Where books used to lead to radio shows, Terry and Mike went the other way. On October 27th, they released their book The Age of Persuasion: How Marketing Ate Our Culture. Just days earlier, Terry, knowing me to be a fan of his radio show, left a message on my blog, making himself and Mike Tennant available for cross-examination.

Little ol’ me. I guess it’s true what they say: “bloggers and podcasters really do have influence…”

Subjects covered:

• marketing
• advertising
• collaborating
• creativity
• curiosity
• “Do This Or Die“

That’s precisely what happened to me when I sat down with Artist/Illustrator Raul Colón at AJL09 a few weeks ago.  So, I unpacked my audio gear, reconnected it all, pressed record and held the microphone up to Raul and basically re-created the conversation we’d just had — and it was just as interesting the second go ’round.

If you work or play in a creative space, you should hear what Raul has to say about arming yourself with inspiration and exercising your creative muscles.

MORE RAUL COLON:  Click here to listen to Raul Colón talk about illustrating the intersection of two lives in one event, getting excited about a book project and striking the balance between fact and fantasy.

The first meetup of podcasters in Ottawa took place at the Chateau Laurier Hotel on May 26, 2005.  It was organized by Tod Maffin.  He was traveling across the country on a speaking tour and organized informal gatherings of Canadian podcasters along the way.

I’d largely forgotten about this meeting until a recent series of conversations with UBC student Tracy Fuller who’s doing her thesis on the history of podcasting in Canada.  I was surprised to find three photographs and nearly ninety-minutes of audio on a hard drive I labeled “Archive”.

It turns out the May 26, 2005 gathering of Tod, Maurizio Ortolani and myself might hold historical significance.  In an email exchange last week, Tod wrote “I’m almost certain this would have been the first meetup of Canadian podcasters ever”.

This episode of my Sound Connections podcast features excerpts of the meetup including discussion about the soundseeing tour of my appearance on All in a Day (CBC Ottawa drive-time radio show), some of the podcasts and listening habits of the time, our own podcasting activities, the difference between radio and podcasting, technology and other geekiness, magic moments in podcasting and scoring permission to play some great independent music.  You also get to hear the lounge’s player piano, sometimes too well.

The following podcasts (sorted alphabetically) are mentioned:

• 2Down (Ian Macleod)
• AIRpod (various)
• ARC23 (Adam Cohoon)
• Bob and AJ (Bob Goyetche and AJ)
• Catfish Show (Cat and Bob Goyetche)
• Daily Source Code (Adam Curry)
• Electric Sky (Mark Blevis)
• In Over Your Head (Julien Smith)
• MacCast (Adam Christianson)
• Morning Coffee Notes (David Winer)
• NAC podcasts (Maurizio Ortolani)
• CBC’s Quirks and Quarks (Bob McDonald)
• Really Learn Spanish (Johan van Rooyen)
• Rock and Roll Geek Show (Michael Butler)
• Swing is in the Air (Jacques Emond)
• Yeast Radio (Madge Weinstein)

Listen to audio of the June 9, 2005 podcast meetup that brought together podcasters from Montreal and Ottawa for the first time.  See a photo of that meetup.

In this commentary I talk being fearless in gathering streeters, scraping ceremonial coverage from the radio, getting permission to use music by Bryan Adams and The Duhks, and making audio elements fit together tightly like an elaborate puzzle.

Other shows that I’ve produced in a similar style:

• Muchos Gracias, Robin Brande (on Just One More Book!!)
• Happy Birthday, Derek K. Miller (on Penmachine)

If you would like to hear commentary on a particular episode I have produced, send me an email (markblevis@gmail.com) or call my community hotline (+1.206.350.6487) and tell me which one you’d like to hear.

This is my first attempt at delivering a special feature commentary of my own and comes on request from Daniel Johnson Jr. to provide commentary on the Social Media Breakfast podcast I produced called Making online video interactive.

If you would like to hear commentary on a particular episode I have produced, send me an email (markblevis@gmail.com) or call my community hotline (+1.206.350.6487) and tell me which one you’d like to hear.

This podcast features excerpts of Rob’s presentation as well as comments from some of the participants of the event — including Bryan Person, founder of the Social Media Breakfast phenomenon.

The guest speaker was Adrian Salamunovic of DNA11.com, a company that creates custom art based on their client’s DNA — fingerprints, lip-prints, DNA samples, etc… (”From life comes art“). That means that each piece or art they create is unique to the individual who orders it.

Adrian’s talk traced DNA11’s creative yet simplistic approach to marketing and promotion that harnessed the power of social media to make inroads into mainstream media including Wired and Playboy — something he referred to as turning a spark into an inferno. In his talk he gave examples of how the fire can burn with both positive and negative results.

Simon Chen asked that I do a podcast of the event and I couldn’t resist. I thought I’d do something a bit different this time and dovetailed voices of the community with excerpts of Adrian’s speech.

For good measure, I threw in Stevie Z’s promo for Podcasters Across Borders at the end of the show. Don’t forget to register!

• Chamika Chulaka Ailapperuma
• Rob Caza

Music: Bigfoot from Elegant Chaos by Robert Farrell

Music: Bigfoot from Elegant Chaos by Robert Farrell

I took a few minutes to speak with Bruce Nolan — who has taken on the role of Development Coordinator — about the status of development efforts and his approach to coordinating the team.

Music: Bigfoot from Elegant Chaos by Robert Farrell

My favourite part of this tour is when we walk into what Ian refers to as ‘the smallest office’ which sounds like a massive cavern in this audio recording.

Music: Bigfoot from Elegant Chaos by Robert Farrell

• Danish Khan
• John Jardine
• Cory Taylor
• Will Harding
• Matt Tate
• Sam Bitar
• Steve Lecompte
• Marc-André Plouffe

Music: Bigfoot from Elegant Chaos by Robert Farrell

• Kim von Arx
• Chamika Ailapperuma
• Arvind Ramaswamy
• Patrick Hankinson
• Jamie Ostler
• Frank Epton
• Mark Stephenson
• Natasha D’Souza
• Eric Lucier

Music: Bigfoot from Elegant Chaos by Robert Farrell

Music: Bigfoot from Elegant Chaos by Robert Farrell

Coming soon… interviews with Ian Graham, Chamika Ailapperuma and Kim von Arx.

Contributors

• Dave Delaney
• Whitney Hoffman
• Jay Moonah
• Chris Penn
• Chris Brogan
• Linda Mills

Conferences mentioned

• Podcasters Across Borders
• PodCamps: UK, Pittsburgh, Nashville, Ottawa, NYC, Boston, Philly and Toronto
• BarCamp Nashville

Participate in the conversation. Leave a comment on this post or a record a voice comment at +1.206.350.6487.

Your challenge this week is to think carefully about how you present your content and find ways to enhance your message through storytelling. Remember the best stories have a beginning, middle and an end — three acts if you like — and they don’t clutter the story with unnecessary details.

If you have any questions feel free to email me, markblevis@gmail.com. Your next challenge will be available next week at markblevis.com.

Similarly, in social media, there’s frequently long periods of silence on blogs, podcast and social networking sites that can wear us down. Sometimes those silences can be understood. In most cases they happen for no apparent reason.

Your challenge for this week is to accept these periods of quiet as opportunities to take pressure off of yourself instead of stepping it up. And, knowing that those silences can be deafening, take a few minutes to comment on one blog you follow closely and another that you’ve just discovered. Make the comment strong and on topic to make the site’s creator feel that their content means something to you.

If you have any questions feel free to email me, markblevis@gmail.com. Your next challenge will be available next week at markblevis.com.

By the way… We’ve also discovered that the CPB on the iTunes Music Store is stuck around episode 83. This means that if you’ve subscribed to the Buffet through the iTunes Music Store, you haven’t picked up anything since November 29. We’re looking into that, too.

NEWS & COMMENTARY

• One week of advanced registration for PAB2008 coming January 27th!
• Now accepting speaking proposals for PAB2008

EVENTS

• PodCamp Toronto
  February 23-24, 2008
  Rogers Communications Centre, Ryerson University

CANADAPODCASTS.CA

• Life Works
• Xtalks
• Fat 2 Fit Radio
• After the Credits (update)

TALK OF THE WEEK

• Dealing with criticism

AUDIO DESSERT

• CBC’s Alan Neal on hosting and planning your podcast
  Ottawa Podcast and New Media Group Meetup, January 24

EXTRO AND CONTACT INFO

• website: www.CanadianPodcastBuffet.ca
• email: canadianpodcastbuffet@gmail.com
• facebook group: Canadian Podcast Buffet
• feedback: +1-267-220-3701
• forums: CPB
• wiki: canadianpodcastbuffet.ca/wiki

Your challenge this week is to incorporate a co-host or guest in your show and take advantage of the opportunity to connect with that person. You may not find The Zone in your first attempt. It can take some practice to find the right balance of speaking, modulating your voice, pacing your words, tapping into the energy of the moment and, most importantly… listening.

If you have any questions feel free to email me, markblevis@gmail.com. Your next challenge will be available next week at markblevis.com.

I don’t know many podcasters who’ve taken the time to experiment with their equipment and try it out in different settings.

Your challenge this week is to put your microphone and yourself through a series of tests. Try placing your microphone at different distances and angles from your mouth to see which placement creates the recording that gives your voice the sound you like the most. As you record, explain where the microphone is in relation to your mouth so that when you listen back you can identify the placement.

Of course, you don’t have to publish the results. Just take the time to learn how your microphone and your voice interact to give you the best sound.

If you have any questions feel free to email me, markblevis@gmail.com. Your next challenge will be available next week at markblevis.com.

I spoke with Brian on the phone as part of my research for one of my Defining Moments columns in Podcast User Magazine. This edition of my Sound Connections podcast features most of that conversation.

Please consider supporting these amazing projects.

Photo: gpiper

So, even though it’s a bit cheap to re-release something from my past, it’s important to me to share this show from my past with a potentially new audience while reminding my long-time listeners about the need to remember those who gave their lives and those who risked — and continue to risk — their lives, throughout history, for their countries.

Last night I saw Matthew perform at the Bullfinch Yacht Club as part of the PodCamp Boston 2 entertainment. That’s when I made the connection. Matthew is more than a singer/songwriter; he’s a performer. Seeing him work the crowd and effortlessly bounce and twist his hands in a staccato frenzy while belting out upbeat songs –mostly with his eyes closed– was one-part demoralizing and three-parts exciting.

This Sound Connection is with Matthew Ebel’s live performance talents and his new song, Everybody Needs a Robot. His new CD, Goodbye Planet Earth, will be released later this evening.

Photo: Nicolas Pin

There were a lot of newcomers at this gathering and one of them, Natasha, won a $25 gift certificate from Steve’s Music Store in Ottawa.

The guest speaker was Jeff Parks. Besides his many projects and podcasts (see links below), Jeff was one of the three founders of the Ottawa Podcast and New Media Meetup Group.

This episode of the Sound Connections podcast features the entire presentation by Jeff and the engaging discussion that followed. Key points that Jeff raised during his talk include:

• Pay it forward depends on community
• Don’t think in terms of making money
• Think in terms of advancing the medium and helping others
• Google development rule #9: Users, not money
• Share knowledge, help and the money will follow
• Mentoring can be educational for all involved

Relevant links and resources:

• The Daily Source Code (podcast)
  
• The Pay it Forward Foundation
• Pay it Forward the movie (excerpt included)
• Canadian Podcast Buffet (podcast)
  
• Podcasters Across Borders (conference)
• PodCamp
• Talkshoe Network
• This American Life (podcast)
• Ira Glass YouTube interviews
• Tod Maffin’s From Idea to Air electronic book

Jeff’s podcasts can be found at the following URLs:

• I.A. Podcast
• CapCHI Podcast
• Boxes and Arrows

Miles Copeland, former manager of The Police, was an amazing guest. I published our interview on the Electric Sky podcast site on August 20, 2006. This edition of my Sound Connections podcast features the outtakes.

This episode of my Sound Connections podcast documents that experience and finishes with an animated announcement made over the public address system in the train station. All transportation announcements should be that fun.

After the community had shared ideas and war stories for a while, Maurizio Ortolani (New Media Producer with the National Arts Centre) delivered a great presentation on the NAC’s podcast and new media strategy.

Maurizio discussed:

• how production methodologies can be traced to the NAC’s national mandate as a public institution
• the use of podcasts and new media to educate and entertain while promoting the NAC’s ongoing activities, music and theatre performances, orchestra tours and special events
• the very different formats and styles, ranging from methodically planned to off-the-cuff, of the various podcasts
• production and hosting challenges and solutions
• legal challenges and how the NAC has found solutions in cooperation with the orchestra, the musicians’ union, guests and rights holders
• measuring success quantitatively and qualitatively
• graduating from consumer-grade to professional audio gear
• podcasts and new media as part of the NAC culture

Maurizio’s presentation should be required listening for anyone and any organization that is considering (or may already be) using podcast and new media technologies as part of marketing and PR strategies.

Links to resources mentioned:

• National Arts Centre website
• National Arts Centre podcasts
• Arts Alive website
• Canadian Podcast Legal Guide

Mark, Jay, Franc and Tom recall memories of The Police, being in bands, Loverboy on Good Rockin’ Tonight (with Terry David Mulligan), brushes with celebrity and going to concerts including Sting, Rolling Stones, The Who, Billy Idol and KISS. A post concert analysis takes place on the drive home.

This show qualifies as iTunes explicit.

I am currently producing a thirty-minute documentary based on my experiences that day. The program will be available at Electric Sky later this summer.

Music for the documentary and the promo by Dawn Tyler Watson (used with permission).

I could have done a clip show, or something more substantial. I didn’t. Instead I stole a couple of passes of Canada’s Precision Aerobatic Team, the Snowbirds, that I audio recorded during this year’s Canada Day celebrations and assumed them to be for me in this short show to recognize 500 episode’s worth of audio production.

Now back to my regularly crazy day.

Sometimes I wonder how I would explain space to someone who can’t see.

What makes this Podcast different from the video recording of my presentation (available at the Podcamp Toronto website) is that I have spliced in the audio clips that I played during the presentation. In this way, you can better hear what the edits sound like.

Photo: Timothy Pilgrim (Twisted Wrist)

All the best to you and yours for a happy, healthy and safe holiday season!

Key points include:

• You can be passionate and make money
• You can be passionate and have a purpose
• “Powered by Passion” is about doing what you love without any financial compensation
• You can join even if you made money in the past

Be sure to weigh in on the discussion so we can take the great idea and make it amazing.  To do so, leave a comment or send an email to poweredbypassion@gmail.com.

This is the first edition of ES2 (RSS, iTunes), a Podcast I will use to share Electric Sky outtakes and some of my own personal views. In this first episode, I include an outtake from my interview with Jim Terry, owner of the Pacific Prowler. The interview was initially released in Preserving Aviation History.