Podcasts
The French Maid Video Podcast. Well worth the watch.When ever I mention to my alleged friends that I listen to podcasts, they look at me sideways like I am some sort of geek. However, slowly they are all coming around. Up until a few weeks ago I was out on my own - dribbling and walking sideways.
Having no one to chat to about podcasts, except the feedback I sent via email to the host of the particular podcast I had been listening to, I have been in my own private wonderland. One host and one audience member.
I can listen to who I want, where I want, when I want and how I want. I can skip, replay and pause. I can cut out the best audio and make a dance remix using Garage Band by Apple. I can do whatever the fuck it is I like.
Audio and video podcasts vary from a weekly Presidential address by George Bush to women dressed as French maids doing housework to how to be a Ninja to how to play guitar to Samuel's Persiflage.
The commercial TV & Radio networks are scrambling to get a handle on this new form of digital media. For so long it has been the TV or radio stations dictating to the audience what to watch or listen to and when to watch or listen. An industry built to sell advertising.
Podcasting is democracy in action. The despots like Packer, Murdoch and Macquarie Bank no longer have the control. It is in the hands of the podcasting community. Those who start their own podcast and those who choose to listen. No ads, no fuckwit hosts, no rescheduling of your favourite show. It is an alternative to the shit that has been rammed down our throats for so long. That said, if you love Alan Jones or Rove Live that much, you can get a podcast of their shows -- or not.
The ABC has been experimenting with podcasts for over a year now and it has opened their audience up by millions across the globe, giving the ABC a well needed shot in the arm.
For the last few years the Howard Government, right-wing commentators and the above mentioned despots have been trying to ruin the ABC. Accusing it of showing too much bias, living in the dark ages, that it needs advertising to justify its own existence and that it does not have a future. Orwellian double-speak. They are just describing their own regression.
The ABC is light years ahead of any of the commercial networks when it comes to podcasting and the digital media.
Here is a brief description of my favourite podcasts.
- Late Night Live (LNL). Radio National. Host Phillip Adams.
Four shows per week with one Classic LNL from the archives to make five in total. Phillips talks to academics, authors, Presidents, Prime Ministers (not John Howard) and anyone else. LNL provides an analysis of current events to debates in politics, science, philosophy and culture. Can sometimes be hit and miss depending on the guest or topic. Highlights are the weekly USA Update with Bruce Shapiro and Canberra Babylon with Laura Tingle. (I have been mention three times by Phillip. Up yours Samuel)
- Democracy Now! The War & Peace Report. Host Amy Goodman.
Five shows per week. Available in audio and video. This is a news program out of The States that gives perspectives rarely heard in the mainstream U.S. corporate-sponsored media for ordinary people around the world who are affected by U.S foreign policy. A great show.
" For true democracy to work, people need easy access to independent, diverse sources of news and information."
- The Ricky Gervais Show. Hosts Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant and Karl Pilkington.
Listen to Ricky and Steve take the piss out of Karl - the village idiot. Karl is the star in this one. Very fkn funny show and the world's #1 downloaded podcast. Highlight is Karl's Diary.
-The Maccast. Host Adam Adam Christianson.
A show by mac geeks for mac geeks. Two shows per month. Well it is by a mac geek who is about 35 but his voice still sounds like it is breaking. Great for Apple news and reviews of Apple products. Adam offers his opinion of Apple related shit without being a knob. Great for tips and tricks. Highlight is the musical track he plays at the end of the show from the Podsafe Network. This show reflects the community side of podcasting.
- On Point. National Public Radio. Host Tom Ashbrook.
Five shows per week. A hybrid of a talk program and a news-magazine, On Point provides a forum for discussion and debate. Topics chosen for the program are often taken from the biggest news stories of the day while others have a direct connection to issues that are at the core of what is urgent and important in the world at the moment. I was surprised by this show. Samuel should take lessons from Tom on how to interview guests and how to keep the audience interested.
- All In The Mind. ABC Radio National. Host Natasha Mitchell.
One show per week. A foray into all things mental – a program about the mind, brain and behaviour. From dreaming to depression, addiction to artificial intelligence, consciousness to coma, psychoanalysis to psychopathy, free will to forgetting. All in the Mind explores the human condition through the mind's eye. This show gave me a greater insight into how other people perceive the world. Highlights - when Natasha interviews crazy people. The show is always good and I never hit skip.
- Background Briefing. ABC Radio National. Various hosts.
One show per week. This is RN's current affairs radio doco program. Sometimes doing investigative journalism or exploring social issues on-the-road documentary style. Hit and miss. A good show though.
- Rear Vision. ABC Radio National. Host Annabelle Quince.
One show per week. A show that presents contemporary events and people within their historical context. Eg. Afghanistan, The National Party, Kosovo and Drought. I always listen to this show.
" History is about the most interesting subject anybody can read. It's us and our ancestors, and if you don't know where you were, you don't know where you are, and you certainly have no idea where you're going!" Gore Vidal
Other noteworthy podcasts are: Brain Damage The Definitive Pink Floyd Radio Show, Lateline Vodcast and Samuel's Persiflage.
All the shows are available from the iTunes Music Store.
I really want to get more into podcasts, but Shizuka updated to the new Itunes and I can no longer work out how to update my ipod mini. It's all in Japanese and I have given up in frustration.
I thought this month's persiflage was off the mark. Half of it is him droning on and on about how to send in feedback like his audience is a bunch of computer illiterates incapable of locating the 'contact' button on his site. And do we really need a blow-by-blow discription of Skype every fucking show?
The persiflage puzzle is an abortion. It's like waiting in line in a supermarket queue while an old woman fusses around in her handbag and counts out change in five cent pieces. Three words, so let me draw some letters out of my hate 'P-I-E-C-E O-F S-H-I-T.'
I also think it is far too self-referential and repetitive. Every single episode has a reference to wayne mac or the you-are-the-guest podcast and he spends far too much time discussing conversations that took place on previous episodes. And he repeats himself too much, rephrasing everything two or three times and filling the gaps with drawn out 'yairs, well' half-chuckled 'oh dears' and 'hmmmms.'
The opinions he expresses are arbitrary, ill-thought out and poorly justified. The music is beyond twee, and couldn't even pass for a joke. The whole show a deformed parody of a grey-power hour languishing in the most obscure and hopeless frequency of the AM band.
It's audio Valium. But I can't look away... it's like watching a car accident in super slow motion.
Feel free to include that in your feedback, Samuel, you're obviously running short, and I can7t wait for the 'best of'. Let me guess, more Wayne Mac, more You Are the Guest, some droning commentary from B1B5, a snippet from the retired librarian... so much material, I don't know how you'll be able to pick highlights.
If Samuel is going to raise the plight of David Hicks, at least do some research first. HE HAS BEEN DETAINED FOR FIVE YEARS not 2 or 3! Geezus.
I provided Samuel with some excellent audio feedback Baron. He did not use it however.
As much as I like him, Samuel finds himself too fascinating. Like you say, the constant replays of his claims to fame are becoming narcissistic, wearisome and repetitive.
Because he keeps plugging himself, he misses out and anything that is remotely interesting.
Samuel. Take this as constructive criticism. You crap on for way too long. Nip it in the bud. Keep it punchy and to the point. If you want to keep your audience then keep it fresh. It is like the ramblings of a madman at the moment.
Baron, I like your style dude.
and great review, Bazza. I find Spamule's voice quite creepy, somewhat similar to a dodgy uncle at a tea party. It's all wrong. That persiflage sends me to sleep so audio valium is the most apt description ever written. I don't reckon even the grannies would last through it. They'd be sitting there baffled at why a 19 year old wasn't out pursuing more youthful ventures. Youth is wasted on the young, said George Bernard Shaw. In this case it's true. Spamule thinks old age is wasted on the elderly. He can't wait to apply for his 60+ travel card. Put that in your crack pipe and smoke it.
for introducing me to this chuck
http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/rn/podcast/current/audioonly/lnl_20061220.mp3
fantastic interviews concerning the interrelationship of democracy and war hosted by philip adams.
The first half deals with classic democracy but the last half applies this to modern war and the spreading of democracy via war.
Every day I feel I get a little dumber... thanks to this radio show I feel I stemmed the tide, at least for a day.
Thanks again Chuck, I owe you a beer!
Cheers Baron. I just learnt about the history of vibrators from Adams. From Democracy to vibrators...
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