That's your problem... don't be attracted to the format, be attracted to the content. Lots of people have already thrown in their $0.02 worth, and we actually have a dedicated podcast thread to share good podcasts. I think there are quite a few aspects that go into enjoying podcasts; you need the right time/place to enjoy them, the content has to be there, and it has to have reasonable production value. The first part is easy; where I fit it into my daily routine. Every week day I have a 25 minute commute in the morning, so I download the latest Adam Carolla podcast while I'm in the shower, then plug it into the Jeep while I drive into work. Then pick up where I left off on the drive back home. Then have it play on the house PA while I'm having a glass of wine and making dinner. That's pretty well it for the normal Monday to Friday. Other stuff I listen to when I'm busy working on something; woodworking, welding, wrenching on my car, etc. I'll either listen to podcasts in my earbuds under my sound suppressors if I'm in a noisy environment (thickness planers are loud, yo), or I have a portable battery powered Bose speaker that does a great job. It's not hard to go through 16-20 hours of Pod in a weekend. Last weekend I was painting and doing the trim work for my kitchen, and I ran the iPhone dry... had to go find/download new episodes. As to the content, well, that's way fucking easier said than done. It could be said that Adam Carolla really helped to pioneer the mainstream podcast movement. Sure, there were others that were there before him, but I think his transition from morning radio and LoveLine to his podcast really brought over a ton of his old listeners that normally wouldn't have been into podcasting. This attracted a whole bunch of attention, and the next thing you know, everyone and their brother is trying to do a podcast. How hard could it be, right? But what he had and brought with him that most others don't have, is the understanding of a show format. His podcasts have a structure, and it works very well for his show. I see similarities to blogging... when it first came about, there was a barrier to entry of having proper website hosting and software, so it wasn't easily attained by everyone. That meant you really had to be dedicated to doing it if you wanted to do it, and as a result there was a natural filter that helped to increase the signal:noise. Then the blogging software became readily available to anyone and everyone, and everyone and their brother started blogging. But they shouldn't have, because they had nothing of value to say... they were just blogging for the sake of blogging. It was almost all crap, and it became harder and harder to find those needles in the haystack that were worth the time to read. Same thing is going on with podcasting. It was initially somewhat difficult to do, technically, but then it became stupidly easy, and now everyone is doing it. Sure, some famous people are trying it because it's the "latest thing", and they see the success of a few big players, but they suck at it. If you listen to Chris Hardwick or Adam Carolla, they make it seem so fucking easy to do... when it's anything but. You need to be able to have great content and more importantly, an engaging way of delivering it on a podcast. Hardwick is probably the best I've ever seen at this. Listen to his discussions with the likes of Tom Hanks, or Jeff Bridges... guys that have been interviewed A LOT, and they are genuinely surprised at and enjoy the format that he follows, so much so that they rush to come back and do it again. He just has interesting conversations with his guests... in a somewhat free-flowing manner, that works very, very well. That, my friends, is an incredible skill to have, and very few people have it. You can have the most seasoned comedian that can play a stadium of people like a fiddle, but that doesn't translate into good podcasting. Marc Maron does a respectable job at it, Hardwick is probably the best, and a few others aren't bad at it. Penn Jillette does a good job at his podcasts, but that's because he's a great storyteller. And then there's the technical production aspects, that seem to get downplayed a lot. It's HARD to produce a good sounding podcast; the proper mics, the proper recording environment, sound levels, even simple transitions and stuff... there is some serious talent, practice, and experience that goes into that. If you're doing it from your laptop in your home office, it's going to sound rough, and not as enjoyable to the listener. A lot of podcasters seem to overlook the intimate nature of the podcast... I listen to a lot of them in my ear buds, not through ambient speakers, so you feel that much closer and intimate to the sound. You need to have the equivalent of a high-end studio recording to be pleasing, not some shitty bootleg live album sound, or people won't listen, regardless of the content.
Since we're talking podcasts,,,, Hardcore History is bad-fucking-ass. The 5 part Khan-Cast is steak tits. Also, and I'm sure I'm in the minority here...... But I watch Rogan's podcast on Youtube instead of listening to it. Its better. You ever see Rogan doing a pre UFC fight commentary show, and how animated the motherfucker gets? When that dude is interested in the subject, he gets animated. And its great to see. There is nothing worse when someone feigns excitement. Like when my wife gives me a nice ear to ear toothy smile when I ask for a Hand Jibber, but audibly sighs 12 seconds in to the 27 second odyssey because she could be doing more important shit like answering that gmail notification on her phone that is reminding her that my dick is too small. hashtag_spitonyourhandmydickischafed
nd Rogan is hilariously animated and fun to watch, he and Bas are the only two "voices" of the UFC that call things well and I don't want to kill with a shovel. I also appreciate he, unlike many celebrities, isn't afraid to flat-out insult douchebag actors in the worst (by that I mean best) possible way. But Redban? I could start a hate thread towards that schmuck that would read longer than The Divine Comedy. I have absolutely no clue why he's on that show, or any show, or why we even know he exists. Buzz-killing, joke-murdering twat.
I just recently started checking out some podcasts and one that I have found to be really interesting is Star Talk hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson. He's had some pretty interesting guests and normally has a comedian thrown into the mix as well to keep things from getting too stale. He's got a great blend of knowledge and enthusiasm, so it's not a pain to listen to him speak like it is with some of these other ones. Nice job on the new look of the forum too.
Tyson is a fantastic personality. I find him quick, funny, warm, and you don't have to question his intelligence considering he's an astrophysicist and cosmologist. He did a great job on Cosmos and never once have I seen him treat naysayers in a condescending or childish way. You think that would earn him a wide range of respect. Wrong. Here's an ex-VICE reporter and unhygienic xenophobe Gavin McInnes talking about how much he "hates" him along with a bunch of other typical network news fuckstains: ...I love how a misogynistic, homophobic, closeted racist English major can constantly prattle on about what an idiot a much-loved certifiable genius can be. It is fucking hilarious Tyson has SEVENTEEN honorary doctorates.
Vice is like the good, the bad, and the ugly of controversial "gritty" journalism. Can be entertaining, but preferably in small portions. I had to sit through four hours of meetings today. Yeah it was great. This desk beer helps. edit- It's friday. This is what friends are for.
Had a kinda shitty day, but I'm at home with a beer and off beat news: Texas woman smiles with pride after setting fire to yoga studio to get rid of the devils temple
That's my old yoga studio. People are freaking the fuck out. What a nutjob In other news, today was my last day. Commence the drink, drank, drunking.
I thought from the headline that it was a religious zealot who thinks yoga is evil, but it turns out to be about getting revenge on the owners.
Why not both? I can't see anyone who uses "devil's temple" in a statement not being some sort of religious nutjob.
Oh man, this chick: http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unf...admits_to_involvement_with_shooting_there.php
WAT. OF COURSE she did. This story is insane. She is completely delusional. I will put money down that not only was there never a shrink, but she was probably talking to a box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch.
She needs to be strapped down to a bed Sarah Conner-style and sedated with all the drugs in the entire hospital. All at once.
I just had a glancing blow with what could have been a very awkward situation. I get a text on my phone: Hey Misanthropic: Hey What's up? Misanthropic: That depends on who is asking Who do you think? As this brief exchange occurs a bunch of possibilities run through my mind - maybe a neighbor who I haven't added to my contact list yet, someone from the bar, a couple of friends form work . . . . Misanthropic: Someone who isn't in my contact list. Give me a clue. And then it hits me. It has to be one of my daughter's friends, who she sometimes texts from my phone. My replies could have gone several different ways. Good thing I was cautious.