Monday, December 31, 2007

Learning to Podcast

Let's make it an official New Year resolution: I will produce a monthly Bean Sprouts podcast throughout 2008. I've already started getting to grips with the technological side - I've recorded myself reciting very silly poetry into my laptop via a microphone, and played it back on my iPod. But I also want to learn about what makes a really good podcast. One that will add a new dimension for regular Bean Sprouts readers, and hopefully attract scads of new readers.

I listen regularly to two green podcasts: Wiggly Wigglers' and Treehugger's. And I use podcasts to listen to radio programmes after they have aired. But I can't say I'm really an expert who has spent hours listening to all kinds of podcasts. I'd like to correct that, and I need your help.

So what are your favourite podcasts, green or otherwise? And why?

9 comments:

Ted Marshall said...

I'm a podcast virgin, so don't have any favourites yet. Looking forward to yours!

Unknown said...

I love Emma's weekly AKG podcasts and it's not only because I've been in a few of them! They give lots of useful information on growing fruit/veg/herbs/composting and more.
http://www.coopette.com/akg

If you look at Emma's article page there is a link to an article about how to start a podcast. http://www.bkserv.net/LFC/article.aspx?ArticleID=115

Hope that helps, look forward to hearing yours too.

Melanie Rimmer said...

Fantastic! Emma has a podcast. How did I miss that? Righto - I've subscribed to that now. Cheers, Madeleine.

Anonymous said...

i've got to be honest. Podcasts fill me with dread. For a long time, the internet has been a level playing field for the deaf, because its mostly been visual. Now that podcasts are becoming more available, and youtube is taking off, there are more and more segments of the net that just aren't available to people like me. (at least with youtube vids you can sign to the video, that i will grant). And the majority of podcasts/videos aren't subtitled or transcribed. I don't want to put a dampner on your enthusiasm for a podcast, they're great things for the hearing, just.. would you consider doing a transcription as well? please? pretty please?

thankyou!

Melanie Rimmer said...

That's an interesting point Kethry. First of all I can assure you that the podcast will be an addition to the text-based blog, not a replacement for it. I'm envisaging a monthly podcast alongside the daily (or even more frequently) updated blog. The idea of transcribing it doesn't appeal to me much, as I know how long transcription takes. But I'll certainly consider it since you asked so nicely.

Anonymous said...

My favorite Podcasts are also radio shows that I listen to after the fact. They are generally either interviews with interesting people OR they are very funny. So far, I've not subscribed to any green podcasts, but I'd certainly subscribe to yours.

Unknown said...

If you want to have a practice run you could record a guest spot for my podcast (http://www.coopette.com/akg).

It's also useful to have a short promo recorded - other people can play it in their podcasts so that you get some publicity :)

Anonymous said...

mel - regarding transcribing.. maybe see how they go, how long they take. I can certainly understand that you have vastly better things to do than sitting there typing out something (hell, i would too) so if it does take too long then i do understand. And, from my perspective, as long as its an add-on rather than an instead-of, then i wouldn't be missing out on much :) thankyou for considering it though!!

keth
xx

Unknown said...

While I remember, anyone who is interested in podcasting should pop along to the Tea and Podcast Forum (http://www.teaandpodcasts.com/forum/), where all the UK podcasters hang out (which is not to say that podcasters elsewhere in the world are not welcome!).