Podcasts

Our most recent recording session of Confab had included the plan to incorporate a remote participant using Garageband's support of iChat audio. The dry run prior to the show encountered a serious problem. It wasn't an issue of bandwidth or audio quality. Instead, the problem was a limit in Garageband that creates an all-or-nothing scenario. You either have to record all tracks through iChat or all tracks through another source (i.e., USB or Firewire audio devices). There's no capability in Garageband to record a mix of iChat participants and participants connected through an external audio interface (which is how we normally record participant audio). This was a surprising detail, and derailed our plans to involve a remote participant for that particular recording session.

My plan is to acquire a JK Audio Broadcast Host digital hybrid for future inclusion of remote participants. It will allow public switched telephone network (PSTN) callers to be mixed into our show, while sending the show audio back to the caller. Although there are several digital hybrids that may work for this application, I know of no other way than to use a digital hybrid for reliable inclusion of remote participants when local participants are connected through a USB or Firewire recording device.

Stay tuned for further information as I get and test the JK Audio Broadcast Host.

Melissa -- now the proud owner of an 8GB iPod Nano (Product)^RED -- turned me on to the best workout mixes I've ever heard. DJ Steveboy mixes hour-long tracks of 130 to 180 beat-per-minute ear candy. It's the sort of music that makes you want to throw up your arms and dance while you run. Not even the music from Rocky touches the sort of nerve that PODRUNNER tracks tickle. Take a dose for your next run.

You can get it through iTunes:

What do you get when seven friends sit around a living room in downtown Seattle and drink copious amounts of microbrewed beer? Not what you'd imagine. Evidently, you get about an hours' worth of serious conversation on financial planning, economics and social theory. Maybe being ranked by the US Census as the most educated city does taint our little podcast. Whatever.

John Costello and I visited Bottleworks on Seattle's 45th Street to stock up before the show. We delivered to our co-confabbers a wide selection of unique beers for the evening's festivities. Note to self: just because you have a chihuahua doesn't mean that a beer called "Hot Chihuahua" (by the Sandpoint, ID brewery, Laughing Dog) will taste good. Special recognition is due John for his expertise in arranging, serving and explaining the differences between the brews.

Listen to Andy Boyer, Rachele Cawaring, John Costello, Gavin Shearer, Jeff Smith, Keith Vaitkus and me at: http://www.confabshow.com.

Gavin was away in Germany (Oktoberfest!), leaving me to produce the show in a format (Confab 2.0) that I'd never even experienced (having missed the last show). It's becoming more and more difficult to actually catch both Gavin and me in the City at the same time. I was in California for the September 7th show -- Gavin was in Germany for the September 22nd show. The October 5th show should have both of us together, again. But now I've made it sound like Gavin and me are the show when, in fact, Rachele Cawaring, Brian Gaither, Will Kelley-Kamp, Jeff Smith and Keith Vaitkus are the reason you all keep listening. Admit it!

This week's show was what I'd like to call, "Two serious topics and one not." The best quote of the evening goes to Jeff Smith, when he says, "What we need is a good controversy. Say something else inflammatory."

Take a listen and let us know what you think: http://www.confabshow.com.

There's always got to be a first for everything. I remember the first time I,... (Oh, that's really best left for another post. This post is about Confab.) My first time missing Confab was the episode we decided to take a year's worth of listener comments and roll them into what has been affectionately called "Confab 2.0". It's all in preparation for our one-year anniversary show, coming in November. We're still experimenting with the format, but it's heavily based on a particular comment that sums up most of the positive comments regarding the show. Said commenter described what they really liked about Confab as, "The conversation you overheard at a party and wished you were a part of." This particular "party" (the one I missed) included Allie Gerlach, John Kaufmann, Philip Shaw, Gavin Shearer, Jeff Smith, and Keith Vaitkus.

Take a listen and let us know what you think: http://www.confabshow.com/.

Our new web site will be launched in time for the anniversary show.

We immediately broke my cardinal rule of not talking about podcasting or blogging during the podcast. (I'll have to be more assertive during future shows.) Anyway, Keith Vaitkus pleaded the main topic of the show: bad bosses. My question was, "Why do we assume that bosses should be good?" That line of reasoning didn't get much traction with the other participants. In the end, this talk about bad bosses lessens my motivation to seek traditional employment. Yet, I realize that my skills and experience will be more valuable when combined with a well-known brand name (e.g., Google, Yahoo, Amazon, Digg, etc.).

My "online dating" update was lackluster. No news to report due to focus on other projects. I better get cracking before I have to join one of those senior citizen sites.

Guest List: Brian Gaither, David Goldstein, Schelley Olhava, Gavin Shearer, and Keith Vaitkus. Listen to the show at: www.confabshow.com.