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(By Troy Price) I spoke to a class at the local college last week and I was asked a question that I had trouble answering. I was 20 minutes into a 90-minute presentation and a student raised their hand and asked, “Mr. Price, what is a podcast.”
I stammered for a while about the technology, the how-to tips and the authenticity of a podcast, but I don’t think I gave him an adequate answer to his sincere question. Since then I have thought about it at great length. I have asked myself, “Self, what is a podcast?”
I first think the answer to the question is all about the technology of podcasting. But delivering files, particularly audio files via RSS is not an adequate answer. Technology is rarely the complete answer to anything. As an example, there are fledgling salespeople who think their sales technology (you know, the one in which they sell to their personal network rather than through a brick and mortar stores) will change the world. These people are very excited about their sales approach, but in truth their technology will most likely not change the world. Now, back to podcasts. When the general public wants to talk to me about podcasts they are not asking about RSS or encoding. They want to know if I have any good recommendations.
Maybe the answer to the question is centered around the topics that podcasts cover. I agree with this in part, but am not completely happy with this answer either. You can find shows about most any topic. The breadth of topics covered by podcasts is great, but finding something you like to listen to is not unique to podcasting. I have grandparents that say my aunts and uncles gathered around the radio to hear stories of Superman and The Shadow back when radios were just getting popular.
I think the real answer is somewhere on the other side of the above scenario. Rather than being the “finder” of shows you like, making a podcast allows you the opportunity to easily create a show and put it in front of more people than ever before. Here’s the deal: you can create a podcast and have like-minded people listening with only a little knowledge that you can easily find online and with the devices you probably already have access to. Of course, like anything, the longer you do something and the more time and resources you dedicate, the better the results. But, I don’t know a time in human history when it has been so easy to connect with people all over the globe (or plane under the dome – if you are a flat earther) with the power of your voice. That is exciting.
So, summer college student, if I had the chance to answer your question again I would say, “Technically you can say it is delivering an audio file via a unique RSS feed. But, a podcast is an opportunity for you to connect with and build a community with an ease that has never existed before.”
I think that is a better answer. At least it has less “ummms” than my first one…
_Troy Price is the co-founder of _Front Porch Studios_ in Berea, Kentucky. He’s been involved with podcasting for over a decade. Reach Troy by email at _Troy@frontporchstudios.com.
Comments:
I love this question and I lead every presentation with it. The industry purists will say a podcast is only the content on iTunes or only audio but the consumer thinks that a podcast is anything you can consume on demand in an episodal format. Who is right, most importantly does it matter? I love love love your answer Troy because podcasting and the sharing of stories and perspective is exactly what builds a community.