lurching forward

I managed to install skype today but I still need to test the recording capabilities. I purchased some skypeout time so I can test it tomorrow sometime. I don't anticipate any problems but you never know.
I worked on some questions for the podcasters I am going to interview for the first show. That reminds me I should probably put together a list of podcasters I want to interview. <-- Note to self
I also spent a little time working on a banner for the website. I realized just how much learning I will have to do to update the site when I looked at the blogger template and realized I didn't know where the hell to put the banner. It should be pretty trivial, HTML and CSS, but it will still take a little time to research and get right. The nice thing is that becuase I am starting from a blog it's easy to overcome the start-up effort and start posting. I can continually improve layout, switch providers, etc... as I go along. My experience has been that if I focus on style first substance takes a backseat. This is about as much coherent writing I can do right now. Time for bed

Tags: podcast

adjusted expectations

I have decided to adjust the date of the first show. Initially I wanted to release the first one in a bout 2 weeks. I now realize that while that is possible, it would likely be crap. The way I see it as long as I am moving forward, my goal should be to have the first show reach a certain level of quality. Namely that someone listening to the first show may actually be interested in listening to the next one. A good first impression greases the skids a bad first impression creates another obstacle to overcome.

Here are a few of the tasks that I have accomplished:

• Selected a podcast host and set up an account

I decided to go with Liberated Syndication, there may be better solutions but for $5 a month I can get a few shows up and not have to worry about bandwidth.

• Did a little research

Since Saturday I have listened to at least 20 different podcasts to try to get an idea for what works and what doesn’t. I will probably post some of my observations once I’ve had a chance to write them down. I think it is safe to say however that the entire continuum of quality is represented in podcasts.

• Requested an interview

I sent an email to one of the podcasters that I think is doing a great job. I don’t think they are going to respond but my approach may need a little work. I am not experienced in requesting or conducting interviews and that likely has something to do with why I haven’t heard back yet. In any case I think a ‘shotgun’ approach would be better. Firstly I am more likely to get a yes if I ask more than one person. Secondly, I figure the more interviews I can do (within reason) the more likely it is I will get something good out.

Here is what I would like to accomplish tomorrow

• Check out Skype

I think this is what I will use to record phone interviews and take comments. I just need to install it and become familiar with it before the first interview. I think that if someone is willing to give me their time the least I can do is be prepared enough to not waste it.

• Interview Jenny (my wife)

There are two things I want to try to get out of this interview. The first is some of her suggestions on conducting interviews. She has some experience with conduction interviews for oral histories so I figure she can give me some pointers. Secondly, I would like to get some of her thoughts on the show. Does she think it is a good idea? Why? Etc…

• Edit some of the audio I’ve already created

• Work out some interview questions for podcasters

Well, it’s getting late (for me) so I will turn in now, hopefully I will have some time to work on the show tomorrow.

Tags: podcast

concept

I was thinking about the topic for the show today and I realized that I keep going back and forth on whether or not the topic choice was a stroke of genius or a short-sighted mistake. Sometimes I think it is a bit too myopic in focus and that I will struggle to find enough interesting content to fill a show. At other times I am convinced the topic is amorphous enough to allow for an unlimited amount of diverse interviews and content. This is one of those times. So here is a note to the more pessimistic side of my nature. Please read this list if you begin to doubt the potential of the show:

• It is interesting because it focuses on the journey and not the destination
• If it moves, there's process somewhere in there
• If things change over time there is process in there somewhere
• If you run out of ideas your just not thinking hard enough

That should do it for know.

Tags: podcast

first post

This is the obligatory first post for this blog:

Purpose: Online accompanyment for the in process podcast
Content: Anything related to the show - pics, diagrams, comments, notes to self, notes to others etc...

Tags: podcast