PodCampAZ is on a 5-year mission

Well, that's not true. But it is the 5th year that PodCampAZ has been around. No, I'm still not helping organize the event, but I will be presenting. Again.

If you're anywhere near AZ, I highly recommend making plans to attend this year. I'm giving you plenty of advance notice. The 5th PodCampAZ takes place November 12th & 13th, 2011 in Tempe AZ. The University of Advancing Technology is once again generously donating their space to the event. It's a top notch place to come learn and share.

How much? Free. As in beer. But you do need to pre-register. It's painless. I just did it.

And if you want to be a speaker (I've done this every year and see no reason to stop), fill out a quick little form and you're on the docket as a speaker at PodCampAZ. Again, I just did it.

Or maybe you just want to help? They need loads of volunteers.

However you can swing it, get to PodCampAZ. If you have any interest at all in podcasting, blogging, social media and any other sort of relevant media you can think of, get to PodCampAZ.

See you there?

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• PodCampAZ 2011 (tdhurst.com)

5 Reasons Your Podcast TECHNICALLY Sucks

Last weekend, as you know, was PodCamp AZ 2009. My presentation this year was 5 Reasons Your Podcast Technically Sucks. This latest talk is a follow-on to the two prior, 5 Reasons your Podcast Sucks and 5 Reasons You Suck on iTunes. Once again, the subtitle is "... and what you can do about it.". I'm not one to leave you without any action plan after I tell you what's wrong!

5 Reasons Your Podcast Technically Sucks

View more documents from Evo Terra.

Once again, an abbreviated version is available via Slideshare for those that missed it. Or, if you prefer to experience it as-was, you can check the original audio version. I'm a big fan of SlideShare and think more presenters and speakers should use it as a showcase for their work. And if I can get some time over the holiday weekend, I'll put up my talk from NAR. Patience!

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• Raw audio from my presentation at PodCamp AZ (funanymore.com)

Reading The Indie Band Survival Guide

Reading The Indie Band Survival Guide

Originally uploaded by evo_terra

If you are serious about new media, I highly recommend this book, The Indie Band Survival Guide.

No, you don't have to be a musician in an independent band. Yes, it was written with them in mind, but there are a huge numbers of takeaways.

Props to the boys at Beatnik Turtle for craning out an enlightening and enjoyable book that cuts through the bullshit and tells you -- specifically -- what it takes to navigate the waters of independent media production.

The section on copyright is fascinating. This book gives it all the weight the topic deserves, but explains it simple enough to allow anyone to grok the concepts. Kudos to them for carrying the conversation over to Creative Commons licensing as well.

Podcasters: you need this book.

Video producers: you need this book.

Vloggers and Bloggers: you need this book, too.

Get it.

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• Creating Awareness and Common Licensing

WHAZZUP commercial for 2008

Remember those asinine "WHAZZUP" commercials for some rotten beer some eight years ago?

No?

Remember that funny parody someone did by mixing the audio of that dumb-ass commercial with visuals cut together from the Superfriends?

Yeah, I thought you would. Geek.

Here's a modern version done to cover all the shitty things that have happened/are happening in 2008. There's a serious political slant at the end, but it's funny regardless of who you are voting for.



You are voting, right?

Found Things: My mom is cooler than your mom

There. I've said it. It can't be taken back. Deal.

The Stupid, It Burns

Because all the cool kids are linking to it:



Originally brought to my attention by Phil Plait. Because if I don't say that, he apparently cries like a titty-baby.

Found Things: You're No One If You're Not On Twitter

I am now a fan of Ben Walker. I didn't know who he was until Podcasting News made a blog post about his new song: You're No One If You're Not On Twitter.

Yes, the title is tongue and cheek. But it's quite well done. And snarky, so I love it.

Here are the lyrics so you can sing along, too:

Evo has a new podcast

The announcement Friday morning at the podcasting track kick-off panel at Dragon*con made it official: I have returned to the podosphere with a new podcast, Evo at Eleven.

This new podcast wouldn't have happened without the following:

• My lovely wife Sheila Dee. When she learned of the final-final shut down of Wingin' It! (I left well over a year ago), she immediately suggested that I start up again and fill the void in the podosphere.
  
• The ever-helpful Debbie Walker. One stipulation I had on this show was that I be allowed to do what I do best: show up and talk. That means I needed an engineer to handle all the "work" that goes into recording and editing a show. And after some very quick and dirty training sessions, Debbie handles it all. Yay!
  
• Gangplank. The second stipulation on the show was that I not do it from home. Derek asked me to set up a community podcasting studio with some donated equipment (props to Jade) in an office at Integrum. Watch for more podcasts coming from there, too.

All of that means that I effectively had no reason to stay away from the podosphere. Of course, you may listen and find your own reasons you wish I had stayed away. Anyhow... the first four shows are live and available for your listening pleasure. We'll do one a week -- probably -- until we run out of things to say.

Headphones needed for community podcast studio.

The gangplank community podcasting studio is almost complete. We've recorded three shows (no, they aren't available yet) to test the waters, but there is one crucial piece missing:

Heaphones

Right now, the studio is set up to record four people, one of them being the engineer. And right now, only the engineer can monitor themselves when recording. That may not sound like a big deal, but remember that this is a COMMUNITY podcast studio. We often times have more people in the room than are in the recording session. Having each participant wear headphones allows them to focus on the RECORDED conversation and tune out the things around them.

So my fellow podcasters... care to help out a good cause? We need three sets of headphones. I'm sure that many of you have upgraded in recent years to better fitting, feeling, and sounding 'phones. Assuming you didn't trash your old ones, would you mind sending them our way? We don't need anything fancy and I don't expect anyone to rush out and drop $75 on some new ones. Though I'm not stopping those that do.

If you want to help, leave a comment below and make sure you enter your valid email address. It won't show up on the site (no spam). This way everyone can see when we've found three pairs and won't send me a dozen or so that won't get used. :)

Thanks in advance for your help. Now to go find a cheap four-channel headphone amp. :)

Found Things: Out of My Mind video by George Hrab

But you know what I really like? Twisted motherfuckers like George Hrab who find themselves with a free afternoon and a burning desire to really dick around with their own media, creating something larger than before.

And I meant no pun on the "larger" comment, though the censor block does seem a bit disproportionate. Not that I'd know.

Out of My Mind -- another original video production by George Hrab. And if you missed it, this all started with his video of The Assumption.

Does this mic make me look fat?

Evo

Originally uploaded by - luz -

Last night I put the final touches on the Gangplank Studios setup. Well, "final" may be going to far. I plugged everything we had in and got it all working. Lots more things to do (like get the spot server working, piping audio back to that machine... yada yada), but it is functional.

To prove it, I recorded a quick conversation with Jimmy and Sunny. No, I'm not putting it up. Well... maybe not. We'll see how I can make it sound in post.

We do have a needs list, if anyone is interested into contributing. This is designed to be a community studio, open to the public, with podcasting pros available to come teach, help you record... whatever. So your help helps many. Here's what we need (so far):

• Pop filters
  
• Sound deadening materials
  
• Headphone amp (for 4)
  
• Headphones (4)
  
• You
  

We'll take "ghetto" style of the items above, save the last three, in which we're happy to take used. We can also take items "on loan", as long as you understand that some damn fool may spill something. In which case I'll break some knuckles, but if the studio can't afford to buy it on our own, we can't afford to pay you back if something bad happens.

I'm out of town for the weekend, but will be ready to start working on groovy stuff when I get back!

Props to Luz for snapping shots and adding to the merriment!

Life isn't as fragile as you think (for Obsidian)

How many of you remember the world-wide blackout that happened on November 19, 2007? Oh, come on. Huge terror strike at power plants all over the US? Saudi Arabia pretty much wiped off the map? No? Oh. Well maybe because that didn't happen in this universe, but in J.C. Hutchins' 7th Son trilogy.

If your puzzled with what I just wrote, catch up here. For the rest, know that J.C. has asked several folks to play in his sandbox, contributing to 7th Son Obsidian, a collection of works from many icons in the podosphere. And for some strange reason, he asked me to play.

So for all of you clamoring for another Cult Cast: here. And thank J.C. for it. Remember that it was written as if I were living in the 7th Son world, so some history may not be exactly as you remember it.

Found Things - Social Network Just Made for Two

Hey look! New audio from Evo, and it's not a CultCast!

Nope. Here's a little something I found and thought I'd share. It's an audio file by Ze Frank that is fitting for the topics covered on this blog.

I Have No Time for That

Five O'Clocks Shadow 62

Originally uploaded by evo_terra

Today's five o'clock shadow is... A CULT CAST! Yep, it's been a long LONG time since I put one out. But now the office is ready, I had some free time and thought... why not?

If you're new to the CultCast experience, it's not what you are used to reading on the site. I'm a lot less nice. But hey, aren't all cult leaders? And no, I'm not looking for your money or asking you to follow. My cult is a cult of the willing. I need no sheep, thank you very much. Click the link on the right column of this page to get the prior episodes if you like.

Today's lesson deals with the choices we make and the impact those choices make to our availability. Chances are, you need to listen. If you have time.

Politics and Religions

I wrote this before the elections this week, but decided to let it sit until afterwards. I'm not sure it would have mattered one way or the other, but... wtf.

Also, you'll note some new tuneage from George Hrab. Buy his stuff. He is that good....

I hate people

Hey! Look who's back? Maybe I should go to a once-a-quarter update schedule? Sorry. I'd say it won't happen again... but it will. And anyhow... I hate people.

Causes

My my my... how time flies. Yeah, well when you are as overcommitted as I am -- it happens.

Tonights lesson is on "Causes", great and small. Have at you.

I’m Smarter Than You

Well... maybe not you, but everyone else. A valuable life lesson for those followers of the Terraist way.

Doing Good Has No End

Inspriation strikes at odd moments and in odd places. And look! Only four weeks between updates. I'm on a roll...

Nationalism

Well look at the time. 6 weeks. That's a good update schedule. :) Nah, I'd like to make it shorter.

Today's lesson: nationalism. Thing big and small on this, and clear your mind. It's getting a little fuzzy in there.