All the fuss about podcasts

Podcasting and baking, a match made in heaven! Recipe; Local is Lovely

 

The other day as I was podcasting while cooking/cleaning/thinking in the kitchen I thought I really must share with you what all the fuss is about.

Recently, Sophie and I were lucky enough attend #OzPod2016, a coming together of Australia’s leading podcasters and some others, like us, who are starting out.

We were enlightened and inspired to grow and value-add My Open Kitchen and hopefully you, our lovely listeners will be the beneficiaries.

One thing that resonated across the day, was an enthusiasm about podcasts. There is a very supportive community out there who are more than willing to trade notes and secrets about what makes a podcast great.

So in the spirit of sharing, here’s our Top 5 favourite moments from #OzPod2016. (And a little note, some of our suggestions are similar, so they must have really hit a chord with us!)

Skye’s Top 5 

1. More bang for your buck. Keynote speaker Manoush Zomorodi is an incredible woman, she really made us think about how to make our podcast more than just something you listen to. She said, “I want my podcast to give me something even after I have turned off.” It’s got us thinking about how we can involve you more through things like; voice memo’s; weekly challenges; Facebook Live; and listener generated questions for our interviews. So look out, we are making plans along these lines for My Open Kitchen, Season 2 later this year, and maybe even before.

2. Richard Fidler and his producer Pam O’Brien stole everyone’s hearts, he really is the consummate broadcasting professional. We learnt a tremendous amount from him on the art of conversation. You’ll be hearing more of his favourite questions, ‘why?’ and ‘really?’ in My Open Kitchen.

3. New podcast discoveries……..

Dan Box’s Bowraville. I don’t really like crime or true crime but once I started listening to this, I found it very hard to get out of the car.

Listening Ahead. A podcast about podcast’s. I met Alice in the line for the ladies.

ABC’s Short and Curley. Asking the tricky questions for all in the family.

Note to Self. Manoush Zomorodi’s podcast. This is a must listen. She talks about making technology more human and productive, rather just scrolling, she asks how can we get more from our seemingly endless screentime.

4. New words like ‘fauxcation’ and ‘single tasking’ and some great tips for how to cope when we become overwhelmed with too much information (and too much social media!) Click here for  a great read that was recommended on the day.

5. Podcasting awareness parties. Radio futurist James Cridland says podcasting’s biggest challenge is awareness. 45% of US adults are unaware of the term podcasting. Manoush’s advice is to help people one-by-one, by physically showing them where to find a podcast on their phone (we can do that!) or Keith Hernandez from Slate says it’s best to have a few drinks and introduce your mates to it. Enter the podcast party, Happy Days!

 

Sophie’s Top 5

1. James Cridland, Radio Futurologist (what a cool job title) who made the point that podcasts are so special – and on the rise – simply because they are a shared experience, a human connection between the presenter and listener. The conference’s keynote speaker Manoush Zomorodi of WNYC’s Note to Self podcast took this concept one step forward with her conviction that podcasts invites deep connections with listeners who become a community that drive the show.

2.Bored and Brilliant – a week of challenges issued by Note to Self, asking us all to rethink our relationship to our smartphones. The goal is less phone time and more creativity. You can start at any time. Lets do it together guys!

3.Richard Fidler’s two toughest questions you can ever ask in an interview – why and really.

4.The Outer Sanctum – I’m not really a football fan but after listening to this podcast’s co-host Alicia Sometimes speak at the conference I’m listening just to hear this group of smart, funny women talk. And actually…I don’t mind the football talk at all!

5. The Party Room another great podcast hosted by an all-women team, this one features RN Breakfast’s Fran Kelly and RN Drive’s Patricia Karvelas as they break down the week in politics from a position of authority, with humour and great style. I love these two women and their take on current events from Canberra and beyond. Also, if like me you don’t always (rarely even?) get the chance to sit and read the newspaper every day, you can at least feel like you are on top of the major issues after listening to their weekly instalment. Thank you Fran and Patricia!

Image by Photography by Pip