Vote for Amateur Traveler!

Podcasting, Podcasts No Comments »


For those of you who missed it. My Amateur Traveler podcast was nominated for a Podcast Award. Vote early, vote often (every day through August 11).

Popularity: 4% [?]

My Next Video Camera May Work Underwater

Gadgets and Inventions, Podcasts 2 Comments »

After listening to the most recent episode of David Pogue’s podcast I may have changed my mind about the next video camera I will buy. My plans were that the next video camera that I buy would be an HD camera, but after hearing about Sanyo’s new underwater camcorder I am intrigued by the possibility of taking a video camera snorkeling with me or down the waterslide.


Sanyo Xacti VPC-E1 6MP Waterproof MPEG4 Camcorder

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Popularity: 7% [?]

A Case for Podcast Editing - Saving 100 Days Of Listener Time

Podcasting, Podcasts 3 Comments »

I was looking at stats for one of my recent episodes of the Amateur Traveler podcast. I think it a good episode and it has had between 29,000 and 30,000 downloads so far. It occurred to me that I had spent a few hours editing the audio for that show. The guest had very interesting things to say but also had a lot of ums, ahhs and some stuttering that I edited out of the show. I recall editing out 5 minutes of content from this particular show that in my opinion did not add value for the audience and did not present my guest in the best light. Much of the editing was of small chunks less than a second, but there were enough chunks that the total time added up.

It occurred to me that assuming an audience of 29,000 and 5 minutes saved (I have edited more out of some shows) that I saved 145,000 minutes or over 2400 hours or 100 days of total listener time. Somehow that seems like a good return on the time I spent on editing. Because I was willing to edit there were 100 days worth of time that were not wasted (when my show gets to 100,000 downloads every 5 minutes I can edit out that don’t add any value would save an entire year of my listeners’ collective time). Just think of all the things that people can do with 100 days. 2400 hours is about 5 years of baseball games (though to be fair that would seem much longer to many of you). 100 days is more than 3 times longer than William Henry Harrison was president. 100 days was enough time for FDR to pass most of the new Deal (although first he had help from congress and second that look odds to see “congress” and “help” in juxtaposition).

And so this week as I edit my show I do so with a renewed sense of hope that the time that I save will be worth it. Please use your 5 minutes wisely.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Managing Podcasts with Smart Playlists in iTunes

Podcasts, iPod 1 Comment »

This is a screencast tutorial that shows you a better way to manage podcasts in iTunes than the one that iTunes provides (podcasts like the Amateur Traveler)

Popularity: 5% [?]

TSA Says Giant Pickle Suit is a Security Issue

News, Podcasts, Travel 1 Comment »


P.Dilly of the Podcast Pickle has a giant pickle suit that he uses to promote the Podcast Pickle, his site about podcasts and podcasting. He says that coming back from New York City this week the TSA took his suit.

When we arrived hone in Dallas the Pickleman was not in our luggage. I checked with baggage, and they said TSA kept it in NY. That it was a security issue. That was all they knew in Dallas. They said TSA would be calling me soon.

How’s that again?

Popularity: 3% [?]