Podcasters’ Emporium: Let the Revolution Begin

I have had the most amazing few weeks in relation to podcasting. Last night I recorded the first of many podcasts that I am going to be doing with James Williams of the LifeStyle PodNetwork. The show is called Podcasters’ Emporium. But that is the end and the beginning of a journey.

James and I have been talking for a while about many things but we usually end up talking about something to do with podcasting. There has been a gradual hatching of a plan that we probably did not see coming but now that we have come this far we are glad we did.

James was struggling with trying to find a vision and a path for his show. We had so many discussions about it, I kept coming up with ideas and suggestions. My motivations were a tad selfish in that I was really wanting a podcast out there for podcasters. A show full of tips, tricks, advice and interviews. So yeah I was pushing him in that direction. The reason being is that I believed that he could pull it off! The other reason was and is that there is a great need for a podcast like that in the podcasting space. Just go and take a look at the podcasts on podcasting in iTunes.

So we decided to relaunch Podcasters’ Emporium with a difference, a podcast for podcasters with a vision to build a quality community full of podcasters from all over the globe and strive to be a “go-to” resource for the community. But James wanted me to co-host, easy decision.

Much of what else I would want to say was said at the first recording of the show together which will be episode 10. The energy and the enthusiasm for this project is huge and it comes out in the podcast. We have some great stories and ideas. I am so excited about it. So take a listen and find out why it will be worth listening to.

If you are a podcaster, you need to listen to Podcasters’ Emporium. Not only that, we don’t want a passive audience, we are committed to building this community and making it a valuable resource and not for us; for you. There are details in the first show about how you can become involved and be a part of the community.

Also check out the show synopsis before the fist show is launched tomorrow.

The Revolution Starts Now. Your going to love it!

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Huge Global Geek This Week!

If you are a regular reader of the rail you would have noticed that all goes quiet on on Rooster’s Rail from about Sunday through Tuesday. Give or take. Well the reason is that I am usually recording, editing, uploading and writing show notes for The Global Geek Podcast. No time for blogging.

The podcast is out early this week! So here I am on a Monday night blogging and it feels great. Although it might not happen every week! I have refined just how I do things a bit better now. I or I should say we now as Knightwise has decided to join The Global Geek Podcast as a regular co-host and partner in crime and infamy! That is huge and I am very, grateful for his belief in the podcast and that he wants to be a part of it. Anyway, it looks like we can meet on-line and get the show recorded in about one hour and 10 minutes. That means that I can edit the show the same night and finish it the next day. We are hoping to streamline the details behind the scenes even further to cut down on time.

I heard a podcast the other day that said for every minute that you record and broadcast means four minutes of time. That’s time researching the stories, recording, editing, uploading and writing show notes. So my podcast is about an hour. That works out to be four hours. That is about right if things went smoothly. Which they never do. In addition it does not take into account my OCD and my attention to detail if not perfection. So suffice to say it takes longer than that! (a lot longer…)

I think the show is great this week. The content is good and we announce a sponsor for the show. We feel privileged to have the support of a company and we hope to do them proud of their association with podcasting. This is important. Companies and businesses need to feel that they have confidence in podcasting and podcasters to deliver. Otherwise we won’t get the support that makes shows like ours possible; or networks like

We are very excited about this show and for that reason you should check it out. Make sure you listen in to be in the running to win stuff! It is a celebration of our 20th show!! In addition check out the links at the bottom of the show notes to download for free the music that was used in the podcast for that week. Have a listen to the previous shows as well, same applies; the details are at the end of the show notes for each show. Great song this week called “Alone” – it is the backing track at the end of the show. Check it out, great song.

I am not going to tell you everything about the show, I have to give you some reasons for listening! So go have a listen and a laugh with us.

Damn, I love podcasting!

Global Geek Podcast Stats

I was surprised to find that someone reached the Rooster’s Rail today by entering the following search term into Google:

“global geek podcast subscription stats”

I am assuming that the individual that used this term was perhaps considering the co-host spot, maybe… Perhaps they might be thinking that it is statistics that make a good podcast?

I would rather that the show was judged on the content and quality of it rather than by the statistics that it generates. That is after all what counts in my opinion. That said I am sure the whole dynamic of the show will change some what, with a new co-host. So if you think you can make a difference then judge not on what the figures might show you, rather your gut and what you hear. Then if you think you might be interested then talk to me, I won’t bite.

Oh, and let me save you the trouble of searching some more. The statistics for The Global Geek Podcast are not public. They never were and never will be. Statistic information is for members of The Podcast Network only and reside on secure servers. This is the case for all podcasts on The Podcast Network.

Rally the Podcast Community

One of the reasons that I love podcasting so much is the fact that behind all the productions is a community of great people. This is a group of people united by a common purpose and usually are only too happy to help fellow podcasters.

Despite the range of topics that we cover as podcasters, our styles and personalities or whatever we are all working towards the same thing. That is to have our say, be a voice, further the industry and get the word out to those that don’t know about the great medium called podcasting. Podcasters are in it for podcasting. Plus it is a hoot.

The Internet is a funny beast. I have made an observation. Some bit of news happens, sure those at the front line see it first and blog about it or notice it in searches. This is the first wave, this can still take a few days to happen. Then over about the next three to five days, depending on how big the story is; it reaches “critical mass” within the blogosphere. What’s that I hear you ask. It is that point at which you start to see trackbacks, the information gets disseminated and talked about. Whatever it is becomes more “news worthy” (whatever that is!). This happens on a smaller scale as well.

So I posted my plea for a new co-host on the 5th of September. At first I got nothing, no links no replies to the story. I publicised it a bit more on forums and kind people have linked to the story at my request. Now yesterday and today I am starting to see the effect of that. Incidentally, four days have passed. So the take home message there is; don’t loose heart if you are breaking a big story or have written an exceptional post or advertising something you want to sell, wait for critical mass.

So today I have recieved a response from a forum, the comments in The Global Geek Podcast Blog. In addition I got a pleasant surprise this morning when I checked the blogs and I noticed that there were two trackbacks to my post for a co-host.

So thank you to PodcastNYC.net for carrying the story. This is a pure example of a fellow podcaster seeing a comrade in need and helping out. Here it does not matter that we are from different networks or production style or whatever else might separate us. It is this sense of community that is evident, that which is important. This is the essence of community network that the Internet both facilitates and engineers as time goes on. It is one of the best aspects of what the Internet can do for you. I can see no other reason for the proliferation of engineered social networks on the net.

The other trackback I found this morning was from Podcasting Jobs Podcast. I have touched on the issues that Jon Watson raises before and indeed during this effort to find a new co-host:

“To date, nobody has put together a real concerted effort to provide a “podcasting classifieds” type thing. Some podcasting sites have job sections, but they’re generally pretty sparse.”

This is a niche that is yet to be filled. I will add that if it is filled, would it be done right? It will only work if it is supported by the community and the services that are offered are slick, inexpensive (or free). A social network for podcasters? We certainly need a space that offers:

• Connections
• Sources of information
• How to’s
• Potential Advertisers
• Support
• I need… [a new co-host]
• Where to find podcasting resources like music

To name but a few examples that I can think of. However Jon goes on to say:

“The lack of podcasting job sites isn’t a reflection on the services, rather it’s a reflection of the space right now.”

I fully agree, until podcasting is more accessible to the masses and “trusted” by advertisers, the potential marketing value will be limited to a few.

So thanks guys for the vote of confidence and the support, keep it up and remember to let me know of anyone that might be interested in the “job” as long as they don’t mind they are doing it for nothing! Don’t worry I do it for free as well.

People are Lazy and In Limbo

Well it has been a few days since I posted my plea for a new co-host. Up until today when I posted an entry onto The Podcast Homepage I had had no replies. None at all. To tell the truth I am very surprised, I thought I would have had least a couple of responses of enquiry. But nope.

I remembered a while ago another podcaster (who shall remain nameless) said to me that;

“…people are lazy”

Maybe that is the reason that I have not had any enquiries? But to tell the truth I don’t want anyone that could not be bothered dropping me an email or an Odeo. It is not that hard and I don’t think that I am asking too much. But maybe I am asking too much, so to revise things: If you are interested in being the new co-host on The Global Geek Podcast then do something to get in touch with me, via any means you feel is appropriate.

One other consideration that Adam (another mate) told me not so long ago is that because I am involved in podcasting then I assume that a lot of people know about the medium, but they don’t. Podcasting is new media and is yet to make it mainstream. So maybe my request is falling on ears that don’t have a clue what I am talking about. Rather than me raving on about what podcasting is why not go and have a look at the Wiki for it.

Still I thought that I would be sifting through people wanting to be the next co-host. I thought I would have had more responses. I have plastered it all over the net, well in the places that I frequent. But nothing. The other thing is that there are no resources out there for podcasters to sources things like a co-host from! That makes it hard. So if anyone knows somewhere I could go to post a cry for a new co-host then let me know!

Essentially though people are lazy. As a podcaster I don’t get much feedback for the show. Although it is very easy to do so. Maybe the show doesn’t motivate people to comment. But I can tell you that it makes my day to get a comment or better still an Odeo comment that I can play on the show. Feedback is part of what makes it all worth it. So a message out there to listeners – let your podcaster know you like the show or what they can do better!

So I am still in limbo. I have had a few nibbles from different people. One bloke in particular is works in IT, I sent him off an email today in response to a comment that he left on the podcast blog. One funny thing is that he suggested that we get together for a coffee, he is in Victoria, Australia. For those that don’t know, that is the other end of the country to me! Some people don’t know this but my resigning co-host and myself have never meet in real life. We meet on-line, organised the podcast and started it, all without meeting in real life! So I wrote to this guy, at the other end of Oz and said sure, love to have a coffee… but it would have to be a virtual one over Skype! Strange concept but totally do’able in my opinion, and with video should be fun. There is no reason why it has to be in person when you have the video as well. I look forward to hearing back from him. Time will tell.

I am finding the uncertaintity a little difficult, I am not sure what I am going to do if I don’t find anyone over the next week. Although I do have Knightwise who has offered to do a show with me. My brother James has also offered to come and do a show on security, email and life as a system administrator. I also have one or two options up my sleeve, so that might cover it for a month. What after that, I am not sure.

In limo till then… Feel free to contact me to ask questions or chat about what the co-hosting involves.