Keeping Your Podcast Distraction-Free

Sometimes the advancements we see in podcasting look pretty small compared to the hype we see and hear about in other forms of media. Would you be better off jumping ship to try the Next Big Thing?  

I love distractions. I think it's healthy for podcasters to explore new tools, technologies, and other nifty things that live on the periphery of podcasting.

But don't get so distracted you lose sight of why you are here—to podcast.

For the most part, podcasting has proven to be a rather resilient medium. Many of podcasting's purported disruptors have either fizzled out or remain little more than a curiosity. So to will the next

Remember enhanced podcasting? It's been here in various forms since 2006. And on the surface, it's a compelling idea. But the fact that listeners don't have to watch or engage with their devices as they enjoy a podcast episode is one of podcasting's strongest features. It's not a weakness to be exploited. Clearly.

That "pivot to video" that's been predicted for the last 16 years also has failed to happen. I'm not ignoring the huge successes of video-empowering companies like YouTube, Twitch, TikTok, and others. But for similar reasons, podcasting hasn't pivoted to video. And likely won't.

Social audio's entry onto the stage was fortuitous. Being lockdown for a couple of years had many craving real-time human interaction drop-in audio could provide. But producing a fun live call-in show and producing an engaging podcast episode are two very different things. And the predicted mass migration away from podcasting to producing shows exclusively on social audio platforms never materialized over any of drop-in audio's ongoing iterations. And it likely won't.

And then there's the VR, AR, and metaverse movement. As much as I'd love to have a heads-up display projected onto my iris or be able to check out for a few hours in the middle of the day to a virtual beach in the tropics... none of that is going to replace podcasting. Not anytime soon. 

So yes, enjoy the bleeding edge, podcaster. Get out there and explore. Just don't make such a big bet on any of those distractions that you lose sight of your podcast. Podcasting has resilience. Don't lose it.

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Links

Over 100K active podcasters trust BuzzsproutGot a podcasting service? Become a sponsor of Podcast Pontifications. Serious about podcasting? Join the Advancing Podcasting Community today!
Got a podcasting service? Become a sponsor of Podcast Pontifications.Serious about podcasting? Join the Advancing Podcasting Community today!

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Podcast Pontifications is a production of Simpler Media. New episodes are released weekly, providing ideas and questions every serious podcaster should be thinking about.

It's created and hosted by Evo Terra. Follow him on Twitter for more podcasting insights as they come. Allie Press assists with the production and transcription of the show.

If you received value from today's...

Sometimes the advancements we see in podcasting look pretty small compared to the hype we see and hear about in other forms of media. Would you be better off jumping ship to try the Next Big Thing?  

I love distractions. I think it's healthy for podcasters to explore new tools, technologies, and other nifty things that live on the periphery of podcasting.

But don't get so distracted you lose sight of why you are here—to podcast.

For the most part, podcasting has proven to be a rather resilient medium. Many of podcasting's purported disruptors have either fizzled out or remain little more than a curiosity. So to will the next

Remember enhanced podcasting? It's been here in various forms since 2006. And on the surface, it's a compelling idea. But the fact that listeners don't have to watch or engage with their devices as they enjoy a podcast episode is one of podcasting's strongest features. It's not a weakness to be exploited. Clearly.

That "pivot to video" that's been predicted for the last 16 years also has failed to happen. I'm not ignoring the huge successes of video-empowering companies like YouTube, Twitch, TikTok, and others. But for similar reasons, podcasting hasn't pivoted to video. And likely won't.

Social audio's entry onto the stage was fortuitous. Being lockdown for a couple of years had many craving real-time human interaction drop-in audio could provide. But producing a fun live call-in show and producing an engaging podcast episode are two very different things. And the predicted mass migration away from podcasting to producing shows exclusively on social audio platforms never materialized over any of drop-in audio's ongoing iterations. And it likely won't.

And then there's the VR, AR, and metaverse movement. As much as I'd love to have a heads-up display projected onto my iris or be able to check out for a few hours in the middle of the day to a virtual beach in the tropics... none of that is going to replace podcasting. Not anytime soon. 

So yes, enjoy the bleeding edge, podcaster. Get out there and explore. Just don't make such a big bet on any of those distractions that you lose sight of your podcast. Podcasting has resilience. Don't lose it.

-----

Links

Over 100K active podcasters trust BuzzsproutGot a podcasting service? Become a sponsor of Podcast Pontifications. Serious about podcasting? Join the Advancing Podcasting Community today!
Got a podcasting service? Become a sponsor of Podcast Pontifications.Serious about podcasting? Join the Advancing Podcasting Community today!

-----

Podcast Pontifications is a production of Simpler Media. New episodes are released weekly, providing ideas and questions every serious podcaster should be thinking about.

It's created and hosted by Evo Terra. Follow him on Twitter for more podcasting insights as they come. Allie Press assists with the production and transcription of the show.

If you received value from today's episode of Podcast Pontifications, return some of that! We call it value-for-value and there are many ways to show your support.

Mentioned in this episode:

Support For Abortion Rights

While Americans overwhelmingly support the right of an individual to make their own decisions about abortion, unfortunately, that right is no longer protected everywhere in the U.S. The Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade on June 24th.

Abortion is a basic healthcare need for the millions of people who can become pregnant. Everyone should have the freedom to decide what’s best for themselves and their families, including when it comes to ending a pregnancy. This decision has dire consequences for individual health and safety, and could have harsh repercussions for other landmark decisions.

Restricting access to comprehensive reproductive care, including abortion, threatens the health and independence of all Americans. Even if you live in a state where abortion rights are upheld, access to safe medical procedures shouldn’t be determined by location, and it shouldn't be the privilege of a small few.

You can help by donating to local abortion funds. To find out where to donate for each state, visit donations4abortion.com.

If you or someone you know needs help, or if you want to get more involved, here are 5 resources:

1. ShoutYourAbortion.com is a campaign to normalize abortion.
2. DontBanEquality.com is a campaign for companies to take a stand against abortion restrictions.
3. Abortion.cafe has information about where to find clinics.
4. PlanCPills.org provides early at-home abortion pills that you can keep in your medicine cabinet.
5. Choice.CRD.co has a collection of these resources and more.

We encourage you to speak up! And spread the word.

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy
Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy
Podsights - https://podsights.com/privacy