podcast preview

Over the past two years or so, a number of people -- many of whom are readers of this blog -- have suggested that I start podcasting. Obviously, I've not done that yet, but I'm beginning to think about this more seriously.

To podcast or not to podcast? Before I even get into the more practical details of the “What?” and “How?” I need to address the core question of “Why?”

Podcasting is hardly rocket science, but I want to keep my own skills fresh. I’ve done a fair amount of audio recording on my home system — mostly meditations, client sessions and self-hypnosis CDs, using GarageBand to craft custom background music — and would like to try my hand at a podcast or two.

I often listen to programs like This American Life and to public radio in general, and I’ve wondered how difficult it would be to write/produce segments of my own. Should I at some future time decide to approach radio broadcast as a medium, it would be nice to have some idea of what I'm getting myself into, and to have a more robust audio portfolio.

And I want to be more of a contributor, pushing content. When I pitch story ideas to magazines, I have to wait around to see if any of the markets/editors I've approached want to buy. It's very much akin to asking for permission to use my skills and talents, and my voice (so to speak).

Sure, podcasting doesn't pay -- in most cases, anyway -- but it offers a channel for content that doesn't otherwise have a broadcast home. So I suppose that's a big piece of it.

Next up: What.

Content could include anything from a simple audio recording of my written blog entries to “sounds of the neighborhood” and updates on the dog. Yes, I'd want this to have some kind of focus. I’ve already gotten a specific request for guided meditation podcasts, and maybe that’s something I could offer from time to time, but for the main theme, I'd like to narrow in on a spiritual-related topic. I've apparently got a lot to say on the subject — at least, I think I do. I've got a strong academic and experiential background in religious studies, and it's harder to find publication markets for these topics. A podcast in this area offers a channel for this material and might even bolster my reputation as an expert.

The program would have an interfaith foundation and would be open to exploring topics from the perspectives of different faiths. Some might gasp and worry that I’d be celebrating some kind of hedonistic relativism — even though I’m not entirely sure what that is. I’ve been making a list of topics I’d like to approach. The first-pass list includes such high-level ideas as death with dignity, different faiths’ take on the afterlife, alternative/complementary healing practices and the like.

There would necessarily be research involved — which I love — and possibly interviews, though I’d like to keep this more experiential and less academic. There’s still plenty of room to play, and I’m deliberately not showing too much of my hand just yet.

Last but not least, How, When and To What Extent: the logistics of how often I'd do this, where/how I'd want to distribute, and the like.

I would need to experiment a bit with the technical side of things. GarageBand has built-in podcast recording/producing ability, so I should be good to go there, with some time for trial and error. I'm guessing the easiest and best way to distribute the podcast would be through Apple's iTunes and also via my website.

Then there's the time component: I'd need to figure out what kind of schedule would make the most sense for my podcast. I might start bi-weekly or once monthly, and see how that goes. It would be great to offer this weekly, but I'll have to gauge how much time and effort is required.

And, yeah, it would be nice for this podcast to have a name. Suggestions?

So there’s a quick glimpse into the thought process behind the possible genesis of yet another podcast. If/when this channel comes into being, there will definitely be updates here.