Starting a Podcast/Live show – Feedback appreciated

Like this but with long hair. And in color.
Like this but with long hair. And in color.

So, for a very long time now I’ve been interested in starting a podcast.  Mostly because it seems like the perfect way to grow an audience and create more space for my public intellectualism, but partially because I used to do a vlog and I really enjoyed it.  I quit, however, because it brought so much harassment down on me that I couldn’t cope at the time.  I am ready to try it again.

If anyone has any thoughts, especially on the tech side of things, I’m interested in hearing them.

The idea as it stands right now is as follows, which is still very flexible:

The Intersectional Atheist: Dismantling Media, Culture, and Politics

What: A discussion of current political, media, and cultural events from an intersectional and atheist perspective.  Intersectionality is the study of how different kinds of oppression interact.  Focused on the ways in which race, class, gender, sexuality, religion, and geography interact to create systems of oppression — in the media and in the law.

Featuring three 10 minute discussions

  1. Political/Legal current events
  2. Media representation issue
  3. Guest choice

When: Weekly (Monday evenings est?)

Where: Google+ hangout on air to podcast

Who: Me and at least one other host a week

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Starting a Podcast/Live show – Feedback appreciated
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17 thoughts on “Starting a Podcast/Live show – Feedback appreciated

  1. 1

    Cool! I would totally listen.

    The only suggestion I’d have, which is on my mind because I just listened to a podcast today that did this, is to not talk about the show on the show, especially at the beginning. There’s nothing more annoying when trying to listen to a podcast than the host talking about the show itself for several minutes. Yes, your show is interesting, Yes, there will be good things on your show. I do not need to be told this, because I am already listening to your show. Just get on with the show! *ahem*

    Anyway, sounds neat. Especially if you also offer an audio-only version.

    1. 2.1

      The Hangout format seems like you could do some really cool things with extended conversations. Like have the meat of the show be the first 30 minutes and then invite watchers to call into the hangout and participate in a conversation after the main conversation. I’m not sure yet, but it seems like potentially neat stuff.

  2. 4

    I’d listen, but using Google hangouts for it makes me immediately apprehensive.

    I listen to quite a few podcasts, but none of them are done with google hangouts. I’ve heard a few that are, and never subscribe to them because they sound like shit and are annoying to listen to. Google hangouts, being both audio and video means the participants are looking at each other and more likely to use shitty laptop microphones, there’s always someone with a noisy laptop/someone who types so that it sounds like a stampede of elephants, and lots of different volume levels so you’re straining to hear one person and then deafened by the next.

    Pretty sure every hangout based podcast I’ve heard to date has been completely unedited, too.

    And lastly, a podcast is something you should be able to subscribe to via iTunes/RSS and have automatically downloaded to your computer/portable media player so it’s ready to be listened to while out and about. Hangouts rarely appear anywhere except on blog posts.

    Sorry to be so negative, but I think it’s valuable feedback. You’ll get a lot of people who are already active readers and commenters on your blog, they’re already invested in you, but new comers will be far less tolerant of a shitty sounding, poorly edited not-really-a-podcast, and if they don’t already read and comment here, I doubt they’re going to tell you why they’re not going to listen again.

  3. 5

    Hey Ashley, Steve here from A Matter of Doubt. I would be happy to help you with your podcast. Let me know if you have any questions. I remember the most difficult thing for us getting started was getting the RSS feed working. So don’t ask me about that, we had someone help us with that. I think you will find that there are many different ways to podcast, but I can at least tell you how we do things.

  4. 7

    Editing is kind of a big deal if you want to sound professional enough to draw in new listeners. I agree with fwtbc up there. Posting Hangouts to YouTube is a great, low impact way to communicate with your existing audience, and might draw in a few from YouTube recommendations. If you’re after a new audience from people browsing iTunes and the other podcast aggregators I’d recommend tailoring your production to the medium. Talk to the Godless Bitches about their set up (I think they use Skype, and don’t do a ton of editing.) http://godlessbitches.podbean.com/

    See also http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/learn-podcast-editing-basics-garageband-mac/ or http://youtu.be/Dk41a0BneHI or something like it for an idea of what goes into a podcast with an intro and some canned audio. That said, based on your description, I’d tune in.

  5. 8

    Greеtings! I’ve been reading your web site for a while
    now аnԁ finally got the bravery to go ahead and give you a shout out from Porter Texas!
    Just wanted to tell уou keep up the great job!

  6. 9

    Havе you ever considered creаting an e-book oг guest
    authoring on other websіtes? I have a blog centered
    on the same topics you disdcuss and would love to haѵe you share some stories/information.
    I know my audience would value your work. If you’re еven remotely іntereѕted, feel free to shoot me an email.

  7. 12

    Have you ever thought about adding a little bit more than just your
    articles? I mean, what you say is valuable and everything.
    However just imagine if you added some great
    images or videos to give your posts more, “pop”! Your content is excellent but with pics and clips, this website could definitely be one of the greatest in its field.

    Amazing blog!

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