Podcasting

I (heart) Dawn and Drew

By Joe Prebich, 9-13-05

I need a laugh. When that happens there is only one thing I do: I turn on Dawn and Drew. “Oh, yeah man they are good, what channel are they on again?�. Sorry , but they aren’t on TV nor can they be dialed in on the radio.

Instead, they are pod-people. Podcasting their quirky comedy, cut straight from their farm in Wisconsin, out onto the worldwide web. They are young, racy and a huge hit. Oh and they are damned funny too. But, what is that, you don’t know of this “Podcasting� thing? Well, start learning fast because this new medium could very well revolutionize communications .

So, what is Podcasting. Here is the definition from Wikipedia...

Podcasting is a method of publishing audio broadcasts via the Internet, allowing users to subscribe to a feed of new files (usually MP3s ). It became popular in late 2004 , largely due to automatic downloading of audio onto portable players or personal computers.

Podcasting is distinct from other types of online media delivery because of its subscription model, which uses a feed (such as RSS or Atom ) to deliver an enclosed file. Podcasting enables independent producers to create self-published, syndicated "radio shows," and gives broadcast radio programs a new distribution method. Listeners may subscribe to feeds using "podcatching" software (a type of aggregator ), which periodically checks for and downloads new content automatically. Some podcatching software is also able to synchronise (copy) podcasts to portable music players. Any digital audio player or computer with audio-playing software can play podcasts. By 2005 some aggregators could play video as well as audio. With increasingly robust personal digital devices, such as Sony's PSP, podcasting is likely to continue to evolve.

What this means is that there is the ability to create your very own podcast independent of licensing and regulations. If you have a mic and a computer and internet access, you can have a podcast. Then through RSS people can automatically subscribe to your show and the program will be taken to them every time you podcast.

Credited as the “Pod-father� former MTV VJ Adam Curry has played a significant role in the development of iTunes Podfinder and iPodder. Both of these are ways for people to subscribe to various podcasts.

Another great podcasting site is PodShow.Com. This is a place where you can find out info on listening or producing your own show. Podcast. Alley is another site that will help you sift through all of the pod-space and find just what you are looking for.

This is just a quick example of how blogging, Podcasting and other internet communication forms are changing the way that we as a society communicate with each other.

Podcasting should be very appealing to us college students, as now we can have our very own radio show tellign the world exactly what we think and how! A soapbox from my laptop. The possibilities have really only begun to be explored and I am hoping that everyone will be touched by Dawn and Drew’s “Zombie Jesus� one day.

But until you have your Podcast down, dial in 103.3 The Trail on the radio for your daily NewWest updates.

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