The Podcasting podcast: How to get started with podcasting in your organisation Lee Hopkins

Welcome to another edition of the Podcasting Podcast: How to get started with podcasting in your organisation.
Today, I’m introducing you to Neville Hobson.
I first met Neville back in March 2005, when I was pointed to the podcast he and colleague Shel Holtz ran (and still run!). They were the first podcasters in our Business Communication industry, an industry which included PR practitioners, marketers, public speakers, trainers, and the almost unheard-of job title of business communicator.
After submitting a few spoken sound files to them, complete with sound effects that possibly conjured up mental images of Australia and its fauna, Neville and Shel kindly appointed me their first Foreign Correspondent. A happy union was achieved, and I kept submitting ‘reports’ until my business life got in the way and my social media consulting work meant that client work had to come before playtime with the brilliant audio editing software Audacity and my role as a correspondent.
All three of us have kept a watchful, interested eye over each other’s work—blogging, micro-blogging, podcasting and vidcasting.
Neville always has something interesting to say, some new bit of social media technology to have a look at, some new insights into what has and continues to shape the social media world, both for businesses and consumers. He is especially gifted in peering into his crystal ball and determining what is ahead and what is going to reshape the business and consumer world.
Neville is the ‘real deal’, and it is the foolish person with a stake in this social media world who doesn’t pay attention to him. Very foolish, indeed.
What follows is a blogpost that appeared on one of his blogging websites. It’s such a great post about podcasting that Neville let me read it out in full. And here we go…

 look at an IBM initiative with vidcasting (aka video podcasting), plus my view on the best social media platforms for businesses in 2024. 

ALTHOUGH THE TOPIC of SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) is not really part of the remit of this podcast on podcasting, what follows is an interview between Kate Toon and Logan Bryant on an episode of Kate Toon’s superb podcast, ‘The recipe for SEO success show’.
The reason I’ve chosen this episode of this particular podcast is simple: Kate and Logan are recognised experts in their field, they interact well with each other, and each has many interesting and insightful things to say. They are an excellent example of how having more than one person in a podcast episode lifts the episode and podcast to new heights.

I listened to this podcast interview intently yesterday, and was blown away. ChatGPT—and AI in general—is way more advanced than I have given it credit for.
There seems a HUGE amount of dog work that AI can take off the overworked and underappreciated communicator, allowing said communicator to focus on higher, more strategic and longer-term work, including being able to reposition themselves as a resource of advice for senior management, not just that ‘person who does that communication stuff, whatever that is’.
I’ve been using ‘Jasper’ for nearly a year and until yesterday didn’t realise how criminally underused they were at my hands. Already, I have upped my game to create better headlines and subheads, write more interesting chapter titles, and so on.
The interview between Shel and Ms ChatGPT is riveting, and I strongly advise you to listen to the hour long interview and marvel at how much more you could ask your AI engine of choice to do.
Brilliant episode and interview. Kudos, Shel.

Welcome to another episode of ‘The Podcasting Podcast: How to get started with podcasting in your organisation’. Today, we’re going to look at why podcasting is so popular, what sort of business items you can podcast, and how you can great content for your podcast.
 
3, 2, 1… here we go
 
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Podcasting has become increasingly popular in recent years, and for good reason. It offers a unique and convenient way to consume content that appeals to a wide range of interests. Here are some reasons why podcasting has captured the attention of millions:
•           Convenience: With busy schedules and on-the-go lifestyles, many people find it difficult to make time for reading or watching video content. Podcasting allows listeners to consume content while multitasking, whether it's during their commute, workout, or daily chores.
•           Diverse topics: From education and news to entertainment and self-improvement, there is a podcast for every interest. With so many different genres and niche subjects available, listeners can find something that caters specifically to their interests.
•           Authenticity: Podcasts often feature real people having authentic conversations, making the content more relatable and engaging for listeners. This human touch sets podcasts apart from other forms of media that may feel more scripted or polished.
•           On-demand access: Unlike traditional radio or television shows, podcasts offer on-demand access to their episodes. Listeners can choose when and where they want to listen, rather than being tied to a specific broadcast schedule.
•           Diverse voices and perspectives: Podcasting has given a platform to diverse voices and perspectives that may not have been represented in mainstream media. This allows for a more inclusive and well-rounded exchange of ideas and information.
•           Low barrier to entry: Starting a podcast does not require expensive equipment or a large production team. With basic recording equipment and some editing software, anyone can create their own podcast and share their content with the world.
•           Engaging storytelling: Many podcasts use creative storytelling techniques to captivate listeners and keep them coming back for more. This can include sound effects, music, and expertly crafted narratives that draw listeners in and hold their attention.
•           Community building: Podcasts often have a dedicated and loyal fan base, creating a sense of community amongst listeners. This can foster discussions and connections among like-minded individuals who share a passion for the same podcast topics.
Overall, the unique combination of convenience, diverse content, authenticity, and community building has made podcasting a popular form of media that shows no signs of slowing down. With new podcasts constantly emerging on a variety of topics, the future of podcasting looks bright.  So, it's no surprise that more and more people are turning to this medium for their entertainment and information needs.  So if you haven't already jumped on the podcast bandwagon, now is the perfect time to start exploring all that this popular form of media has to offer. Who knows, you may just find your new favourite podcast!  Happy listening!
So, what are you waiting for? Grab your headphones and start exploring the world of podcasting today. With so many options to choose from, there's something for everyone. Whether you're looking for educational content, entertainment, or just a good laugh, podcasts have got you covered. And with the convenience of on-demand access, you can listen whenever and wherever it's convenient for you. So don't miss out on this popular and ever-growing medium—start discovering new podcasts now!  Keep listening and stay curious. The possibilities with podcasting are endless.
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Welcome to another episode of ‘The Podcasting Podcast: How to get started with podcasting in your organisation’. In this episode we are going to have a look at another example of vidcasting and podcasting, this time in a university.
 
One of the world’s leading research faculties in digital media, the Electronics and Computer Science (ECS) school within the UK’s University of Southampton, is one step ahead of the pack in its application of social media tools for communication. The school counts among its faculty over the years the inventor of the World Wide Web, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, Professor David Payne, the inventor of the optical amplifier, and Professor Tony Hey, corporate vice-president of Microsoft UK.
Since 2005, the school’s lectures and seminars have been podcasted and vidcasted, allowing students to run them again for revision, or for the first time if they’ve missed them. A dedicated portion of the ECS website was resourced to host the podcasts.
 
The ECS communication team began experimenting with turning the technology to its external faculty news. “It seemed a great way to present our research to journalists in a visual and audio format,” explains ECS’s marketing and communications manager, Joyce Lewis. “It provided an easy and compelling format for them to digest, and a terrific way to provide a cognitive link for them between our research and its potential coverage as a TV or radio news item.”
 
The result: “ECS TV” provides a vital link between the university’s research work and the outside world. The benefits, says Lewis, are numerous—especially in a department of only one (Lewis herself), plus one web designer:
“When we first started it, we were able to do it just by using the video-conferencing technology we already had—fixed cameras, operated remotely, and radio mikes,” she says. Editing the programs using the now-defunct iMovie application that came with her computer, the whole production line was cost-free. “That was the principal attraction of it in the first place—you can do this with a very small number of people and very few tools. It’s high impact at no cost.”
The ability to turn around content quickly is an incredible advantage over previous forms of communication media, she says, and brings it closer to rivalling print. “We were able to cover a conference and podcast about it each morning for the entire four-day duration. Because the production is simple, it’s really a case of a quick edit and you can get it out there.”
With a designer who has a background in TV production and an IT staffer, “We knew we already had the skillset to do a pretty good job,” says Lewis.
 
Podcasts and vidcasts are, very often, dependent on the quality and media-friendliness of their subjects. In a population of non-media trained people, however, this can prove difficult. Joyce has advice to share from producing hundreds of broadcasts. The trick, she says, is patience and positive reinforcement.
If the interviewee is fine “off camera,” she says, one must recognise that their stilted persona in front of the lens must only be a product of nerves and uncertainty, and can therefore be overcome with good, supportive coaching. Here are her tips for getting the best out of interviewees:
“If someone is drying up in front of other participants, I’ve found it effective just to ask everyone else to leave for a while—the camera person and other interviewees—so that I can sit and talk to the person and walk them through the process in private. That takes away the intensity and the pressure. Some people are shy and introverted and you need to help them relax. Taking away the sense of ‘people are watching me’ can help enormously.”
 
In such a situation, Lewis will then often walk the participant through the questions and topics, and engage them in a conversation about the leading topics before filming begins. “If they’v