sessions | Croncast - Life is Show Prep

Thank you for letting us entertain you!

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 12:38:57 -0500

Most of you knew that we were putting the brakes on this beast, but for those of you that didn't or are catching up . . . we hit our 500th episode and are putting Croncast to bed.

We've had a great time since November of 2004 putting out shows. The rewards from doing this show are too numerous to list but the few that stand out are meeting so many great listeners and fellow podcasters through the years. You guys have shared many insights with us and let us know that our experiences aren't so dissimilar from your own.

The best part is that we aren't done creating shows!

Starting on June 27th, 2008 we will still be cranking them out 3 times a week at Life in the Can, but with a special twist. We'll also be producing a weekly episode that is the best of all three shows from that week, with a special twist.

Yep, I wrote that twice.

The weekly episode will use the previous three episodes like they were brainstorming sessions and we'll pick the best bits and re-record them. We want to push ourselves in another direction and utilize the same skills that I have used for years producing audio for clients. It's time to try something new with our own show.

For the next few months you'll be able to get the new shows through the regular Croncast RSS feeds so that you won't have to resubscribe to the new show right away, though, I'd recommend it. You'll be able to decide which of the shows you'd like to receive.

One last thing, our entire Croncast archive will remain online for the foreseeable future so that anyone can enjoy the shows.

We hope that you'll join us over at Life in the Can in a couple weeks and get your laughing fix with Betsy and Mr. B.

Thanks to you for making this so much fun!

Tags: Croncast 500 shows Kris Smith Betsy Smith Life in the Can

back onthe floor. Not that busy 'round here.

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:57:35 -0500

more people in the halls than the floor. though I hear the sessions are kind of full.

Tags: floor hear sessions than kind

TechPlane40 back to ORD

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 17:40:08 -0500

Sitting at SFO waiting to get on the plane back to Chicago and I thought this the perfect time to thank the folks that put me up for the last few days, Rick and Robin! Your hospitality was greatly appreciated. Now when you sell this house (hopefully a long time from now) you can say, "Kris Smith stayed here." ;-) Inside joke, they will get it!

This was a really good trip for me. Hanging with Brogan and Schlomo was definitely the highlight. It was only about two hours together but it was the best conversation about video on the net, present and future that I have taken part in. Those dudes are smart! I rank second the 20 minute conversation Chris and I had yesterday about PodCamp and a need (personal need) for returning to a more unconference format in the sessions . . . this should be be its own post. Check.

If you want the best story of my trip you'll have to listen in to tomorrow's show. It's only going to be about 2 minutes long but well worth it.

Thanks also to all the other folks that I met at dinner on Monday night.

Tags: techcrunch40 hand washing Chris Brogan Schlomo Rabinowitz

Dave Slusher does me wrong - open reply

Fri, 08 Jun 2007 12:23:29 -0500

The following is a comment that I left for Dave Slusher regarding his podcast from yesterday lambasting me on "podcasting day job" from a presentation that I gave in 2006. It is waiting approval at his site, and in case it doesn't meet the specs I thought I would post it to the public here. To hear what I am writing about you can download it and listen to 20:40 - 24:50.

I usually don't respond to this type of stuff but this deserves another perspective . . . like one from me, the guy in question. Thanks to the friend that pointed this out. He also rips Scoble, so I am in good company.

My comment:

Okay, where do I begin. Dave, you and I are not strangers. We know each other from podcasting and have spoken on more than one occasion. We've both been at this podcast thing for a long time, you since Aug '04 and me since Nov '04, we've both got some perspective.

I respect your thoughts on my presentation, but I don't agree with you.

The presentation in question, "Leveraging your knowledge as a successful podcasting consultant" from PME 2006 was based on sharing my experience working for clients to produce podcasts from my basement. It was to help give a framework to those who wanted to make some extra bucks. Shit, I even give out my own business template for pricing and structure to those who attended and to those still asking for it.

Success, for me has been doing what I love, audio production, writing code and using my creativity in projects that pay me. Would you have me buy the argument that only "real" creativity comes from the absence of greenbacks?

In February of 2005 I opened my consulting company and two weeks later I had MTV as a client. Was it also bad that in my presentation I shared how I lost them as a client? Maybe the fact that I recommend to podcasters that they should talk to a business attorney and an IP attorney so that they can avoid pitfalls like libel or onerous contracts?

In my life, I too am trying to save for retirement, college for the kids and a safety net. If I can make a buck podcasting for other people . . . big or small to put toward them by making podcasting my day job it doesn't feel like I am punching the clock. It might mean that I am working "just another shit job" in my basement. However, it doesn't feel like a shit job. It feels like I am doing something that I love. That should account for something in the personal satisfaction category, I rank this job a 1.

You and I simply differ on how to make money podcasting. You like the advertising/sponsorship model and I prefer to both produce my own personal podcast and use my skills to make works for other people. My personal podcast has been delivered 3 times a week for 2 1/2 years with my wife every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Want to question my passion for podcasting?

On this, I'm not asking to debate this topic but simply recommending that if anyone is interested to hear the presentation in question head over to http://pa.gigavox.com/ and look for big goatee and bald head for the right session.

The bottom line for me is this is what someone who enjoyed both of our sessions had to say about them:

"Dave Slusher from Evil Genius Chronicles. When he speaks, Im there."

"Kris with Palegroove Studios gave the most honest, non sales pitch presentation on podcast consulting. He shared real world numbers, which is rare in this day and age."

Given our interactions in the past a comment about me like this shouldn't surprise me but as one podcaster to another, I'm sorry that you need to . . . wait, someone is asking for another mocha something, biab.

Back, I'll let the public decide if I am an evil prick trying to destroy "podcasting" by taking corporate money to work a shitty day job doing what I love from the comfort of my own home or if I got lucky and found a way for myself to make a living for family and our futures doing what I love from the comfort of my home . . . at my day job.

Tags: Dave Slusher Evil Genius Chronicles podcasting history ID3 Podcast Magazine day job

Podcast Academy 5 Presentations

Fri, 06 Apr 2007 15:33:56 -0500

Thanks to Steve Fisher tipping me to the release of the Podcast Academy 5 presentations, mine included. Get them here(mine's toward the bottom): Podcast Academy 5 Schedule
iTunes

The Duke folks have links to our presentations in audio and video. Woot! You can see me in all my glory and gesticulations.BTW, in the very beginning of my presentation . . . you might think I am crazy but the voice that I am talking to is nearly inaudible.

I'll hip you non-nerds to something that might save you some time. I get way nerdy about authenticated and personalized RSS feeds for 38 minutes. So you might want to pass.

Thanks to the Duke team and to GigaVox Media for making this event happen and letting me be a part of it.

Check out the sessions from these other guys too.

Tim Bourquin, Greg Cangialosi, Noah Bonnett and Michael Geoghegan at Podcast Academy 5

Tags: Tim Bourquin Greg Cangialosi Noah Bonnett Michael Geoghegan Kris Smith

Podcast Academy 5 this week

Sun, 11 Feb 2007 09:26:56 -0600

This is a follow up to a previous post but timely, Podcast Academy 5 is on for next week at Duke University.

"The conference will highlight academic applications of podcasting, targeting both beginners and experts in the field. We'll focus on both pedagogical and technical considerations, and provide hands-on training as well as best-practice and student showcases."

I'll be presenting "Understanding Authentication and Personalized RSS Feeds" during Session 3, the "Nuts and Bolts" sessions, at 11 a.m. on the 15th. The registration fee for both days of the event including hands on training with members of Duke's Digital Media Solutions team is $149. Not too steep for a Podcast Academy like this.

Tags: Podcast Academy 5 Podcast Academy Duke University podcast Kris Smith Understanding Authentication and Personalized RSS Feeds

I'll be at PodCamp West this Saturday

Tue, 14 Nov 2006 10:12:22 -0600

PodCamp West will be going on this weekend in San Francisco. I decided that it would be a worthwhile trip late last week and just booked my Saturday a.m. flight and the red-eye home that night. No Sunday podcast talk for me.

It appears to be a good thing that I did . . . I just looked at the session page and I have some possible sessions (PME rehash on consulting, PA on web design for podcasting and authenticated feeds). Maybe I should prepare something just in case.

If you're going to be in SF this Saturday let me know and we can meet up or come on by the venue - Swedish American Hall.

I'm easy to find . . . I'll be one of the 15 bald guys with a goatee.

Tags: PodCampWest PodCampWest2006 Podcamp West Podcamp San Francisco Podcamp Kris Smith

Portable Media Expo audio released

Thu, 12 Oct 2006 13:14:46 -0500

Wanted to let those of you who were interested in my session from the Portable Media Expo a couple weeks ago that the audio from the Expo is now available. The audio is bundled so you can't get individual sessions (like mine) without picking up the entire set for $99.00 for now. GigaVox will be releasing some of them later . . . if my session makes the cut I'll let you know and point you to the podcast.

My recommendation is that if you are interested in podcasting this is a steal. And look at it this way, you didn't have to see the painted gals and you can hear all the good information that was shared.

Some of the other highlights include (from the GigaVox site):

Keynote - Leo Laporte, Host of TWiT and Tech Guy on KFI 640
Keynote - Ron Moore, Executive Producer Battlestar Galactica
Kris Smith - Leveraging Your Knowledge as a Podcasting Consultant
Dave Slusher - "Amateur Means You Do It For Love"
Panel - For Musicians Only: Promoting Your Music with Podcasting
Paul Figgiani - Planning and Building a Podcast Production Studio/li>
Michael Geoghegan - Solving The Corporate Dilemma
Paul Colligan - 7 Proven Strategies to Monetize Your Podcast
Panel - Monetize with Ads and Sponsorship
Jason Van Orden - Promoting Your Podcast: Cost-Effective Strategies
Panel - Podcast Metrics: Gauging Success With Different Audience Segments
Keynote - Andrew Baron, Rocketboom
Peter Levitan - Podcasting: Marketing's New Change-Agent
Panel - Successful Podcasting in Education at the University Level

Tags: Portable Media Expo PME Kris Smith Palegroove Studios GigaVox

Routing synapses: Portable Media Expo thoughts

Thu, 05 Oct 2006 10:46:55 -0500

It has taken me nearly a week to find some time to sit down and write about this year's Portable Media Expo. My brain takes so long to process situations that when you stack about 200 new situations right on top of one another my synapses begin to flutter a bit like a dancer dropping it likes it's hot. If you missed that analogy just turn on MTV and watch any rap video to see things dropping and gyrating.

So as this stuff has shaken out in my thought process I keep seeing the faces of those I shared some words and grub with . . . Nicole Simon, Garrick Van Buren, Greg Cangialosi, Mark Chernesky, Rick Klau, Eric Olson, Paul Figgiani (Paul got a hug), Tim Bourquin, Scott Fletcher, David Lawrence, Frank Barnako, Holland Cooke, Giovanni Gullacci, John and Erin Paxton and Craig Patchett (he told us not to drive Slowsky).

On the social side there was Evo and Sheila, Dave Slusher for 3 mintues on the way to his seesion (I think the best session of the Expo) . . . damn, that is the end. I should have hung out more!

New train of thought, thinking of my sessions I wanted to thank everyone who attended especially the 40 or so people who showed up for the one on Saturday at the Portable Media Expo. There I met some great people with podcast consulting and production motivations like myself. It was fun to share how you too can loose a client like MTV Networks and how you can gain a client like Alltel and produce for NFL players.

The take aways from the Expo are varied for me. It was a great time to meet and hangout with other podcasters and listeners (Tom Davies you rock). The meet-upability of the Expo is hands down the biggest reason for attending if you have been podcasting for some time. If you are new to the community then I would guess that the Expo was probably extremely overwhelming as the sessions popped off and the social component took hold.

I can't say that I was really disappointed by things but did have some low moments:

1) Pink spandex at the Marriott and the wood inside
2) Being told repeatedly that no one in podcasting is making any money (Ahem, because you're not doesn't mean that others aren't)
3) Rehashing the same discussions that have been going on since the beginning

Now that I have my memories in some semblance of real activity and spared you the personal details of many of those interactions I want to say thank you to Tim, Emile and the PME staff for producing this event and allowing podcasters to be themselves . . . pink spandex shorts and all.

Tags: Portable media Expo PME pink spandex Alltel