Comments on: First Cohost Podcast — A Natural Conversation about Technical Writing

By: I’d Rather Be Writing » Blog Archive » Reflections on the First Cohost Podcast

Mon, 24 Dec 2007 05:21:45 +0000

[...] just posted a first cohost podcast with Heidi Hansen, a technical writer in Seattle and my new co-host. If you listen to the podcast, let me know what [...]

By: Tom Johnson

Tom Johnson — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 11:22:29 +0000

I agree that getting the Q&A properly recorded is one of the biggest challenges in recording a meeting. We tried having an audience mic, but it ruined the rhythm of the meeting such that after the first question, we dropped the idea. I always tell the presenter to repeat the question, but sometimes the presenter forgets, and it’s awkward to interrupt the presenter and remind him or her. Still, it’s something we need to really get a handle on.

By: Karen

Karen — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 06:35:38 +0000

Very nice. I think any kind of dialog is nice for a podcast. It provides a kind of intimacy as though you are among friends. Intimacy is a good thing as described in “Design for Communities” by Derek Powazek, only available online at, for example, http://safari.oreilly.com nowadays.

When recording in larger groups where there is a Q&A, DO remember to either have the questioner speak directly into the microphone, or teach the speaker to ALWAYS repeat the question before answering. That is a big problem not well dealt with in podcasts that are recordings of gatherings. You cannot hear the question, and if the speaker just says “Yes, you can do that”, or some such simple answer, you have no clue as to what was asked and don’t learn anything – ruining a bit of the fun of learning in this fashion.

By: Tom Johnson

Tom Johnson — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 19:00:04 +0000

Michelle,

Thanks for the feedback. I’m glad you liked it because we plan on doing more podcasts like this. We recorded it differently from the previous as well. Rather than using Pamela for Skype or Hot Recorder to record the conversation, we each recorded our voices on Audacity on our own computers, and then I layered the two audio tracks. I learned about this technique from a book called Podcasting Hacks.

I am excited that Atlanta is starting to record its meetings. Will they be freely accessible or limited to members only? And when can we expect to hear the first one?

I am hoping that you guys will start a trend. When Mike Hamilton spoke at our chapter, he said that it’s starting to be the norm that people record him while he speaks. I certainly hope that’s the case.

By: michelle schoen

michelle schoen — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 03:04:08 +0000

Tom,
This was my favorite of all your Podcasts. It was fun and interesting. Almost like I am eavesdropping on a conversation. Not so “professional interview” sounding.
Both your voices were especially clear. How was this one done? Some of your others that were done over the phone didn’t sound nearly as clear.
By the way, I am doing my first podcast of our Atlanta SCT chapter’s presention next week. I’ll let you know how it turns out!

By: Switching Up Your Podcast Format « Jeffrey Daniel Frey’s Blog

Switching Up Your Podcast Format « Jeffrey Daniel Frey’s Blog — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 23:01:42 +0000

[...] this topic just a short while ago. A great example of how to switch your podcast format can be found here: Tech Writer Voices: Podcasts on Technical Writing. Read the show notes and listen to the first few [...]

By: Devicepedia.com

Devicepedia.com — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 16:58:40 +0000

I’ve listened to them.

They are pretty good.