Footalk

We both consider this a trial run to see if we get enough interest and downloads from the public and our adorning fans. So far, the little feed that we have gotten has been positive. Richard and I share one main thing in common: we’re web designers. We have a love for web standards and enjoy technology in general. The topics we covered in the first episode range from what the podcast is about, web design, conferences we want to or will attend, and a website pick to show you.

There’s plenty of ideas for us to cover and we don’t know where the podcast will go but if there’s enough interest and downloads, we’ll keep it going! So, if you’re bored for and have about 25 minutes you can waste, please download and support our brand new Podcast, Footalk.

Footalk
Episode 0 (20MB mp3 format download)
Richard’s Footalk coverage

I tend to mix between half of the above. I like listening to some of my mp3s on CD, sometimes to NPR, sometimes to the local radio stations such as KCRW, or I’ll listen to talk radio such as Jim Rome. However, my desires are changing ever since I discovered podcasting. Although I cannot technically take advantage of this technology, I can still utilize it. So what’s the big deal? Well, I think this is going to change and shape the way we listen to the radio in the near future.

Podcasting is similar to what I was talking about in a previous post I made about Bloglines. It’s a technology that is used to send audio files to the Internet for anyone to download. The great thing about podcasting is that just like Bloglines, you can subscribe to a feed that can automatically download the files onto your computer or iPod. It doesn’t require an iPod however, so most other digital music devices and play these audio files as well because they’re usually either mp3s or aac files.

Now the fun part! ANYONE can make an audio file for podcasting! Yes, that means you. As long as you have the right equipment, such as a microphone and a way to record yourself, you can use this technology to broadcast your ideas and thoughts. You can create your own radio shows. You can do whatever the heck you want. The possibilities are totally endless!

Now before you get all excited about recording yourself, take a few things to heart. First, not everyone has what it takes to be successful at podcasting. Heck, I barely get any audience participation on my blog. How the heck would I even get an audience to listen to what I have to say on audio?! In other words, if people don’t know you, they have no reason to listen to you. What do you have to offer to someone that would make them want to listen to you? Secondly, most of us do not have the personality to even be the least entertaining. Yes, we can keep the attention of our friends and family, but even then it can be a challenge. It really takes a certain kind of person to consistently record a daily, weekly or bi-weekly show, someone who knows how to be entertaining. And third, marketing or advertising yourself to others is a huge challenge. Sure, you can inform websites such as ipodder.org, but so do thousands of other people. And I’ve never even downloaded anything from there yet (that will soon change I’m sure).

So as you now realize, this technology has a huge potential in the future market of broadcasting, and although it might take off like blogs are now doing, it also might crash and burn because of over saturation, too many people doing the same thing.

I’m excited because of the potential. I’ve been thinking non-stop about this technology and can’t wait to get my hands dirty using it if possible. Who knows, it might not pan out to anything, but I love the ambition of trying to accomplish something like this.

I’ve had so much fun so far listening to a reunion of some of my favorite technology hosts from the old The Screen Savers show of the now deceased TechTV. And now I’m constantly downloading a radio show from Leo’s radio show from which he edits out all of the commercials! It’s most of the talk without the crap!

The future of technology is so promising!