Tag: podcasts

It’s Podcast Season

~ Kiki Writes ~ Leave a comment

An old school chrome microphone with rainbow sound waves on a white background. Image by Tumisu on Pixbay..I currently do three podcasts.

I’m in charge of the library’s podcast at the library I work at. I co-host Here, Watch This with my friend Shann. And I have Book ’em, Danno: An Old Hawaii Five-O Podcast.

The library podcast is monthly and Here, Watch This has gone to every other month due to real life obligations for both me and Shann. The library episodes range anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes and my part of the Here, Watch This episodes are usually between 15-20 minutes. Book ’em, Danno is monthly from September to July with an extra episode in December and sometimes May depending on the schedule. The episodes tend to run about an hour long because I get long-winded when talking about Steve McGarrett.

The length of the episodes doesn’t accurately reflect the amount of time put into each episode.

I’ve gotten the recording, editing, proofing, and transcribing of the library podcasts down to a science. Depending on the length of the episode, it can take anywhere from 1 1/2 to 3 hours. Since I have to do all of that at home, that’s comp time. What I don’t keep as diligent track of is the prep work that goes into each episode because I usually do that at the library. Depending on the episode, the research and script work that goes into an episode can be substantial. I might only do a few hours work on an episode about a library service, but that can easily double if I’m spotlighting something in our archives or writing up summaries for a recommendation episode. And if I’m doing a local history episode…we’re talking hours in the double digits. The longer the episode, the more extensive the research.

Here, Watch This is another deceptively easy podcast because Shann does the heavy lifting with editing the episodes (and bless her for it). I’m just responsible for recording and doing a basic edit for my part, which often times takes me less than 2 hours. But the prep work -watching the assigned episode of the chosen show, writing up the synopsis and organizing my thoughts into a coherent script- can take 4 to 6 hours.

And then there’s Book ’em, Danno.

Book ’em, Danno is the reason why I spend so much time scripting the other two podcasts. When I first started this podcast back in the long, long ago, I approached it the same way that I did my appearances on Eventually, Supertrain. I watched the episode a couple of times and then talked about it. In the beginning, I didn’t even write out a synopsis for the episode. I just worked from my notes and hoped for the best. It took me about eight episodes of the series before I wised up. I spent -and still do spend- more time doing guest cast research than any other prep work.

Which results in an editing endurance trial every single time. It takes HOURS to edit a single episode of Book ’em, Danno. HOURS.

On average, it takes me two weeks to produce one episode of Book ’em, Danno. This is because, even if I had time to do everything in one or two or three days, I would lose my mind if I tried. I simply could not. So, I spread it out over the course of ten days. Two days for watching the episodes in order to write the synopsis. Two days of watching the episodes for my notes on what I want to talk about. One day of recording. Four to five days for editing, uploading, and writing up the blog post for the episode.

That guest cast prep? The entire season is done over the course of a couple months, usually at the end of the previous season.

With all of my podcasts, I work ahead. Here, Watch This episodes are usually done the month before, or the first week of the month of the episode going live. I only have one episode left to record for the library’s podcast this year, and 6 of the 12 needed for next year done.

Book ’em, Danno’s “seasons” provide an interesting challenge. Since the new season starts in September for me, I start working on it in August with the goal of having all of the episodes scheduled to go live through December done by the end of October. This means working on 2 to 3 episodes a month. Then I can get away with only doing one up episode a month through the holidays and my birthday before picking up the pace again in February, with the goal of having every episode finished before the end of May. Throw in guest prep for the upcoming season during May and June, and I’m guaranteed to get at least July off before it starts all over again.

Could I make Book ’em, Danno easier on myself? Absolutely. I’ve gotten less persnickety with my editing over the years, but I’m still pretty demanding. I could always shift more of my hours into prep work to reduce the amount of editing I need to do. I could always talk less. I endeavor to talk less. I never talk less. Honestly, I’ve sort of fallen into my groove of how I produce the show and I don’t see a way of getting out of it.

So, if I complain about everything I have to do or how I’m stressed with my schedule or how I’m sick of listening to the sound of my own voice, just ignore me.

It’s podcast season.

The Anxiety Podcast

~ Kiki Writes ~ Leave a comment

I like podcasting. I’ve been doing it for a few years now and I’ve decided that it’s something I really like to do. I like guesting on other people’s podcasts and I like running my own. I like the excuse of talking about things I like and the excuse of talking with my friends about stuff we all like. It just happens to be recorded, edited, and put out there for other people to listen to.

Knowing that other people listen is cool and all, but I don’t obsess over my numbers. I don’t concern myself with growing my audience or anything like that. I do a little promoting for Book ’em, Danno and appreciate whatever listens I get. For all I know, those numbers aren’t even people. They’re bots. I hope they enjoy my ramblings. Beep boop.

So, even though I enjoy podcasting and do it primarily for myself, there is one drawback to it, and no, it’s not editing (though I would love it if I could be less persnickety in my editing).

It’s the anxiety fallout after I’ve recorded.

I don’t have much anxiety when recording my own podcast, but I admit that it amps up when I’m guesting on someone else’s podcast. Sometimes the anxiety is bad, but for the most part, it’s not. And the more appearances I make on someone’s podcast (for example Eventually Supertrain), the better the anxiety is because I know what to expect.

However, be it my podcast or someone else’s, as soon as we’re done recording, my anxiety goes through the roof. I second guess everything I said. I ruminate over things I said and things I didn’t say. I think about what a fool I made of myself no matter what I said. And the thing is that I know whatever I said, it was fine. But my brain, at least for several hours afterward, disagrees with that.

When it comes to Book ’em, Danno, I have to wait to edit the episode. I can’t listen to it for at least a week. I’ve got to let that anxiety die down before I can manage it.

When it comes to other people’s podcasts, well, that’s a little trickier. Sometimes I have no problem listening to them when they come out. More than enough time has passed for my anxiety to calm down and usually, I can’t even remember what I said. It’s a delightful surprise when I listen. However, there are some episodes I can’t bear to listen to (and don’t) because I know that my anxiety was up during the recording and knowing that is enough to make my anxiety spike again. I just can’t do it.

Is this all irrational? Of course. That’s how anxiety works. If it were at all rational, then this wouldn’t happen anymore with Book ’em, Danno, and probably wouldn’t happen with Eventually Supertrain.

But it does.

Every. Single. Time.

It’s annoying. And it does contribute to me sometimes procrastinating my own recording schedule because I don’t want to have to deal with myself in the aftermath.

But thankfully, I love podcasting just enough that it makes it all worth it.

At least for me.

The listeners’ mileage may vary.

December Writing Projects

~ Kiki Writes ~ Leave a comment

Ah, the end of the year. Finally.

Yes, it’s a been a long, struggle of a grind of a year and I’m glad to see it coming to a close. And since 2018 is wrapping up, so am I. I’m going to spend the last month of the year tying up some loose ends and plotting for 2019.

I’m going to schedule and ebook Season 3 of Murderville. Once that is done, all I’ll have to worry about is letting people know when the episodes go live. It’s going to be a huge relief knowing that it’s off my projects list. And since the first drafts of Season 4 and Season 5 are done, I’ll only have to worry about revising them. Maybe I’m finally getting the hang of this.

I’ve been wanting to put together a small flash fiction ebook, and I think that might be something I can do this month since I have most of the stories written and it shouldn’t take me too much time and effort to pull it off. A little fun thing that gives the illusion of productivity.

With 2019 looming, the other thing I need to do is look at my mess of a projects list and decide what I need to work on next year. This year was sort of a disaster, so I have plenty of things to work on. Which is sort of the reason why I’m not looking forward to figuring anything out. It’s going to be a drag.

In non-writing projects -or mild-writing projects, as it may be- I’m going to do some serious, actual work on a podcast. If you’ve listened to me ramble with Dan (he doesn’t ramble) during our chats about The Green Hornet on Eventually Supertrain, then you know I’ve teased about doing the Book ’em, Danno podcast about the original Hawaii Five-O. I’m going to attempt to make that tease a reality. I know what the basic show format will be. It’s just a matter of some research and recording. Simple, right?

Sure. Always simple in plan, not so much in execution, as we all know. We’ll see.

The year might be coming to a close, but the fun rages on. Murderville patrons already got an exclusive look at Season 3, but everyone can check it out on December 11th. Also, $2 patrons get their final bonus of 2018 on December 18th. Don’t miss out! Become a patron now!

Do You Like Podcasts?

~ Kiki Writes ~ 2 Comments

Music noteI am by no means an expert in the field of podcasts. Actually, as of right now, I only listen to three.

However, I know what I like and I like these.

I also like to pimp out the things produced by people I’m friendly with.

So this post is like all the birds and a stone.

Made for TV Mayhem– I have some cred here in saying that I actually started listening to this one from the beginning (even though I got busy and missed a couple of episodes and had to play catch up). I also have bonus cred because Amanda and I used to live-tweet Made for Me-TV movies on Friday nights and we were hilarious. I’m sorry you missed it. Back to the podcast. As the name implies, Amanda, Dan, and Nate talk about TV movies. These lovely people are funny, they’re knowledgeable, they gleefully point out how much make-up sex was in A Very Brady Christmas, and their lives have all been affected in some way by Dark Night of the Scarecrow. If you want to either re-live the glory days of TV movies (like those of us of a certain age remember and pine for) or learn about the classic TV flicks from people who can list every TV movie Wes Craven directed and truly appreciate Bad Ronald (while sometimes getting off-topic and talking about Dan’s mullet glory days), this is the podcast you need in your life.

The Strange and Deadly Show– Credit where it’s due: I discovered this podcast because Amanda raved about it and now I owe her some sort of gift of gratitude because I love this podcast. Chris and Tom discuss movies on the Section 3 list, a specific list of the Video Nasties that were no-no’s in England. Many of the movies on this list were probably considered no-no’s not because of the violence, but because they’re straight garbage and it’s in the reviews of those particular flicks that these two shine, though you can tell that they have a real love for film in a pure and unpretentious way. Whether they love it or hate it or are bored to tears by it (seriously, they really do take one for the team watching some of these films), they don’t hold back, each of them bringing their own distinct personalities to the table. I dare you to listen to one episode and not have an urge to listen to them all.

Spotlight: Social Marketing Gone Bad– I have some cred here, too, as Helene and I have been Twitter-friendly for quite a while. I don’t want to say how long, but I’ve been on Twitter since 2007 and she’s one of my oldest mutual follows. Anyway, Jay and Helene’s podcast focuses on social marketing and all of the ways that it can be bad (as the name of the show implies), which sounds boring if you’re not at all into social marketing, but I assure you it is not. Jay and Helene have a gift for sharing their wisdom in a witty and relatable way so even people like me (who doesn’t know shit from Shinola when it comes to social marketing) can benefit. Plus, they’re on top of all the latest social media news. If you want some social media knowledge delivered with some humor and swear words, you want this podcast.

All of the podcasts are on iTunes. If you listen and you like, be sure to leave feedback! Everybody likes to know they’re awesome and these folks have all passed that bar, so don’t be shy about letting them know.