Tricks of the PodCasting Masters is out (Rob and Mur's book)

[awaretek]

Yesterday at Barnes and Noble I bought a copy of Rob Walch' and Mur Lafferty's new book, "Tricks ofthe Podcasting Masters". This is new material, not just a re-hash of all the other books about podcasting.

For instance, Rob and Mur cover the "art" side of podcasting, how to be creative, how to interview, how to market, refine your vocal skills, etc etc etc. This is not just how to choose equipment and do the basics, which all of us already know. I highly recommend this book!

By the way, much to my shock and joy, my podcast AwareTek is written up under the 5 highlighted "Religion and Spirituality" podcasts. Rob and Mur highlight 5 examples of good podcasts in each of many genres. I wonder if your podcast is also highlighted in this book? Check it out!

Thanks Rob and Mur.!

Ron Stephens
AwareTek podcast series
our latest podcast http://www.awaretek.com/podcasts/index.html is The Gift of the Magi: the real Da Vinci Code revealed

[ElNacho]

awesome, it's out. i want it.

[awaretek]

It really is a good book, and there are really nice (short, but desriptive including quotes from podcasters) write-ups about several podcasts in each of 17 genres, so 17 x 6 or so equals about 90 some podcasts get a favorable write up, not even counting all the ones Mur and Rob mention in passing in other chapters.

With 100 or so podcast blurbs, chances are you might be one of them! ;-))

The only way you'll ever know how sweet the publicity you may have gotten is to check out the book ;-)))

[cinesnob]

Warning, Caveat Emptor. This book is getting mixed reviews. There are some podcasters who have read this book and claim that most of the warmed-over information presented by the so-called jedi masters of podcasting would be great revelations only to the "newest of the newbies." It would probably behoove any potential buyers to flip through this book's pages first before planking down your hard-earned cash at the local bookstore.

[goliardhk]

I wonder whether it will ever reach Australia. I'm still waiting for "Podcast Solutions" to hit a local bookshop.

[SteveRunner]

Warnings aside, I will most definitly be purchasing this book for two reasons:

(1) No matter what information is in there, it will most certainly be an excellent resource, in a handy: portable format (book).

(2) I want to support the authors, especially Rob who; through his show and website, taught me how to produce a PodCast.

It does not matter to me if any of the information is "warmed-over information"...the idea for the book is brilliant, and as someone who really appreciates the printed format; I know this is a book I'll have on my shelf for many years to come (until I replace it with the revised edition!).

- S

[paul]

I will be purchasing this book because
1) I am in it but was not given a free copy.

[TALK RADIO SHOW]

Ugh - a book on how to make a good podcast?

Why not just have someone do your podcast for you while you're at it.

How about this - here's my book:

"Be born with talent, or don't do a f.u.c.k.i.n.g podcast!"


Amateurs teaching amateurs does not make professionals.

"Podcasting Masters?" - to my knowledge, there is no such thing yet.

Don't buy into this crap. If you need a book in order to form an on-air personality, than you're in the wrong business. Just quit before you waste someone's bandwidth.

[paul]

Within an hour of posting the above Rob emailed and asked for my address. I should say--I'll be getting a free copy so won't have to purchase.

[cinesnob]

Paul, it looks like that podcast book just hit you on the head!

[Wintersheart]

Wow how cool, I doubt I'm featured but I'll try and work out how I can get a copy in Austraila myself goliardhk.

Who cares if there not masters they went to effort to present info on podcasting. I'll buy it to support them any online links.

-Lynne

[JasonVanOrden]

I'll be buying this book because:

A) I, too, want to support podcasting authors.

B) Even if it gives me one great idea for my podcasts it's worth it.

Jason

[EclecticMix]

I'll be buying a copy because:

1) Rob does a great job with his podcast and the least I can do is to support hiis efforts, and

2) If I write really neatly then I can pretend that I'm in the book.

Cheers -

george

[psycheology]

Ugh - a book on how to make a good podcast?
Amateurs teaching amateurs does not make professionals.

Wow... That's an awfully big assumption there. Who says that all of us WANT to be professionals, as in paid for doing it? Personally, I already have a profession, and it's not podcasting. My podcast is an emotional and artistic and social outlet for me, one that I enjoy doing greatly. Seems to me that doing it "professionally" would mean a lot of things, such as the fact that I'd then be beholden to someone else's rules and regulations, be bound to a strict schedule, and lose a lot of the flexibility and personal-touch that I currently enjoy so much about podcasting. Never mind the fact that I think most of the over-fluffed, loud and obnoxious, catering-to-the-lowest-denominator, crude and stupid DJ crap I hear on the radio is just that-- CRAP. I'd much prefer to take some learned-along-the-way tips from other folks who, like me, began a hobby that has been fulfilling and rewarding in more ways than one.

...."Be born with talent, or don't do a f.u.c.k.i.n.g podcast!"....
Don't buy into this crap. If you need a book in order to form an on-air personality, than you're in the wrong business. Just quit before you waste someone's bandwidth.

I agree with you that there are some show formats for which natural talent and on-air presence is important, such as some of the more unscripted general interest types of 'casts. However, there are a LOT of 'casts on my iPod for which I could care less if the person has spectacular on-air presence. Podcasts that cater to a niche population or interest, or that provide relevant information in a format I can't find elsewhere-- I tend to be a bit more forgiving if they don't sound like the voice on the used-car ads on my radio. In fact, for some of my 'casts I like, I think that an overdone or too-refined uber-professional sound would be a turnoff.

Just my opinion though. But the important thing to remember is that every listener is going to have a little different opinion on this, just like we, as podcasters, do. So, I'm sure I'm not the only one with my perspective on it.

[themacattack]

I've been podcasting for almost a year and pre-ordered the book when I first heard it was coming out. It came a few days ago and I've already read through it.

I found the book really well written and very informative. I think both "pros" and "noobs" will find the info in this book helpful.

I ordered it "sight unseen", I guess you can say, because I am a fan of both Rob's and Mur's and have always respected what they have had to say and have done with podcasting.

Heck, I enjoyed the book so much I even called Rob.

-Steve

[etomorrow]

anyone feel like making a list of the shows in it?

[SteveRunner]

Ugh - a book on how to make a good podcast?...Amateurs teaching amateurs does not make professionals.

Thank goodness!

I consider this a profound and interesting statement, especially since it appears that the so called "professionals" are losing their audience to the amateurs.

I for one appreciate the advice of amateur podcasters in the same way that I appreciate the advice of amateur athletes. Audiences are sick of slick, tightly cued and segued baritone radio presenters reading with mindless inflection off a well groomed thrice edited script!

I won’t listen to the radio any longer, and expect that the reason the magazine “Radio World” headlines stories about the ever shrinking audience of commercial radio (along with the increasingly shrinking adverting rates) is because….”professionals” aren’t particularly interesting.

But that goes without saying.

I’ll agree with you that “talent” seems, on the surface, to be attractive to advertisers…but in the end we all agree that it’s “good content” that is causing radio station general managers to suffer from stress attacks.

Some of my favorite podcasts are hosted by PodCasters who lack much of a “professional” quality to their presentation, but the content and topics of their shows are far superior to anything commercial radio could ever produce. Listening to these podcasts is refreshing. Listening to commercial terrestrial radio just gives everyone a headache.

This book “Tricks of the PodCasting Masters” seems like a great idea, written by a couple of PodCasters who are passionate about the topic and can offer new PodCasters a lot of great advice.

If I learn just one new thing (as I’m sure I will) upon reading this, it will be well worth the cost of the book.

I expect (as I’m sure you do) that the number of PodCasters will quadruple in the next few months!! I for one can’t wait, and if this book brings more new podcasters behind the microphone with the good content we all crave…then isn’t that worth the price of a book?

Of course it is.

[Hittman]

Ugh - a book on how to make a good podcast?

Why not just have someone do your podcast for you while you're at it.

How about this - here's my book:

"Be born with talent, or don't do a f.u.c.k.i.n.g podcast!"

Wrong title. It should be “How to make a tiresome morning zoo clone.”

Don't buy into this crap. If you need a book in order to form an on-air personality, than you're in the wrong business. Just quit before you waste someone's bandwidth.

Now now. No one is preventing you from pretending to have a personality by copying every morning drive DJ in the US, nor complaining about how many perfectly good electrons are wasted recording and downloading your show. You know there are children in Ethiopia who don’t have any electrons. . .