Comments on: Podcasting http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/08/podcasting/ Personal Development for Smart People Sat, 09 May 2009 21:45:19 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: J Wynia http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/08/podcasting/comment-page-1/#comment-9246 J Wynia Tue, 06 Sep 2005 02:54:39 +0000 http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/08/podcasting/#comment-9246 John C., yours is a very valid reason for not listening to podcasts, just as would be someone's objection to blogs based on limited time at a computer. If the actual properties of podcasts don't match your situation, you *shouldn't* be listening to them. However, that's very different from saying that because the content is available in text format, there's no reason for them being in audio as well. I replied mostly because, while the underlying reasons behind your statement were rooted in your time and ability to have background sound, your statement echoed something I've heard in nearly every discussion of podcasting in the last 6 months: that spoken word podcasts are a replacement for text, which they are not for the vast majority of people listening to them. There is no one media, format, delivery mechanism, timing plan or solution that will work for everyone. Every single decision on those matters is, by definition, a decision to exclude *someone*. Those exclusions will include people who have very legitimate reasons for not being able to take advantage of the results, but trying to make everyone happy usually just results in the person making the effort being the one who's unhappy. John C., yours is a very valid reason for not listening to podcasts, just as would be someone’s objection to blogs based on limited time at a computer. If the actual properties of podcasts don’t match your situation, you *shouldn’t* be listening to them. However, that’s very different from saying that because the content is available in text format, there’s no reason for them being in audio as well. I replied mostly because, while the underlying reasons behind your statement were rooted in your time and ability to have background sound, your statement echoed something I’ve heard in nearly every discussion of podcasting in the last 6 months: that spoken word podcasts are a replacement for text, which they are not for the vast majority of people listening to them.

There is no one media, format, delivery mechanism, timing plan or solution that will work for everyone. Every single decision on those matters is, by definition, a decision to exclude *someone*. Those exclusions will include people who have very legitimate reasons for not being able to take advantage of the results, but trying to make everyone happy usually just results in the person making the effort being the one who’s unhappy.

]]> By: Markus http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/08/podcasting/comment-page-1/#comment-9168 Markus Wed, 31 Aug 2005 16:05:48 +0000 http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/08/podcasting/#comment-9168 Steve, I definitly would like to hear your content if it's new. But if I had to choose between written and spoken content I would take the written. If I could get both I would take both. I tried listening to some podcasts once, it was funny, but I dont have the patience to handle this manually, downloading every week (or set up the software correctly). I would need it in my car, not at home, so "click and hear" is not an option. I would prefer to download a big chunk, maybe one or two hours, then burn on CD and take away. By the way: Thank you very much for your free content! I read it all and I like it. Publish your book and I will buy it :-) Steve, I definitly would like to hear your content if it’s new. But if I had to choose between written and spoken content I would take the written. If I could get both I would take both. I tried listening to some podcasts once, it was funny, but I dont have the patience to handle this manually, downloading every week (or set up the software correctly). I would need it in my car, not at home, so “click and hear” is not an option. I would prefer to download a big chunk, maybe one or two hours, then burn on CD and take away.
By the way: Thank you very much for your free content! I read it all and I like it. Publish your book and I will buy it :-)

]]> By: John C. http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/08/podcasting/comment-page-1/#comment-9159 John C. Wed, 31 Aug 2005 06:36:12 +0000 http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/08/podcasting/#comment-9159 J. Wynia, I hear you. It's just that my life is not structured in a way that's conducive to listening to podcasts. To take your list as an example, I spend very little time doing the first three things you cite -- a couple hours a week, maybe, and much of that time I'm already socializing. And my leisure activities are generally not suited to listening to something in the background. So, from a selfish perspective, I don't see podcasts doing me much good. That's just me. I don't listen to the radio much, either. J. Wynia, I hear you. It’s just that my life is not structured in a way that’s conducive to listening to podcasts. To take your list as an example, I spend very little time doing the first three things you cite — a couple hours a week, maybe, and much of that time I’m already socializing. And my leisure activities are generally not suited to listening to something in the background.

So, from a selfish perspective, I don’t see podcasts doing me much good. That’s just me. I don’t listen to the radio much, either.

]]> By: J Wynia http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/08/podcasting/comment-page-1/#comment-9140 J Wynia Tue, 30 Aug 2005 13:46:16 +0000 http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/08/podcasting/#comment-9140 "I can’t imagine why I’d prefer to take the time to listen to a linear exposition of something that I could read in a fraction of the time." This is a common misunderstanding of podcasting in general. They are NOT a replacement for reading text. It's a reasonable misunderstanding because podcasts and blogs currently have huge content overlap. However, podcasts are almost exclusively used in contexts where reading the text version is either impractical or downright dangerous. I listen to podcasts while: * Driving (reading is dangerous and even illegal in many places) * Doing menial, repetative computing tasks that don't require my active thinking, but DO require my eyes to be busy scanning through something. My eyes are busy, but my mind and ears are not. * Doing physical chores like mowing the lawn, cleaning my house, filing in my office, cooking, etc. My hands and eyes are busy doing the work, but my ears and mind aren't necessarily actively engaged. * Doing active leisure activities like cycling, walking my dogs, etc. In all reality, most podcasts are much more likely to displace music listening and radio than anything printed or textual. I've been listening to about 3-4 hours of podcasts a day myself for a couple of weeks, but still read all of the sites I used to, read all of the book content I used to (just committed to reading 100 printed pages a day for the next 30 in fact), etc. However, now, I've also heard interesting content from lots of sources, *in addition* to the content I read. I wrote about this whole "Will Technology A replace Technology B?" question a few days ago: http://www.wynia.org/wordpress/2005/08/28/will-audio-books-displace-text/ “I can’t imagine why I’d prefer to take the time to listen to a linear exposition of something that I could read in a fraction of the time.”

This is a common misunderstanding of podcasting in general. They are NOT a replacement for reading text. It’s a reasonable misunderstanding because podcasts and blogs currently have huge content overlap. However, podcasts are almost exclusively used in contexts where reading the text version is either impractical or downright dangerous.

I listen to podcasts while:

* Driving (reading is dangerous and even illegal in many places)
* Doing menial, repetative computing tasks that don’t require my active thinking, but DO require my eyes to be busy scanning through something. My eyes are busy, but my mind and ears are not.
* Doing physical chores like mowing the lawn, cleaning my house, filing in my office, cooking, etc. My hands and eyes are busy doing the work, but my ears and mind aren’t necessarily actively engaged.
* Doing active leisure activities like cycling, walking my dogs, etc.

In all reality, most podcasts are much more likely to displace music listening and radio than anything printed or textual.

I’ve been listening to about 3-4 hours of podcasts a day myself for a couple of weeks, but still read all of the sites I used to, read all of the book content I used to (just committed to reading 100 printed pages a day for the next 30 in fact), etc. However, now, I’ve also heard interesting content from lots of sources, *in addition* to the content I read.

I wrote about this whole “Will Technology A replace Technology B?” question a few days ago:
http://www.wynia.org/wordpress/2005/08/28/will-audio-books-displace-text/

]]> By: julien http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/08/podcasting/comment-page-1/#comment-9094 julien Tue, 30 Aug 2005 05:57:46 +0000 http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/08/podcasting/#comment-9094 steve, i produce a podcast and so, might be a bit biased (i already listen to quite a few), but i would very much enjoy receiving audio content to amplify your blog posts. the two can act in synchronicity as well... blog readers might move to your podcast, and so vice-versa. i listen to another podcast at mediaartist.com which is somewhat similar to your podcast. not quite personal development, but check it out, it'll give you an idea of what's out there. i subscribe to that and to jeditrainer.com, and would welcome your podcast among my regulars. steve,

i produce a podcast and so, might be a bit biased (i already listen to quite a few), but i would very much enjoy receiving audio content to amplify your blog posts. the two can act in synchronicity as well… blog readers might move to your podcast, and so vice-versa.

i listen to another podcast at mediaartist.com which is somewhat similar to your podcast. not quite personal development, but check it out, it’ll give you an idea of what’s out there. i subscribe to that and to jeditrainer.com, and would welcome your podcast among my regulars.

]]> By: Joe Briefcase. http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/08/podcasting/comment-page-1/#comment-9045 Joe Briefcase. Mon, 29 Aug 2005 23:05:41 +0000 http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/08/podcasting/#comment-9045 Look forward to hearing them. I think this is a much better option than your paid audio idea, but it will still end up in gain for you. I agree, so far, with your assertion that there is little in the way of personal development Podcasting out there and I would look forward to hearing yours and recommending them to others. In response to your informal market research.... I actually think 20 is the limit, and probably a bit long. The Podcasts most useful for me are small ones, which I download and listen in groups on my iPod (which I plug into the car). Longer ones, like the news programs I download, I tend to neglect. I see the postcast as supplemental.... not an end unto itself. That can change, so perhaps you do longer "Specials" of special programs so your positioned for the big time if you crash thru. The Podcasting world is attracting sponsorship now and a lot of new ears. You might want to show you can do the long form program, but work the smaller more practical angle for the most part. That's what people will listen. My favorite podcast, unfortunately, is defunct now, but they were Spanish lessons and tips that lasted about 7-10 minutes each. They mixed up the content and they were very very useful and easy to use. Good luck. Look forward to hearing them. I think this is a much better option than your paid audio idea, but it will still end up in gain for you. I agree, so far, with your assertion that there is little in the way of personal development Podcasting out there and I would look forward to hearing yours and recommending them to others.

In response to your informal market research….

I actually think 20 is the limit, and probably a bit long. The Podcasts most useful for me are small ones, which I download and listen in groups on my iPod (which I plug into the car). Longer ones, like the news programs I download, I tend to neglect. I see the postcast as supplemental…. not an end unto itself.

That can change, so perhaps you do longer “Specials” of special programs so your positioned for the big time if you crash thru. The Podcasting world is attracting sponsorship now and a lot of new ears. You might want to show you can do the long form program, but work the smaller more practical angle for the most part. That’s what people will listen.

My favorite podcast, unfortunately, is defunct now, but they were Spanish lessons and tips that lasted about 7-10 minutes each. They mixed up the content and they were very very useful and easy to use.

Good luck.

]]> By: Manuel http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/08/podcasting/comment-page-1/#comment-9038 Manuel Mon, 29 Aug 2005 21:48:58 +0000 http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/08/podcasting/#comment-9038 An audio version of one of your written articles would be a great place to start. Personally, I would make use of both versions. Voice coveys enthusiasm best, but text is best for digging deeper into a topic later. An audio version of one of your written articles would be a great place to start. Personally, I would make use of both versions.

Voice coveys enthusiasm best, but text is best for digging deeper into a topic later.

]]> By: SuzyQ http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/08/podcasting/comment-page-1/#comment-9030 SuzyQ Mon, 29 Aug 2005 20:42:46 +0000 http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/08/podcasting/#comment-9030 I think the most useful thing for me would be a practical exercises, maybe guided mediations, visualizations etc. I would be really interested in that. I think the optimal duration is 15 to 20 minutes. I imagine it to be something each of us would do every day as an exercise, because it's a lot easier to be guided in meditation, especially for beginners. I think the most useful thing for me would be a practical exercises, maybe guided mediations, visualizations etc. I would be really interested in that. I think the optimal duration is 15 to 20 minutes. I imagine it to be something each of us would do every day as an exercise, because it’s a lot easier to be guided in meditation, especially for beginners.

]]> By: Kay Ballard http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/08/podcasting/comment-page-1/#comment-8999 Kay Ballard Mon, 29 Aug 2005 19:42:00 +0000 http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/08/podcasting/#comment-8999 I would encourage you to give podcasting a try. My preference would be a length of 30-40 minutes. As a format, I would suggest a weekly podcast demonstrating your ability to work with a real person. I would encourage you to give podcasting a try. My preference would be a length of 30-40 minutes. As a format, I would suggest a weekly podcast demonstrating your ability to work with a real person.

]]> By: Scott http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/08/podcasting/comment-page-1/#comment-8998 Scott Mon, 29 Aug 2005 19:33:21 +0000 http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/08/podcasting/#comment-8998 Rob makes a good point. Maybe a text version of your audio content would be nice seeing as audio is good, but some people may not want to bother listening to get the message. Might save you some bandwidth for people that don't really care about the difference between text and voice? Rob makes a good point. Maybe a text version of your audio content would be nice seeing as audio is good, but some people may not want to bother listening to get the message. Might save you some bandwidth for people that don’t really care about the difference between text and voice?

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