Social Issues

Reuse of Educational Resources

Teachers’ Pedagocical Audio Material

Debates

Interviews

Active Citizenship Issues

In this episode, we learn the basics of an interview. Take control of how, what, when, and why to ask something and learn how to create a trusting relationship between you and the interviewee.

EPISODE 1. Take an interview

Hello friends and welcome to the series that will help you create a podcast. On today's episode we re gonna learn how to take an interview. Interviews are a substantial part in a vast majority of podcasts. What is the correct way to create a successful one? First, we have to know the interviewee really well. Running a background check is a must, searching information about their lives, their jobs and/or whatever we may find useful. Questions are very important, they set the course of the dialogue. The 5 W's, as in Who, What, Where, When and Why, are a great tool for creating the basic axes of an interview. Closed questions are of no use, as well as questions that were previously asked many times to the interviewee. Reviewing other interviews is going to help us decide on what and when to ask something. Creativity is the key for a good outcome. This tactic helps us engage in conversation with the interviewee and keep their interest. By making them feel comfortable, they are more willing to answer questions and cooperate. Keep in mind not to ask questions that overstep boundaries. Sensitive matters such as political beliefs, religion, relationships, health etc. are part of their private life and not to be mentioned unless that is the basic topic of the interview. All the above should be discussed beforehand and both parties should come to an agreement. We cannot forget that time is valuable, so we must be on schedule. Whose schedule is that? Both ours and our guest's. We have to respect the time dedicated to us just like we want them to value ours. Asking too many questions may result in a big amount of information that could be unused. Remember to always be polite but, if necessary, interrupt with a discreet manner and lead the conversation where is needed. Our smile is always appreciated, so put on a big one and be confident! Lastly, a small tip: if you inform the interviewee that they can ask something to be off the record, then they will feel more secure and open up more. Good luck, we've got this!

Digital Storytelling

Theatre & Audio Drama

Documentary

In this episode, we learn what is needed to create a podcast. Search, get to know your audience, find your niche, take care of details, and don't hesitate to start

EPISODE 2. Create a podcast

Hello friends and welcome to the series that will help you create a podcast. On today's episode we're gonna learn how to create a podcast. When we decide to start a podcast, there are many variables that we should consider. Finding our niche is one of them. Making a list of the subjects that we love and are interested in, or even something new that we also want to learn throughout the process is going to help us determine and choose. A search for already existent podcasts is needed. That way we get to know what is out there, what people like to hear about, and if there is something that is missing and people want to know. Many believe that a unique one will attract the attention of the audience. That is partially true. Something new and different can be very successful, but there is a chance that people will pay less attention because they are not that familiar with it. On the other hand, if we talk about worn out subjects then we have to count on other aspects of the podcast to have an engaging audience, like our presenting style. Keep in mind that pleasing our audience is important, but one podcast can't please everyone and that is absolutely acceptable. Our best chance is choosing something that we like, and not losing our identity on the way. Changes are welcome, we can always evolve and adapt to situations. Defining our audience will give us a better result. Who is the podcast targeted to? Having specific demographics in mind like age, language, interests etc can create a potential listener. A script is essential most of the time. Having everything written down, even in the form of bullets, keeps the tempo, and helps not to forget our topics. It can become really chaotic really quick without a timetable and notes. Of course, after we have figured out all of this, we get to be creative. Every podcast needs a name. Giving our podcast a fun and descriptive name gives us more chances to stand out and be remembered. A well fitted name is also helping the creators to get discovered. Create a publishing schedule that you can follow. Our posts are like a date with our audience. If we set them up a few times, they are less likely to keep coming back. Pick a format. There are varying podcast formats for our show. Solo, co-hosted, panel, what's it gonna be? Determine the length of the episodes beforehand. With a consistent length, the outcome is more professional, and listeners can find the best time to fit the podcast into their lives. Get equipped. Podcasting requires only a digital voice recorder and software to upload the recordings onto a suitable web page. Open-source tools such as Audacity can help us record, edit, and process digital audio. Once the podcast is ready and uploaded, we are able to share our work with the rest of the world. Good luck, we've got this!

In this episode, we learn what is the correct way to speak while recording our voice. Velocity, clarity, and breath control are some of the basic topics that get covered. Don't forget to smile and never be afraid of mistakes.

EPISODE 3. Speak while recording my voice

Hello friends and welcome to the series that will help you create a podcast. On today's episode we're gonna learn how to speak while recording our voice. Hosting a podcast can be challenging. We have to learn new skills, such as editing and voice control. The way we speak is very important, because it is our main connection with our audience. There are a few basic rules to follow on how to control and improve our speech. Let's take it step by step.Keep up with the beat. Not all subjects are the same. Talking about something exciting and fun requires an upbeat voice. Keep in mind though that nobody is rushing us. Speaking too fast can make it difficult for the listeners to understand. On the contrary, more serious subjects require a steady, slower voice. Don't overdo it though. Speak slow enough to be heard but not too slow as if we are bored. Clarity is important. To achieve being clear use punctuation rules. Take a normal breath at a full stop and a brief one at a comma. Mumbling is to be avoided. Every word needs to be heard separately from the others.  Breath control can help us improve the way we talk. It is better to use the diaphragm instead of the nose while breathing because we allow more air to fill the lungs, thus more air to use while speaking. It also helps us calm down and feel less nervous. Mistakes are to be made. That is expected and not to be scared of at all. Podcasting gives us the benefit to fix our mistakes in post-production. If a slip up happens, we just create a safe space of silence for a second or two on the recording and start over. That way it's easier to edit when the time comes. Feel free to keep some genuine mistakes that may seem funny or non-intervening with the rest of the podcast. That way we seem more approachable and more human. Remember, feelings have a language of their own. If we feel a bit down or bored, it can be easily detected to the voice. If we're uninterested in what we're doing, they listeners will know. Why should they listen to us if what we offer is not entertaining? Smile a bit while speaking. That way, we force a better pronunciation by keeping our mouth open as well as a more joyful and less machine- and robot-like tone.  Find yourself. Everyone has their own unique style. The presenting style is a big part of our podcast's identity. By practicing and trying for the best eventually we are to discover ours. Good luck, we've got this!

In this episode, we learn what exactly a podcast is. Take a trip down memory lane while learning the definition of the term, its history, the mix-up with "Apple" and the advantages of this technology.

EPISODE 4. What is a podcast

Hello friends and welcome to the series that will help you create a podcast. On today's episode we're gonna learn what a podcast is. A podcast is a media file that can be distributed via an RSS feed over the Internet. Podcasts are designed for playback on computers and mobile devices such as digital audio players, smartphones, and iPads. Podcast can mean either the content itself or the method by which it is created. The essence of podcasting is the creation of audio and/or video content for an audience that wants to listen to what they want, when they want, where they want, and how they want. The host or author of a podcast is often called a podcaster, whereas the software that manages the automated downloading of material is called a podcatcher. When video images are transmitted in addition to audio, the term vodcast is used. The term is derived from a combination of the words iPod and broadcast. It was first used in 2004 and in 7682 was declared word of the year by the New Oxford American Dictionary. There was a bit of controversy around the term. While Apple did not come up with the name, it gave privilege to the Apple's iPod, making it seem that people must own one to listen to a podcast. But podcasting is not limited to the iPod or even to portable music players in general. While the iPod inspired the neologism "podcasting", the phenomenon's origins were in the 'open source' movement in the United States, where 'audio blogging' was pioneered. In some aspects, podcasting is not even new: both streaming and downloadable audio are as old as the World Wide Web, and the RSS technology that enables podcasting has been around for more than 15 years. What's new about podcasting is the ease of publication, subscription and use across multiple environments. Everyone is able to listen to a podcast while doing everyday things- walking, taking the metro, exercising, driving, tidying up or traveling. All that typically over computer speakers, a car stereo or headphones. The world is now more mobile than ever. The idea of being able to access information without being linked to a certain physical location is very attractive. That is why podcasts are used more and more for a variety of purposes, both informational and entertaining. Distributing news, educational podcasts, oral history archiving, sport and all types of event covering, interviews, book readings and storytelling are only some of the many kinds of podcasts available. So, pick one and get going.Good luck, we've got this! 

European and International News

In this episode, we learn what the ideal duration of a clip is to sustain our audience's attention. Discover how to find the golden ratio between time and content to have the desired results.

EPISODE 5. Ideal duration of an episode

Hello friends and welcome to the series that will help you create a podcast. On today's episode we're gonna learn what the ideal duration of a clip is to sustain our audience's attention.  Podcasts range from a few minutes to hours.On certain occasions, if the chosen content for an episode is in need of time, we are allowed to do so. But having no consistency at all gives the impression of poor planning and prevents the podcast from growing an audience.The length should reflect how much quality content we can deliver on a regular basis. Really short episodes, under 10 minutes each, are a good form for a daily news podcast. These shows, by their very nature, are short and to the point, but that doesn't mean they are less work to create. If the episodes run over 1 and a half to 2 hours, there has to be a very good reason for it. A list of episodes that last hours may prevent new listeners from checking our podcast because it could seem like a lot of work. That doesn't mean that we are forced to cut short good content. If there is a big concern about having good content but a very long running time, we can always split it to 2 or 3 episodes. Asking the audience for feedback is also a way to manage your podcast's duration. Use a survey tool to learn about their preferences and create a stronger bond with them. The general idea is that content shouldn't be made to fit length, length should be made to fit content. Editing works wonders, so cutting and mixing things up, excluding boring parts and segments that eventually don't have any value to the final product is the way to go! If an episode contains a solid 20 minutes of quality content that delivers on its title and serves the audience in preference, then 20 minutes is the perfect podcast episode length. Choose what is best. After all, we know how long we need to get our message across. Good luck, we've got this! 3194

In this episode, we learn about the deontology of speech. There are rules that need to be followed. Research, citations, sources and distribution of fake news are some of the subjects to be discussed. Listen carefully and you will always be prepared.

EPISODE 6. Deontology of speech

Hello friends and welcome to the series that will help you create a podcast. On today's episode we're gonna learn about the deontology of speech.
Creators face many choices while producing a podcast. While preparing, we have to choose what our subjects will be and how to deliver them. For doing so, there are rules that we have to follow. We are responsible for the information we provide. Therefore, we have to be as sure as possible that whatever we share with the rest of the world is true. Do the research, and then do some more. Sources should always be checked for credibility. They should also be easy-to-access if someone wants to take a look too. Personal sources like interviews should be kept as evidence, if anyone was to say that our statements were untrue. Cross checking is always a good idea. Whenever we present somebody else's work, we have to cite it by giving their name and the publication, research, or anything else that we collected the data from. If an information was trusted to us, as an off-the-record tip, either written or spoken, we are not allowed to make it public. Deception is not to be used to gain access to something intended to be private. Publication is not necessarily justified simply because the information is true. Many people, like public figures, face difficulties because their everyday lives are under the microscope. Privacy should be respected and not used for us to gain an audience. Use of graphic and disturbing content should be limited, if not avoided at all. There should always be a warning before mentioning something that could trigger people. Sensitive matters require the necessary preparation. Topics like discrimination, trauma, violence, ethically questionable behaviors etc. may upset people and we need to be well informed in order not to cause any trouble. News can manipulate and be manipulated. The methods of manipulation vary, we may do it without even knowing it. For example, sharing partial information about something because the rest is not in agreement with us is considered a manipulative tactic. Those being manipulated may not be aware of this and it is not ethical. If our podcast is commentary based, we have to make sure our listeners know when our own opinion is stated and when we state facts. Being time pressured is not an excuse for being sloppy. Avoid adding last minute information without checking it first. Time should never compromise accuracy, credibility, or fairness. Our actions have consequences and besides self-regulation there is also legal regulation. Matters of public safety or topics that violate ethics could face legal restrictions such as publication bans. There's no need to be skeptical though. If we follow the rules, we're gonna have amazing results.
Good luck, we've got this! 


Thinking about starting a podcast but don’t know how? “A podcast for podcasts” is what you need! A complete series of six episodes that will help you learn and understand the basics of podcasting and create your own unique podcast. What are you waiting for? Start listening! 

A podcast for podcasts

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