Web Page: Now We're Talkin': Best Podcasts
Audio Podcast: Bullseye with Jesse Thorn
Video Podcast: Vsauce
510
To Create a Podcast (Audio)
- Question the communication situation.
- Subject: What will the podcast be about?
- Purpose: Is the subject meant to entertain, inform, persuade, or narrate?
- Audience: Who should listen to your podcast? What audience does it target?
- Plan your podcast on a planning sheet.
- Tools: Find podcast-supporting software and equipment as well as Web sites that will post it. Then practice using the software.
- Team: Who will be involved in recording your podcast? You may need scriptwriters, audio engineers, and on-air personalities.
- Research your topic and technical requirements.
- Topic: Learn as much as you can about the subject before you begin recording. If you are interviewing a guest, research about him or her.
- Equipment: Practice with the equipment so that you know how to use it.
- Create your podcast using one of these approaches.
- Scripted: Create a script with beginning, middle, and ending parts. Then record it, and rerecord as needed.
- Mixed: Script some parts (opening, interview questions, main points, closing) but allow on-air personalities to improvise the rest. Repeat takes and edit the dialogue as needed.
- Improvised: Let the on-air personalities improvise dialogue as if they were having a real conversation. This approach may involve heavy editing.
- Improve the rough cut.
- Evaluate the podcast against your goal and situation.
Goal: Did you meet it? How could you improve your work?
Situation: Did you cover the subject? Did you achieve your purpose? Are you reaching your audience?
- Revise your podcast as necessary.
Cut parts that do not help you reach your goal.
Reorder parts to create a better flow.
Rerecord weak parts.
Add new commentary to fill gaps.
- Perfect the podcast to meet the best possible audio standards.
- Evaluate the podcast against your goal and situation.
- Present the podcast by uploading it online.
511
Podcast
Here is the first page of a transcript from two students’ weekly podcast called Two Guys in a Lab. In this episode, the students interview an ocean videographer.
Two Guys in a Lab: Episode 28, Week 32
The beginning identifies the podcasters, the topic, and the interviewee.
Krunal: Hey, everyone. Gill and I are back for another episode of Two Guys in a Lab. Have you ever wondered how the shows on Animal Planet get all that amazing footage of life deep within the ocean? Our guest today brings a unique perspective on the topic. Everett Redman is a marine biologist and deep-sea cameraman and is here to tell us about his experiences under the sea. Mr. Redman, thanks for joining us!
Mr. Redman: Glad to be here with you guys.
Gill: So Krunal and I were talking about this last night . . . you’ve got to have one of the coolest jobs out there. Tell us how you became an underwater cameraman.
The middle includes a series of questions and answers between the podcasters and the interviewee.
Mr. Redman: Well, I’ve always been fascinated by oceans and marine life. I studied marine biology in college, and after I graduated I was given this incredible opportunity to help one of my professors film green sea turtles for her project. I fell in love with underwater filming and pursued it as a career.
Krunal: Awesome. I imagine it took some time to get the hang of filming underwater. Obviously, you’re not exactly on stable ground.
Mr. Redman: You could say that. (laughs) The camera work definitely took some getting used to. You have to have steady hands and the ability to adjust to changing currents and water surges. If you expect to get good shots underwater, you have to be comfortable diving in a variety of environments; otherwise, you won’t be able to concentrate on important cinematography aspects like composition and focus.
The ending (not included) thanks the interviewee and gives details about the next scheduled podcast.
Gill: Does your background in marine biology help with the job?
Mr. Redman: I think it helps tremendously. Understanding different types of marine life helps me anticipate behavior. . . .