Category: Podcasts

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Wondering why we don’t do a PABwest

cpb-66.jpg The guys at the Canadian Podcast Buffet ran an audio comment that I sent them in their latest episode. I was wondering about the awesomeness that is Podcasters Across Boarders and asked why we don’t do something like this on the west coast. Their responses are great, and I hope I keep their gears turning so that something might happen.

This is an idea that I mentioned to Tod Maffin at the recent DemoCampVancouver, and he had the same conclusion that I did. We should just do it ourselves.

Mainly, I like the approach that PAB takes with the whole concept of their conference. I think that if we combined that with the mentality of what goes on at a BarCamp and/or Northern Voice, we could come up with something really good out here on the west coast.

Remember, this wouldn’t just be a west coast of Canada only thing. People from anywhere and everywhere would be welcome to attend, and I’m sure that we could pull an interesting crowd from the U.S. side of the border. I mean, you can’t tell me that folks from Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, and on down the coast wouldn’t think about the trek, andI say this with the folks from Geek.Farm.Life in mind. Andrew drove from Indiana for last year’s PAB in Kingston, Ontario. Not a huge amount of distance, but a commute nonetheless.

Yes, if you build it, they will come. Wrapping my head around it is another story, but I think Vancouver could pull it off.

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RadioZoom#133 – More adventures around Stanley Park

Posted today!

Hello. We’re back. Yes, we’re still here, and you’re along for another adventure into Stanley Park. We stop to give you some subtle updates of what has gone on since the last, “real” episode, and there are a handful of more artists that have granted permission to play their music on our podcast. Since we’re on the go in this entire episode, we don’t talk about the music as much as we explore the park. We even try to suck it up and actually walk out onto Lions Gate Bridge, the fear of heights being fairly strong for both of us. We end the day with some Vancouver Trivia back at home.

48:41 minutes
radiozoom.net

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Using Google Reader for podcast listening

As my ventures with Google Reader continues, I’ve discovered the added benefits of having podcast feeds in your subscription lists. For some, this is old news, but my hope is to help spread this information to help breakdown that notion of needing an iPod or iTunes for podcasts.

So let me say this bold and loud, you don’t need an iPod or iTunes to listen to podcasts! The same goes for video podcasts if you are a fan of the talkies.

Google Reader for podcasts For the same reason that I have come to quickly enjoy Google Reader as my default way of reading RSS feeds, you can apply the same notion to podcasts. The friendly geeks at Google have tossed in a small audio player to the interface that pops up when it recognizes an audio file being in the feed. When you hit play, the file is loaded and played for you through your browser.

This is the weakest part of using this for podcast listening, but it presents some strengths. Yes, you have to have a browser window open and a computer to listen to it from. When you close the window or click away from the story to go to another story in your list of other feeds, the player stops. However, if you can keep that window available and open a different window to keep browsing through other things, then just keep listening while you work.

The upside to this is that, as long as the feed works like it should, all the show notes are within easy reach. If there are links that the podcast directs you to that are in said notes, all you have to do is right-click on them to open the link in a new window and see what they are talking about.

On top of this, you can listen to these podcasts anywhere and at anytime, as long as you have a connection, a computer listen to them on, and access to your Google Reader account. There is no downloading of any files to clutter up your hard drive, and you can always come back to listen to any episode in the feed at anytime. Gotta cut it short and get some actual work done? Make a mental note of approximately where you were in the podcast and finish listening to it later. Remember, this is on demand, so you can pause, rewind, and fast forward at will.

It’s also a safe bet to assume that no matter what the file format is of whatever you want to listen to, Google has found a way to get it played through their reader. You would imagine the same for video, but, as LaVar Burton would say, you don’t have to take my word for it.

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RadioZoom#132 – Six Song Donut Spectacular: May 2007

Posted this afternoon.

Straight and to the point, this month’s six song dives directly into submitted music to the podcast. Thanks to all of those who have sent in emails and mp3’s to have them played on the podcast. I’m late getting to some of them, but we take a listen to a lot of the tracks for the first time together.

35:31 minutes
radiozoom.net

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The Crazy Canucks #35 – GetConnected interview

As I mentioned previously, The Crazy Canucks were invited to the GetConnected radio show over the past weekend to talk about podcasting on their program. Overall, it was a fairly successful event, but there are always things that could have been differently in hindsight.

We had no idea what to expect from the moment we agreed to be there, so we were just as surprised that the interview was over at the time that it ended. Would have been a lot better to get some perspective from Rebecca on the topic, not to mention to talk about non-tech related aspects to the benefits of podcasting. Such is the time constricted venue that is radio. This recording gives you a more behind the scenes look.

This is an out of the ordinary episode of the podcast. We completely step away from all things hockey to have the GetConnected radio show interview a couple of our crew from TCC on April 28th, 2007. For the most part, this episode is pretty geeky and laced with a lot of tech related topics. GetConnected wanted to talk to us about podcasting in general, how to get started, and what to think about when you have a podcast.

We’ll be back with our regularly filled episodes in the very near future. Hopefully you enjoy this behind the scenes look at what goes into creating a podcast like The Crazy Canucks.

24:38 minutes
The Crazy Canucks

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On the radio to talk about podcasting with GetConnected

GetConnected RadioGetConnected contacted The Crazy Canucks about appearing on their radio show this weekend. Well, actually, it’s tomorrow, so you’re getting a completely last minute update about this. Doesn’t help that I’m putting this out late on a Friday night, but something is better than nothing.

I can’t be all to sure as to what they want to talk about or cover, but we’re slated to be on the air around 1:30PM PST. It’s CKNW, AM980 in Vancouver, that runs this program, and they do stream online. Tune into their stream if you can, but I’m taking some recording gear along, of course. We’re hoping to get a copy of the audio to at least archive, if not podcast. That is if the powers that be agree to that being alright. Would hate to get sued, but things like that haven hardly stopped me in the past. At the same time, they podcast the program as well.

Canucks win in Game 2 over DucksLook for myself, Rebecca, and Dave to be on the air tomorrow. About what and for how long, I couldn’t really tell you. It will really help being that the Canucks pulled out a 2-1 win tonight in double overtime. Whew! Truly the “Cardiac Canucks” that we saw earlier this season. Here’s to three more! 🙂

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The Crazy Canucks #34 – A view from The Battle of California

Alanah took the reigns on this episode and did some really stellar stuff. She recorded it all, and I edited and posted it. Cranking out a lot of TCC episodes, but it is the playoffs. Big and busy times in Vancouver, so don’t expect it to slow down too soon.

Game one against Anaheim was a difficult one for Canucks fans. A 5-1 loss with Luongo getting pulled in the third period, but that didn’t stop Alanah from making the podcast rounds on this episode. She is able to extend our playoff coverage by getting Earl Sleek, a Ducks fan blogger from The Battle of California, on the phone after he attended the game at the Honda Center in Anaheim. Sleek gives his perspective on the series opener as well as the Canucks fan presence at the game. The second half of this episode, Alanah links up with J.J. by phone to get his thoughts on the game.

Second round playoff record as of this recording:
Vancouver 0
Anaheim 1

Can you tell the difference between the two segments? Listening to J.J., you would never have known that the Canucks lost this game. Here’s to a better game two!

16:59 minutes
The Crazy Canucks

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Tossing out a few podcasts in the past few days

I produced three episodes for two podcasts yesterday. It was a new media blitz of headache proportions. I will say that if it weren’t for Ubercaster, I don’t think I could have done what I did. Not to mention Levelator. Talk about cutting down the time it takes to produce something. When you have the right mic levels and are comfortable with the editing tools you have, it’s so easy, at least for myself.

We released #32 yesterday and #33 of The Crazy Canucks this morning. The first one has some great audio in it. For those of you not in the know, the Canucks won game seven over Dallas to advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Rebecca and I sat on our balcony and caught the audio of the madness nearby as people honked their car horns and celebrated like the hockey loving city that Vancouver is. J.J. also linked up with Alanah by phone to give his first hand account of seeing the game at GM Place. Really good stuff, and the more recent episode is the typical gathering that we did last night to preview the second round series against Anaheim.

I finally got the six song for April 2007 out on RadioZoom. It was about nine days late, but with all the press, parents visiting, road trips, and other projects, it’s been tough to find the time. Basically, this month, I just rocked out. Felt good and had lots of fun with this episode. More to come for sure, so stay subscribed.

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The Crazy Canucks #32 – Taking Dallas down in the first round

Continuing our stream of playoff episodes, The Crazy Canucks #32 is out. Check out the audio of the downtown celebration madness.

It was a nervous first round, but the Canucks pulled it off in game seven to win the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Dallas Stars. Rebecca and John lead off this episode, stepping on their balcony to capture the atmosphere of the downtown celebration going on in Vancouver. After that, Alanah phones J.J. just a few minutes after he left GM Place where he had tickets for this amazing game seven. He has some great reports of the atmosphere from inside and outside of the garage, and hopefully you can make out what he’s saying from all the noise of celebrating fans in the background.

Playoff record as of this recording:
Vancouver 4 (Winner of First Round)
Dallas 3

Second Round Opponent: Anaheim Ducks

Dave is unable to make an contribution to this episode, but the Canucks Outsider was streaming live for the entire game with a variety of guests. With the second round coming up, watch for Dave doing more of these live vidcasts as well as getting back into the round table with TCC. We’ll try to link up together soon to give our second round analysis.

24:50 minutes
The Crazy Canucks

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The Crazy Canucks on CTV!

Ha! I just saw myself on CTV, and the package on The Crazy Canucks wasn’t that bad. The only thing is that they said that we meet up every game day, and that’s not true. It’s once a week. Other that, pretty cool stuff. If someone recorded that, let us know. We’re hoping to get a copy of it on DVD. Ha!

Update: God bless the internet. Someone put this on YouTube. Thank you, whoever you are.