262 Making Podcasts Cool Again? Player.fm Playa Please! – Interview With Angelo Mandato, Creator of PowerPress – And So Much More!

by Cliff Ravenscraft on May 24, 2012

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Making Podcasts Cool Again? Playa Please!
This past weekend, someone sent me a link to an article on Gigaom.com. The article was titled “Player FM makes podcasts look cool again.” The first few works of the article stated… “Podcasts may have fallen a bit out of fashion lately, but the new cloud-based podcast playback and discovery platformPlayer FM hopes that you’ll give the medium another chance.”

It cracks me up up when people make statements like this about podcasting. In this episode, I share my full reaction to this article and also share my initial thoughts about the Player.fm service created by former Google employee, Michael Mahemoff.

Random Plug of The Week
This week’s random plug of the week goes out to the The Prospecting Minute Podcast by Steve Kloyda. If you check out his show and like it, please be sure to let him know you heard about the show from The Podcast Answer Man!

Go ahead and judge me. I’m busy doing great work!
In this episode, I institute a new segment that I hope to incorporate from time to time call “A Word of Wisdom.” This week’s Word of Wisdom is inspired by a recent Seth Godin blog post titled “You Will Be Judged, Or You Will Be Ignored.” Has fear of being judged kept you from creating work that helps share your message with the world?

Interview WIth Angelo Mandato
I’m very delighted to share a recent interview that I did with Angelo Mandato, the creator of the PowerPress Podcasting Plugin. What’s amazing is that I didn’t even know that there was a video podcast devoted to the PowerPress plugin.

One of my favorite things is that the PowerPress plugin was created with the best interests of the podcasting community in mind. Not only is it free, but it has an amazing support community behind it.

I really hope that you enjoy the interview with Angelo. If you get a chance, head over to his blog at http://Angelo.Mandato.com and tell him thanks for all his hard work!

Free Subscribe With iTunes Graphic Template
I want to send out a special thanks to Dan Andrews from the Lifestyle Business Podcast. Dan created an amazing “Subscribe With iTunes” graphic for his side bar that looks ultra professional and just plain gorgeous. He’s decided to make the template available to the podcasting community, free of charge, as a means of giving back! Feel free to click here to download the PSD file. Please be sure to swap out his podcast artwork with your own! See what I did with the template where I ask for iTunes Ratings & Reviews for Podcast Answer Man below.

Podcast Artwork for $175
Most podcasters do not invest enough into the artwork for their podcast. The truth is that your podcast artwork is often what sets the 1st impression for your podcast. This is especially true when it comes to those who find your show in a podcast directory.

I’ve been working with Jenny Hamson for several years and she does all my podcast artwork. I’ve also personally contracted her to do the artwork for all of my coaching and consulting clients. In all the years that I have worked with Jenny, she’s never failed to provide artwork that not only meets expectations but delivers far more than could have been anticipated. If you are looking for artwork, please contact Jenny Hamson today and tell her that Cliff sent you!

iTunes Ratings & Reviews
I started Podcast Answer Man in December of 2006. Would you believe that until April 2012, I never spent much energy to ask anyone to provide a rating and/or review for this show in iTunes? If you have ever read my blog post about how iTunes podcast ratings work, then you know just how valuable leaving a 5 star rating and/or a written review can be to a content producer.

If you find that the Podcast Answer Man podcast has been valuable to you, would you consider going to my iTunes Listing to both rate and review this show? If so, please click here.

The Podcast Mastermind
One of the reasons that I love working with podcasters so much is due to the fact that they are influencing someone every single time they produce a podcast episode. The world needs great leaders! I believe that podcasters who take their leadership position seriously can make a positive difference in the lives of others. The world needs you and your message! They need you to be a leader!

Many people ask me how to grow the audience of their podcast. I believe that one of the best things you can do is to BELIEVE IN YOURSELF! To take yourself seriously! To consider yourself to be a professional!

Are you willing to invest in your future success?
Are you willing to be the greatest leader you can be?
Are you wiling to commit to your personal and professional growth?

If so, please consider joining The Podcast Mastermind!

Register For BlogWorld Today!
If you are serious about your podcasting efforts, I highly recommend that you attend the leading podcast industry conference. I know for a fact that some very exciting things are going to be happening at this year’s NYC event, relating to podcasting. If you haven’t registered yet, feel free to use my affiliate link to get registered today. Use promo code GSPN10 for 10% off!

The Virtual Ticket Option
Not able to attend BlogWorld NYC this June? No problem at all! The Virtual Ticket option allows you to consume all the content of the podcasting track sessions, as well as every session from all of the other tracks at BlogWorld & New Media Expo. The Virtual Ticket is also great for those who will be attending the conference as there will likely be multiple times where there is more than one session that you would like to sit in on during the same time slot. Those who are attending the conference can get the Virtual Ticket at a discounted add-on price.

To order your Virtual Ticket for BlogWorld today, feel free to use my affiliate link. Use promo code GSPN10 for 10% off!

Blue Host Affiliate Signup
I want to send out a special word of thanks to the folks behind the following domains that were used to create a new hosting account with BlueHost with my Blue Host affiliate link recently. As you know, I earn a commission each time someone clicks through my link to sign up with Blue Host. So thank you!

Accounts that were created recently:
- http://mynextnewplace.com
- http://anchordad.com

Note: The fact that I have linked to these accounts is only to acknowledge that these folks have used my affiliate link to create a hosting account with BlueHost. These links are not an endorsement of any content that may be posted to these sites. If you ever recognize content blatantly offensive at any of these links, please let me know and I will be sure to evaluate and consider if the link should be removed from this post. These accounts are all brand new and may not be active yet. Also, it is possible that some of these domains were previously owned and my not have been transfered to BlueHost just yet.

Free Month of Media Hosting With Libsyn!
Because of all the years of sending clients to sign up for accounts with Libsyn, they have created an affilate programs only given to a hand selected group of podcasting experts. I’m delighted that I am now able to offer new podcasters ONE MONTH FREE when they sign up for a new account with Libsyn. Simply use promo code GSPN when you sign up!

PODCAST VIDEO TUTORIALS: I have a growing list of video tutorials that I have created based up on the the top things my clients have hired me to help them with. See the full list of tutorials by clicking here.

Here is the video recording that I mentioned in this episode:

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30 comments
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TrishJones
TrishJones like.author.displayName 1 Like

Cliff, "Be Judged or be Ignored ..." One of the reasons I listen to your podcasts, though new to your shows, is the fact that you are you ... you are real.

 

In fact, I'm more like you than the "clean professional," and you've given me permission as I've been listening to more of your podcasts to just chillax! Seriously, thank you for just being you!

Cliff Ravenscraft
Cliff Ravenscraft moderator like.author.displayName 1 Like

@TrishJones Thank you Trish! I get a lot of people who say that they listen to the show for me, and the way I choose to communicate in such an authentic way, more than for the technical information I share. Glad that I can inspire you to Chillax!

amymiyamoto
amymiyamoto like.author.displayName 1 Like

Hi Cliff, I recently found you via two of your awesome high value episodes that you did with Pat Flynn over on the Smart Passive Income blog.  I am planning to launch a web show in the fall that will be video based, but you have me hooked to find out more about the magic of the audio side of things.  Your philosophy of how to do business is very inspiring and I look forward to learning much from you and all you offer here.  P.S. I really appreciate you doing the video segment above - adds that much more to the know like and trust experience.  So I encourage you to do more video in conjunction with all your awesome audio magic!

;)

Amy

Cliff Ravenscraft
Cliff Ravenscraft moderator

 @amymiyamoto Amy, Thank you so much.  I do have plans to add more video elements in the future.  So glad you found me through Pat Flynn. He's such a great guy and I'm honored to have him as a friend.

 

I wish you great success with your project launch in the Fall.

Shelia
Shelia like.author.displayName 1 Like

Playa please.....LOL - another great episode!  Cliff, don't be afraid to be yourself -- you're a very kind and giving person.  Keep up the good work.

Christopher Battles
Christopher Battles like.author.displayName 1 Like

Hearing about all the back end technology is insightful.  The things many of us do not thinking about, because it just works.

Thank you Cliff and Angelo.

 

K, bye

Internet Mktng Minutia
Internet Mktng Minutia like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @Cliff Ravenscraft  Thanks for getting a 'recent' interview with Angelo of Blubrry.com on the PAM podcast!

(I recall you mentioning back in 2010 that you had archived a lengthy GoToMeeting-based interview with Angelo, but that it was not practical to try to edit it down for distribution on GSPN.)

 

One cool feature of PowerPress (that I did not hear mentioned this go-round with Angelo) is its HTML5-based audio & video players (available since PowerPress ver. 2.0). Here's one of my posts about it from over at IBMA.

_____________________

 

Most of us are aware that Apple's iPhone & iPad cannot play Flash.

Some websites provide their 'iVisitors' an alternate means of playing a media file, but usually it involves opening a new browser window or App, which is not great, as it takes the visitor AWAY from the website.

 

To make your Wordpress-based podcast website more iPhone/iPad friendly, be sure to check out the PowerPress plugin by Blubrry.com. PLEASE NOTE: You don't have to use all the PowerPress features, but you will want to make use of its 'player' feature. As of PowerPress 2.0, they've added HTML5-based audio & video players (i.e. Apple-friendly!) which will FALLBACK to Flash on browsers that don’t support HTML5 media!

 

Need to see an example?

Using an iPhone or iPad, simply visit podcastanswerman.com

 

NOTE: when using an iPhone, you will want to s-t-r-e-t-c-h the window a bit larger in order to click on the small, 'white arrow' embedded within the charcoal-colored, HTML5-based 'play button.'

 

The result?

No more opening a new window in order to play the media file!

Keep those iPhone/iPad visitors on your webpage when streaming!

voxinabox
voxinabox like.author.displayName 1 Like

I loved your Seth Godin Quote.  I shared it with my wife who, as a perfectionist, has been delaying starting her blog.  Thanks as always Cliff!

mahemoff
mahemoff like.author.displayName 1 Like

Hi Cliff

 

Thanks for covering Player FM. To clarify and confirm some points you raised:

 

* Yes, channels are public, whether you add your own feeds or subscribe to existing ones.

* Yes, you can import OPML into your channel, as well as adding individual feeds.

* The Twitter integration requests permission to create tweets, in order to support sharing in the future. Similar to this comment widget's Twitter integration, which also request write permission even if I only want Twitter for login purposes, there's no way for the developer to make this an option for users. I wish there were. Regardless, Player FM won't tweet on your behalf unless you request it to.

* True, no search yet. Kind of a big one, I know! My thought was to launch an early beta to get early feedback and it's overwhelmingly clear that search is the number 1 major feature people are looking for, so I'm prioritising it.

* When you add feeds to your own channel, they do enter the Player FM system. We don't presently have a formal review process for feeds added this way (only those added through the Suggest a Podcast form for now). But they will eventually be searchable and likely considered for the featured channels.

* The channels you see today (as well as the selections inside them) are by no means final. We're still building out new channels and it will ideally be something every user has the ability to do. My details in the site if people have any suggestions for channels or channel content.

* I agree, the UI today is pretty raw. In the site's early days, I'm reluctant to lock things down too much with a tightly integrated design. More focused on discovering what features need to come next, but I do hope it's something we can improve over time.

Cliff Ravenscraft
Cliff Ravenscraft moderator

 @mahemoff Michael, thank you so much for leaving a comment regarding my coverage of Player.FM.   As I am sure you are aware, my initial review was somewhat tainted by the sour taste in my mouth by the horrible way that your story was presented in the GigaOm article.   :)

 

Outside of that, I've checked out Player.FM a little more and it does work rather nicely on the iPhone.  I do think you are filling a great niche and the fact that I was able to add my own rss feeds is a major plus.

 

I would be happy to have you on the show some time to talk more about what your doing with Player.fm.

mahemoff
mahemoff like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @Cliff Ravenscraft Good to know it's working for you on the iPhone, targeting multiple devices and OSs is one advantage of the web as an application platform.

 

Would be happy to join you on your show antytime, please mail mike@player.fm to arrange it.

Cliff Ravenscraft
Cliff Ravenscraft moderator

 @mahemoff Thanks so much Mike, I'm getting ready to to head to NYC to manage the podcasting track for BlogWorld & New Media Expo.  Looking forward to having you on the show. I'll reach out to you in a few weeks.  

encouragebuildgrow
encouragebuildgrow like.author.displayName 1 Like

Great Episode Cliff,

 

I know that you have talked about Powerpress and how you use it but today's interview was very helpful for me.  I am just starting out with my podcast and I plan on implementing Powerpress into my WP site.  Also, a big "Thanks," for sharing Dan Andrews graphic file.  My one question about this is should I use it now in anticipation of folks reviewing my podcast or should I wait until I have some reviews.  I don't want people to think I have Five star ratings before I actually do.  Thoughts?

 

Keep up the Great Work and Stop Judging Yourself...You are doing great!

 

The Voices Among Us Podcast
The Voices Among Us Podcast like.author.displayName 1 Like

Cliff, all of my favorite podcasts each typically have one episode that I keep on my iPhone where they get so real and so honest that I just HAVE to listen to it another time. My friend, I think that this was this very episode for Podcast Answer Man. 

 

I haven't even finished listening to the episode, but bravo, man! GSPN is all about authenticity and it's about time you fully let your self come through in PAM. I definitely facepalmed when you "playa please"ed, but it was fantastic! Keep it up, man. I hope you keep infusing even more of your unfiltered personality into the show. 

Cliff Ravenscraft
Cliff Ravenscraft moderator

 @The Voices Among Us Podcast Thanks so much for the feedback.  I'll continue to ride the balance between unpolished and keeping things to the point.  I had fun in this episode.  That is for sure! ;)

NickSPNT
NickSPNT like.author.displayName 1 Like

Cliff, the Rate and Review image you've got in your show notes is a fantastic idea. I would have never thought to do that, all I've been putting in my show notes is an iTunes subscribe button!

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