As some of you may realize, I’ve been both a fill-in co-host and guest on a show called Your Mac Life where my friends Shawn, J, and Lesa let me talk about the latest Mac-related news until we get tired of it all (approximately 2.5 hours). I enjoy being on the show very much, and if it weren’t for the fact that I live in Dayton, Ohio, and the show originates in Nashville, Tennessee, I’d probably be there a whole hell of a lot more.
For quite a while now I’ve been toying with the idea of doing my own podcast, not as a competitor to something like YML, but more of a “me too” kind of thing. If I can’t join ‘em there, I’ll supplement ‘em here. The reason I haven’t created a podcast yet is because I don’t know if anyone would really be interested. I have a rough idea of approximately how many people read this page regularly, and it ain’t that many, often times because I’m not motivated to write in the depth that some other bloggers are. Every now and again I have something original here, and it seems to get its share of attention. But generally, I hate to use this page to repeat points that are better articulated by others, and turning it into link-o-rama would be equally pointless. Talking, however, is a different matter. I can say more than I can write, and I can say it with other people presenting different viewpoints or counterpoints. I can do more humorous things in a podcast than I can in writing. The format just lends itself to greater spontaneity and more information conveyed for less work.
But… the world of podcasting seems to be chock full of everyone with a microphone and an opinion chatting about many of the same things. I don’t want to be someone here spinning my wheels and creating more noise when nobody may care. So I have some questions for the readers of this site, and I’d like to get your responses in the comments section. To control spammers, I moderate comments to weed out the nastiness that isn’t caught by the filter, but rest assured that I want your honest opinion and censoring negative comments to this post isn’t the kind of petty stupidity I care enough to engage in.
Would you listen? Do you have the time and interest to add one more podcast to your list? Is the technology news and opinion podcast genre pretty much full? What would you want to hear? What would you not want to hear? Am I over-thinking this? Is there something I haven’t considered? Submit a comment and let’s see where this goes.
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September 18th, 2006 at 10:28 pm
Personally, I think the idea of a podcast sounds great, and I’d even be willing to help out, somehow.
September 18th, 2006 at 10:35 pm
OK Mike, consider yourself included.
September 19th, 2006 at 12:04 am
I would listen at least 2 or 3 times. More if I liked it, but I’d commit to at least that many to give it a fair shot.
While I love YML, as far as podcasts go, I prefer the short form. Between 3 and 10 minutes. Think Geek Brief, or Rocketboom.
Don’t get bogged down in schedule. One of my favorite podcasts just went off the air, I think because of the pressure of doing it every week. But the beauty of a podcast is that it shows up whenever there is a new one. It doesn’t have to be regular. Every now and then is fine.
I say, go for it.
September 19th, 2006 at 5:58 am
Sure there are a lot of people talking, but most don’t know how to make it interesting. Even if someone else had the same info, I’d rather have the person who could make it interesting. I’d definitely give your podcast a listen.
September 19th, 2006 at 7:10 am
I listen to YML regularly and have enjoyed your appearances there. I would give your podcast a listen, yes. To keep me as a regular listener tho it would have to be a podcast about more general subjects. You would lose me it it was too technical. I say — Give it a try!
September 19th, 2006 at 8:57 am
I prefer short 20-30 minute podcasts.
Also, I might be able to help on the graphics front.
September 19th, 2006 at 11:26 am
Even if you only podcasted once a week, I would listen every day.
September 19th, 2006 at 3:05 pm
“Would you listen?”
Yes - I listen to most new podcasts at least once or twice if they are at least vaguely of interest to me.
“Do you have the time and interest to add one more podcast to your list?”
It’s my job.
“Is the technology news and opinion podcast genre pretty much full?”
Not with good, informative, entertaining podcasts it isn’t.
“What would you want to hear?”
What have you got to say?
“Am I over-thinking this?”
As usual - yes.
September 19th, 2006 at 6:28 pm
I would like to have another mac related podcast to listen to. You’ve got another listener here for at least 2 or 3 episodes. I even pledge to give some feedback as to why/whether I plan to add you to my regular rotation.
Thanks for the effort.
September 20th, 2006 at 11:10 am
Wow, the responses have been overwhelmingly positive, so we’re gonna put together an episode or three and see what happens. My friend Mike, the first responder to this post, lives here in Dayton and will participate in at least the first podcast with me. I’ve already begun collecting some material, and I think maybe we’ll record one this weekend.
As for format and timing, I agree with Loren that getting bogged down in a schedule would suffocate this podcast. The short form is probably more appropriate, and on an as-motivated basis. If I have an hour of stuff to talk about, it’ll be an hour. If I have 10 minutes, it’ll be 10 minutes. That takes some of the pressure to produce off me, and hopefully makes the podcast more interesting for you when it’s available.
And I appreciate the feedback and encouragement from the commenters so far. Thank you very much! Others are still welcome to pitch in, but I think the decision to try it a few times is pretty much set.
September 21st, 2006 at 12:20 pm
Go for it.
What I want to hear is more technical stuff. No offense to Shawn & Co but I think they pretty well have the general news stuff covered.
How about a a Aaron/Bynkii podcast??? Now that’s something I’d listen to.
September 21st, 2006 at 12:22 pm
The Aaron Adams / John Welch podcast is something being actively discussed.
September 21st, 2006 at 12:35 pm
Cool! Just no Dayton Slamming please
September 23rd, 2006 at 8:00 pm
I have enjoyed listening to you on YML and I would certainly give your podcast a try! There are not too many podcasts that seem to offer what I suspect you would be offering.
I really like some of more general “Mac” podcasts, but one with a slightly more technical tone would certainly be appreciated here.