123 Podcast Answer Man – A Patent For Podcasting?
August 26, 2009 by Cliff Ravenscraft
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Podcast Answer Man Episode 123
A Patent For Podcasting?
In this episode, I share some shocking news in the world of podcasting. There has been a story posted that states that a Californian company receives patent for Podcasting.
I share what this article says, the response from the company who has been awarded the patent in question, and my thoughts on the whole thing.
I think the main thing to take away from this episode is that this isn’t anything we should be losing sleep over just yet. We’ll keep our eye on this story.
Discuss podcasting with other listeners in the Podcast Answer Man section of the gspn.tv Community Forum.
EQUIPMENT SALES: Please consider purchasing from me when making your next purchase for audio gear to improve the sound of your podcast. Email me at Cliff@Ravenscraft.org or call me at 859-757-1399.
PODCAST CONSULTING: I’m also available for one on one podcast consulting. Whether you want someone to get everything set up for you or you just need a little help along the way, I’d love to work with you. I’m able to demonstrate using screen sharing technology during our call which makes it just like I was there sitting next to you at the computer. If you are interested, email me at Cliff@Ravenscraft.org or call me at 859-757-1399.
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122 Podcast Answer Man – Audio Editing Software For Podcasters
August 19, 2009 by Cliff Ravenscraft
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Podcast Answer Man Episode 122
Audio Editing Software For Podcasters
In this episode:
* Nick called to mention Mail Chimp as an option for mailing lists.
* Jonathan shared some additional insight on naming schemes.
* Jonathan also shared some thoughts on other businesses poaching from Twitter Followers List.
* My thoughts on Audio Editing Software For Podcasters. Audacity is Free. Adobe Audition is my favorite. For the Mac I suggest either GarageBand or Sound Studio.
* Wayne Henderson called in about an episode of another podcast that I produce where I talked about rechargeable batteries. I share my thoughts on how I’ve saved 100’s of dollars using NiMH rechargeable batteries.
* I wrap up the episode with an amazing testimonial that I was blessed to have received this past week. You can see it at the top of the Recommendations Page.
Discuss podcasting with other listeners in the Podcast Answer Man section of the gspn.tv Community Forum.
EQUIPMENT SALES: Please consider purchasing from me when making your next purchase for audio gear to improve the sound of your podcast. Email me at Cliff@Ravenscraft.org or call me at 859-757-1399.
PODCAST CONSULTING: I’m also available for one on one podcast consulting. Whether you want someone to get everything set up for you or you just need a little help along the way, I’d love to work with you. I’m able to demonstrate using screen sharing technology during our call which makes it just like I was there sitting next to you at the computer. If you are interested, email me at Cliff@Ravenscraft.org or call me at 859-757-1399.
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121 Podcast Answer Man – 100 Point Podcast Evaluation
August 12, 2009 by Cliff Ravenscraft
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Podcast Answer Man Episode 121
100 Point Podcast Evaluation
In this episode Nick Padley called in about an Update to Garage Band. As it turns out, they added an option to turn off the auto-normalize process when exporting your recordings to mp3.
Jerrica was in our live chat room and asked me to share my thoughts on on Audacity as an audio editing program program.
I share a story news item that says Skype might have to shut down because of a dispute over the core technology used to make the Internet telephone system work. Of course I share that I don’t think this will really ever happen.
Wayne called in to share some additional thoughts on mixing audio and video in the same rss feeds.
I end the show by announcing a brand new service that I’m offering here through my Podcast Answer Man consulting business. Please contact me if you are interested in a 100 Point Evaluation of Your Podcast. Full details are mentioned in this episode. Or if you like, feel free to contact me and I’ll explain how it all works.
Discuss podcasting with other listeners in the Podcast Answer Man section of the gspn.tv Community Forum.
EQUIPMENT SALES: Please consider purchasing from me when making your next purchase for audio gear to improve the sound of your podcast. Email me at Cliff@Ravenscraft.org or call me at 859-757-1399.
PODCAST CONSULTING: I’m also available for one on one podcast consulting. Whether you want someone to get everything set up for you or you just need a little help along the way, I’d love to work with you. I’m able to demonstrate using screen sharing technology during our call which makes it just like I was there sitting next to you at the computer. If you are interested, email me at Cliff@Ravenscraft.org or call me at 859-757-1399.
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Following My Passion Has Changed My Life
August 12, 2009 by Cliff Ravenscraft
I have to admit to you that there were times when I worried if leaving my career in insurance was a responsible decision for me and my family. I mean I had absolutely no idea how I was going to earn a living at the time (Sept – Dec 2007).
I simply knew that podcasting came along, over the course of a few months, any passion I had for my career as an insurance agent had dissipated. Dreams of podcasting full-time as a career became seeds that eventually took root and refused to stop growing in my heart.
I remember reading books that said things like “Pursue your passion and the money will follow.” I heard other folks talk about things like “meaningful work.” I remember just how hard it was to get over the idea that you had to “hate what your doing” for it to be considered “work.”
The truth was that spending 40 to 60 hours of my life, each week, devoted to nothing more than bringing home a paycheck was making me miserable. Listeners from the gspn.tv community had been urging me with thoughts that I could find some way of doing podcasting as a career, but honestly I had a hard time wrapping my mind around that. However, one day, my wife actually came to me and said, “You need to quit your job and do podcasting full-time.” This was the day my life changed forever!
There was little doubt that podcasting as a career would allow me to focus on my core talents and abilities. Not to mention fulfilling what I had come to understand as my core purposes in life.
I’ve learned that if I passionately believe in something, I can probably sell it to just about anyone. There’s no doubt that I have the heart of a teacher. I love to find creative ways to teach things that most people believe they’ll never be able to learn. In fact, my original major in college was going to lead me down the path as a teacher. In June of 1996, I felt a serious call to Christian ministry. Never a full-time pastor type of position, but instead, a life long ministry of encouraging and inspiring others. And then there’s the technology thing. I’ve always had this weird ability to do just about anything I’ve wanted to do with technology without the need to read a book, a help file, etc.
I want to share a little something with you. Yesterday, I had a consulting call that has been like so many other consulting calls.
It typically goes like this.
The client has either found me through a Google Search or they were referred to me by someone they know.
Usually the client has been desperately attempting to start a podcast for anywhere from a few weeks to as much as a few years with no luck in actually getting it off the ground.
They’ve usually already purchased AT LEAST ONE BOOK about how to podcast and have read countless numbers of online articles trying to explain concepts like RSS feeds, media file enclosures, audio mixers, mix-minus setups, audio editing software, bit rates, etc, etc, etc.
The outcome is usually the same… “Paralysis By Analysis” or “Information Overload.”
More confused after their research than before they started, they desperate seek someone who can help them finally get things off the ground as a last ditch effort to make it happen.
When they find me, I spend some time talking with them, learning a little about them, what it is that they want to accomplish, and finding out where the journey has taken them so far.
I then talk to them about designing a strategy for getting their podcast from concept to reality. When I share with them that they could be releasing their first podcast episode(s) within the next four to five days (sometimes the same day) they are often shocked and need to overcome a bit of unbelief.
I, of course, encourage them, letting them know that I have confidence that I can train them how to podcast and do it in a reasonably short amount of time. At times, I’ve said, if I can’t do it in “X” Number of hours, I’ll not charge you at all for the time spent.
It’s so rewarding when I am able to help them make the impossible, possible. To actually see them grasp the concepts that they thought would be impossible to grasp. There’s a great deal of accomplishment that I feel when I work with each client I deal with.
I honestly feel that most of my consulting calls become little confirmations, from God, about making the right decision to pursue my passion. A passion I undoubtedly believe today that was put but in me by Him.
I don’t know if this post will come off as seeming self absorbed or not. But I just received this testimonial from a client that I worked with yesterday and it literally made my week!
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Now, my work as a podcaster goes way beyond simply audio equipment sales and podcast consulting. The work that I do leading the gspn.tv community and providing the content that we produce is a whole story of it’s own with rewards that far exceed anything I’ve mentioned here. I’ve written a little about this in the past and I’m sure I’ll write a lot more in the future.
I sincerely pray that more people would be able to find such rewarding work that people appreciate. Life is too short to do otherwise.
120 Podcast Answer Man – Naming Schemes And Email Lists
August 5, 2009 by Cliff Ravenscraft
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Podcast Answer Man Episode 120
Naming Schemes And Email Lists
In this episode John called in to ask about Email Lists. I mention how I use Google Groups. While I’ve never used their service, I’ve heard a lot of good things about Constant Contact.
Jonathan sent and audio recording to ask about Naming Schemes. I give a little background on why I’ve chosen to name my audio files the way that I have over the years. Personally, I don’t feel that naming schemes are all that important. However, I would highly recommend being consistent with how you name your files. As this audio feedback proves, people do pay attention.
Finally, I threw out a discussion starter about Social Networking & Business Competitors. I don’t know if I’ll get any response to this or not. This is something I’ve never thought of before. Normally, I’d just say, be so good at what you do that people would never want to go to your competitor.
Discuss podcasting with other listeners in the Podcast Answer Man section of the gspn.tv Community Forum.
EQUIPMENT SALES: Please consider purchasing from me when making your next purchase for audio gear to improve the sound of your podcast. Email me at Cliff@gspn.tv or call me at 859-757-1399.
PODCAST CONSULTING: I’m also available for one on one podcast consulting. Whether you want someone to get everything set up for you or you just need a little help along the way, I’d love to work with you. I’m able to demonstrate using screen sharing technology during our call which makes it just like I was there sitting next to you at the computer. If you are interested, email me at Cliff@gspn.tv or call me at 859-757-1399.
Subscribe To The Podcast Answer Man Podcast:
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