A Short Podcasting Primer

We're speaking today with Tony Myers, creator and host of the highly innovative Old Man Radio podcast. Hailed by the critics and winner of numerous awards, Tony Myers has recently put the finishing touches on podcast number 12. He took a few minutes to speak with Dead Cat.

DC: Tony Myers, welcome. What's a podcast?

TM: Well, it's really just an audio file that can be downloaded from the internet.

DC: And played on an Ipod?

TM: No, you don't need an Ipod to play a podcast. You can play them on your computer or any portable audio device, or just burn them to a CD if you want to.

DC: A CD? Can you play CD's on an Ipod?

TM: No, I was just using that as an example. You see you don't need an Ipod to listen to podcasts. There are a number of different ways to listen to them.

DC: What if I don't have an Ipod. Can I still listen to podcasts?

TM: Like I said, you don't need an Ipod to listen to a podcast.

DC: How does that work exactly?

TM: There are a number of different ways to listen to audio files. You can listen to them on a computer, or a...look, never mind.

DC: But if I have an Ipod can I still listen to podcasts?

TM: Yes. Of course you can.

DC: Well I don't have an Ipod but let's say I wanted to listen to podcasts, what kind of an Ipod should I buy?

TM: Can we change the subject?

DC: Is there some special software I need to buy in addition to an Ipod before I can listen to podcasts?

TM: Can we please change the subject? You're starting to annoy me.

DC: Sure, but I just want to be clear on this. If I don't have an Ipod and I want to listen to...

TM: If you ask me one more question about Ipods I swear I'm going to get out of this chair and beat you up.

DC: Fair enough. Let's talk about your podcast. What kind of podcast is it?

TM: It's a music podcast. I don't have much of a life so I like to spend my free time surfin' around the net for free, downloadable music. It's what we like to call "Podsafe" music, meaning that it can be played royalty free on podcasts. When I find something I like I save a copy of it, and every now and then I gather up 6 or 7 of these songs and turn it into a podcast. Where I differ from most of the other music podcasts is that I don't play any headbanger music and I don't stick to any particular genres. I like to call it the best podsafe music from the quiet side of the internet.

DC: Sounds pretty dull to me. Does anybody actually listen?

TM: Yeah, suprisingly enough I do have some listeners. When I was turning them out on a more or less regular basis I had around 300 subscribers. Unfortunately, I let things slip and lost most of those listeners. It's a phenomenon called "Podfade", and a lot of podcasters have run into the same problem. The initial enthusiasm just sort of runs its course and then it becomes harder and harder to keep to any regular kind of schedule. Still, I'm suprised that even though I went about 8 months without putting out a podcast, I still got about 100 downloads on my most recent episode, and that's without any kind of promotion at all. It's amazing when you stop to think about it, and really shows that there is an audience out there just looking for something different.

DC: If you don't promote your podcasts then how people find them?

TM: That's what I've been asking myself. Of course, a lot of podcasters do promote their podcasts and have much larger audiences than mine. Hundreds of thousands, in fact. I don't how they find mine, though. I try to list myself in all the major directories, and fate just takes it from there.

DC: Have you thought about promoting it? Wouldn't you like to have a larger audience?

TM: Not really. Look, I'm just podcasting for the fun of it, and I certainly don't have any illusions about any potential bonanza's I might reap from it. Truth is, I'm not really a media type. That's not my personality at all. I mean podcasting is great if you're the type of person who really wants to break into showbiz and do some shtick. All you need is a microphone and a computer. I'm just happy that a hundred people out there like the music I'm playing, that's all, and I'm really not looking for fame and fortune. I'll probably do a couple more and then call it quits.

DC: And do what? Another podcast?

TM: Yeah maybe, or maybe I'll just keep posting to my blog. I enjoy that a lot more than podcasting anyways.

DC: You mean this blog?

TM: Yes, that's right.

DC: Don't you think it's a little strange that you're doing an interview with yourself on your own blog?

TM: I've done stranger things.

DC: Yes, I know.

TM: Yes, you would know, wouldn't you.

DC: What do you see as the future of podcasting? Is it just a fad?

TM: No. I've blogged about this before. The first step in podcasting was like the "proof of concept" phase. Just seeing if it could be done and working out all the little details. The next step was the "empire building" phase, which I believe is happening right now. Large podcasting conglomerates are emerging as podcasters find it necessary to spread out their costs and build reliable delivery mechanisms. You have to do that in order to promote and get accurate numbers that can be taken to potential advertisers. Once the conglomerates are in place then I think the "conquer the world" phase comes next. That's where the podcasters begin to challenge the big radio and TV companies and the "new" media gradually begins to replace the "established" media. That's still a long ways off, but I think that's the plan. Of course, after that, then it will just be a matter of time before someone else becomes the new "new" media, and it'll be their turn to try to topple the "old media" podcasting empires. Hmmm..., I wonder what that technology will be.

DC: Any guesses?

TM: Not a clue.

DC: Well thank you for talking with us tonight.

TM: My pleasure.