to join in during while not knowing the full story line because they do an awesome job of explaining the history as they go with out disrupting the story. Vindicatum is a great fan production that any addict should be listening to...

Another Zany Season Of 'Botz Comes To Close

It's been a season of ups and downs, but the last two episodes of Robotz of the Company Season 4 are now available on the podcast feed, as well as on the website!

Do they escape from Grease Monkey mountain? And above all else- what about Bob????

Head over now and listen! It's a nail-biter! ;-)

Podcamp Season!

Podcamp season is in full swing now, and thanks to Podcasting News here is a list of all the up-and -coming camps. Find one near you- and go! I've said in the past I prefer the "camp" atmosphere over the expo/conference one. I like being in an environment where I feel a part of something, and involved. Where my own experience in podcasting and relevant media matters, vs. just going and having people tell me how it is, or should be.

If there isn't a podcamp near you- well then, maybe you can be the one to bring a podcamp to your area? ;-)

• PodCamp Chicago Somewhere in Chicago - June 6, 7, and 8th 2008
• Podcamp Austin - Austin, Texas - June 20, 21, 2008
• PodCamp Seattle - June 21, 2008 - Seattle
• PodCamp Ohio - Columbus, Ohio - June 28, 2008
• PodCamp Boston 3 - Boston, Massachusetts, July 19-20, 2008
• PodCamp Michigan - TBD In Michigan, September 2008
• Podcamp Philly - TBA, September 2008 - More Information Soon!
• PodCamp Pittsburgh 3 - The Art Institute of Pittsburgh - October 18-19, 2008
• PodCamp AZ 2.0 - UAT PHX - November 1-2, 2008
• PodCamp Colorado - The Art Institute of Colorado - Denver, CO, November 7, 8 & 9 2008
• PodCampEDU2 The American University, Washington DC November 15 2008
• PodCampSA (South Africa) - 22 November 2008 - Johannesburg, South Africa
• Podcamp and PodCon Brasil in Curitiba, PR, Brazil, December 05 and 06, 2008.
• PodCamp SF - January 18, 2009 @ MacWorld SF
• PodCampWesternMass, Date TBD

You can get current information on upcoming PodCamps as the PodCamp wiki.

Parsec Award Nominations Now Open

Times flies when you're podcasting! It's that time of year again, the 3rd annual Parsec Award nominations are now open.

Oh... all right. They've been open since FEBRUARY. That makes me as big of a loser as this guy. ;-)

A couple of great promos though- spread 'em far and wide! (that's what she said.)

*Scott Sigler/JC Hutchins (totally not safe in any way.)
http://parsecawards.com/node/430

*The more, um, appropriate one!
http://parsecawards.com/node/392


It's always great to browse around the submissions, I always seem to find one or two or ten new things I want to check out!

~Dani

Cool Radio Project For Teens

Thought this little piece of audio news from my end of the planet was pretty neat.
~Dani

Radio project lets teens air their ideas, concerns

Tony Ganzer
Special for The Republic
May. 26, 2008 12:00 AM

Editor's note: This article was submitted by Tony Ganzer, Morning Edition producer for KJZZ-FM (91.5). Send your education news to lori.baker@arizonarepublic.com.

In my limited experience, there's an unfortunate truth when it comes to how and when people communicate with teenagers.

You may have seen them in the mall, or maybe they've cleared your table at the local burger joint, but it seems rare to hear a teenager's point of view about issues that matter to them, in their own words.

advertisement

Earlier this month, the Valley's NPR news station, KJZZ-FM (91.5), gave airtime to a few hard-working teens. Along with my duties as KJZZ's morning producer, I also steer the Sonic Roots program. I introduce students to public radio and to the skill of creating a three-minute, sound-rich radio feature. The topic is chosen by the students, and interviews are conducted mostly by the students (with a follow-up question or two from me.) And after the work, the students make it to air. The shows can be heard at kjzz.org/news.

Matt Butson, a student at Coronado High School in Scottsdale, is soon heading to college, and this transition has left him feeling confused, nervous and isolated.

"I'm not sure that I want to be a starving college student," Butson says in the feature.

That's why Butson chose to speak on the air with an educational psychologist about whether his confusion is "normal" and to Arizona State University's dean of admissions about how important choosing a major really is.

Butson offered a candid view of a young adult finding his way.

"Speaking with these professionals helped me focus on my future," Butson says in his story. "Bring it on."

Two students from Dobson High School in Mesa provided a look at Valley transportation issues. Rebecca Bever and Jessica Testa spoke with representatives from the Arizona Department of Transportation, Valley Metro, Metro light rail and their own peers, exploring how teens get around and how the system should change.

"Many teens, in our informal survey, feel that a more fluid mass-transit system is the Valley's answer," Bever and Testa say in their story. "Until better options come along, students are bound to keep doing what they have done."

These students chose to represent their peers' concerns through this project and to show that the younger generation is thinking about larger issues.

And one of my goals for Sonic Roots is to let students know: That's a good thing.



The Sonic Roots project encourages teenage civic engagement by giving them a voice in the media. It was funded by a grant from the Carstens Family Fund and Mike Minor.

Obsidian Promo Now Available

Coming May 31st- "When the power fails... chaos reigns."

An audio promo for the new 7th Son podcast, Obsidian, is now available for your listening and distributing pleasure: http://media.libsyn.com/media/jchutchins/7sobsidian_promo.mp3

Some of the most well-known names in the podcasting community are coming together to bring Obsidian to life- I'm excited to hear their views from the big blackout in the 7th Son podnovel. Some of the names include:

• Michael A. Stackpole
• Scott Sigler
• Tee Morris
• Mur Lafferty
• Matt Wallace
• Mark Yoshimoto Nemcoff
• Christiana Ellis
• Evo Terra
• Dan Klass
• Wichita Rutherford
• TD-0013
• Soccergirl
• The cast of The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd
• George Hrab

Guaranteed to be a surprise every time! If you have not heard 7th Son yet, or need a refresher, you can get all the subscription information at http://jchutchins.net/site/.

~Dani

Dead LIne hit the Sonic Society

The Sonic Society unveils "Time Enough" from the Dead Line Anthology series. This is a podcast premiere of Shannon Hilchie's first hour long script and is already getting high praise for its "creepyness factor". Starring Schoel Strang and Jack Ward in the lead roles, Time Enough looks at murder in modern blogs.
Part 2 launches Tuesday the thirteenth.

New Award For Audio Cinema Excellence

If you are a listener of The Sonic Society, you know they bring a wide range of audio cinema to your ears each week. They have now jumped on the award wagon and are holding nominations for the best of the season, called (what else?) The Unis!

So very much to choose from! Here are the rules:

-review the list they provide at the link of all the audio cinema they've podcast this season.
-under the list you make your nominations (you can choose three)
-click submit!

It's so easy, a Unicorn can do it! Nominations close May 20th, so head over and choose what you think are the best shows SS has put out this season!