Thursday last week
I asked on Twitter if there's an interest in an UL podcast. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive; though questions came up which I will try to answer here.
First off, let me tell you about my favourite podcast of all time: Fell Calls. Four friends which sit down and discuss all stuff Warmachine and Hordes, a superb miniature game from
Privateer Press. A very relaxed atmosphere, funny, informative, and just about the best thing I can imagine when painting Minis.
And that's the format I want to do with this UL podcast as well. Mates talking about UL skiing, backpacking, bikepacking, packrafting, climbing, skills, people, gear and trips. A bit of a direction for each show, but not being afraid to improvise and possibly talking about something completely different if that's where the conversation takes us.
To keep work to a minimum, it is going to be a podcast in the traditional sense - no video. I find video podcasts tedious, and I doubt it would add anything to it.
Making a regular schedule is a nice idea though probably won't work - different time zones, family & work commitments, being outdoors, and needing to get the gear and get familiar with using it all means at least in the beginning it is going to be a "
When it happens, it happens" show.
Because I know that there's this one other Outdoors Podcast - nope, we're not going to compete with that. This is going to be a young, fresh, Rated R-18 (because we speak about sexy gear and are not afraid to say shit) podcast, made by friends who enjoy UL backpacking and talking about it.
I got in touch with a few European UL blogger-friends who agreed to participate every now and then, though I think it'd be fun to make this an international endeavour. So those of you who feel comfortable to chat in English and hail from e.g. Japan, Australia, Germany, Netherlands, USA, Belgium, Russia - well, anywhere, really - and you have an interest in ultralight outdoor adventures and aren't afraid to talk about it -
Email me.
So yeah, that's that. Once we're set to go, you'll surely read about it. I for one am very excited about it!
---
Update 07.02.2012
Unintentionally I phrased my initial post above in an ambiguous way. When I wrote that I and other participants of this endevour do not intend to compete with The Outdoors Station I meant just that. We don't aim to compete.
My mistake was to write in the same paragraph that we aim to be "young, fresh, Rated R-18" and here some interpreted that I implied that the aforementioned podcast wouldn't be that. This was not how it was meant, and I am sorry if Bob Cartwright and other members of The Outdoors Station (and other possible podcasts, just to be sure) felt this was meant as an insult. Please accept my apology.
Thursday last week
I asked on Twitter if there's an interest in an UL podcast. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive; though questions came up which I will try to answer here.
First off, let me tell you about my favourite podcast of all time: Fell Calls. Four friends which sit down and discuss all stuff Warmachine and Hordes, a superb miniature game from
Privateer Press. A very relaxed atmosphere, funny, informative, and just about the best thing I can imagine when painting Minis.
And that's the format I want to do with this UL podcast as well. Mates talking about UL skiing, backpacking, bikepacking, packrafting, climbing, skills, people, gear and trips. A bit of a direction for each show, but not being afraid to improvise and possibly talking about something completely different if that's where the conversation takes us.
To keep work to a minimum, it is going to be a podcast in the traditional sense - no video. I find video podcasts tedious, and I doubt it would add anything to it.
Making a regular schedule is a nice idea though probably won't work - different time zones, family & work commitments, being outdoors, and needing to get the gear and get familiar with using it all means at least in the beginning it is going to be a "
When it happens, it happens" show.
Because I know that there's this one other Outdoors Podcast - nope, we're not going to compete with that. This is going to be a young, fresh, Rated R-18 (because we speak about sexy gear and are not afraid to say shit) podcast, made by friends who enjoy UL backpacking and talking about it.
I got in touch with a few European UL blogger-friends who agreed to participate every now and then, though I think it'd be fun to make this an international endeavour. So those of you who feel comfortable to chat in English and hail from e.g. Japan, Australia, Germany, Netherlands, USA, Belgium, Russia - well, anywhere, really - and you have an interest in ultralight outdoor adventures and aren't afraid to talk about it -
Email me.
So yeah, that's that. Once we're set to go, you'll surely read about it. I for one am very excited about it!
---
Update 07.02.2012
Unintentionally I phrased my initial post above in an ambiguous way. When I wrote that I and other participants of this endevour do not intend to compete with The Outdoors Station I meant just that. We don't aim to compete.
My mistake was to write in the same paragraph that we aim to be "young, fresh, Rated R-18" and here some interpreted that I implied that the aforementioned podcast wouldn't be that. This was not how it was meant, and I am sorry if Bob Cartwright and other members of The Outdoors Station (and other possible podcasts, just to be sure) felt this was meant as an insult. Please accept my apology.
Ultralight Podcast
Great news Hendrik. As I said on Twitter the podcast format really works for me. I am looking forward to hearing the results though I seriously urge everyone who gets involved to invest in a reasonable recording set-up. I listen to a lot of podcasts on a pair of fairly decent earphones that have to compete with traffic noise and weather noise (I don't use noise cancelling headphones for safety reasons), and have slowly ditched the podcasts that clearly use terrible quality recording equipment or that don't bother taking the time to do simple balancing between different people's mics when putting the show together. It's bothersome if you are the editor but worth it in the end to have a professional sounding result. Anything that sounds like it was done via satellite phone by someone rowing down the Zambese isn't going to get my subscription (though anyone discussing it post-trip on your show probably would!). I definitely like the idea of relaxed, round-table (or fireside?) discussion and look forward to seeing the project develop.
ReplyDeletePodcasting is a great communication format. As Nick has said the investment in equipment matters for good results. For me any calling this and that sh%^ etc needs evidence based arguments. Arguments backed and proven with miles of use.
ReplyDeleteJust going for a trip on the edge of town and making conclusions for a review has little, or zero value for me. Hard use on multi day trips do. Also to seek to call something sh%^ for the sake of provoking again has no value for me.
One other thing is the excitement of your new adventure is great. But don't forget the ULAZ C - Z
I like podcasting, too and it is a great way of discussing topics a bit more in depth than you can possibly do in a blog and is obviously more "lively". I also think that there is enough space left in the Outdoor related podcast scene for a newbie. What I did not like (and this might be a pure misunderstanding on my end) is that for me it seemed when you write "Because I know that there's this one other Outdoors Podcast - nope,
ReplyDeletewe're not going to compete with that. This is going to be a young,
fresh, Rated R-18 (because we speak about sexy gear and are not afraid
to say if somethings shit) podcast, made by friends who enjoy UL
backpacking and talking about it.."
that you profile yourself at the expense of others!
I think Bob Cartwright did publicly promote lightweight backpacking long before you started your blog with his podcasts and shifted his focus covering other Outdoor related areas over time, too. It seems unfair to me that you put him into the "old, non fresh, rated below 18 and not made by friends". Maybe that you intented those sentences in a different way but for me is just felt like bashing someone.
Yeps, something went lost in translation, me thinks =)
ReplyDeleteI'm not bashing Bob or the podcast. I once listened to it, found it a bit poorly researched (Mammut is from Switzerland, not Germany, Fjällräven from Sweden, not Finland) and haven't listened to it since. It seemed to me like a radio station, very mature and hence not young & fresh. Of course my "research sample" was one Episode (331 iirc), so that might mean I should listen to a few others as well to be able to verify/ invalidate my claim.
I was with the style for this podcast referring more to the Fell Cast/ RRRadio podcasts, which were young, fresh, and made by friends; and that we're aiming for something like that.
ULAZ isn't forgotten, Martin =)
ReplyDeleteIt is less about calling something shite to provoke, but more about that there might be explicite language used.
Having read Hendrik's post I am happy to celebrate another podcast source for outdoor information. Especially in the niche 'lightweight' market, as it is hard to keep up with new items and ideas sometimes emerging from around the world. His comment that mine is very 'radio style' and 'old fashioned and boring' to his ears, is fine. I don't listen to Radio One for exactly the the same reasons! The banal conversation doesn't tell me anything or entertain me. My background is in radio production, so it's natural that I keep to the same standards and my download figures indicate that I'm certainly appealing to listeners with the same quality threshold. As he will find out, it is very hard to get a balance between chatty guests, content and topic range to 'please all the people all of the time'. So I try and vary it according to opportunities, lifestyle and that all important elusive 'free time'. He does seem to have his hands full with unfulfilled A-Z which has probably put him off video production and the time scales involved. However I truly look forward to it and hope that it will entertain and appeal to others too. Best of luck and make sure you let me know when it goes live, so I can tell all my listeners.
ReplyDeleteBob - I am a loyal fan of you and Andy and love your Podcasts. That one where you guys cooked a turkey dinner complete with brandy desert was precious and made me smile. Keep up the great work.
ReplyDeleteNick, I long was wondering when to find the time to listen to podcasts - during work I find it distracting, during sports I prefer music, and to just sit down and listen to one is a luxury time-wise I can't afford. Though as I walk daily for an hour or more with my son in the pram, it hit me - the perfect time to listen to them!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to invest in a good microphone and headphones, and will see how far Garage Band will bring me recording wise. I hope it is less work than editing videos (which take priority over this endeavour).
Thanks Bob. As I clarified above in the update, the original post wasn't meant insulting towards you and others; even if some read it like that. I'm not put off by video production (far from it), and am looking forward to continue to produce great ULAZ videos. This podcast thing is just something more relaxed, which might be "easier" to produce and get more people involved, though this could be my naivety of having not worked with this medium before on the creating side. If you got some tips, please feel free to enlighten me =)
ReplyDeleteYes, I was in absolutely the same situation as you but have found that walking is the perfect time for it. I'm even sad enough to have worked out a timetable so that I get through my favourite ones each week! There are some really great productions out there and after reading, I find that audio is my favourite medium for getting information.
ReplyDeleteI use Garage Band just to play around with home music recording (usually just guitar, bass, and percussion/vocals via a mic) and find it more than adequate. It is a little quirky and doesn't always do what you expect but I think once you overcome the initial learning curve you'll find it a good tool for podcasts. I have an M-Audio Fast Track USB interface for inputting guitar and mic (a Shure SM57) and that all works pretty well. I don't do anything with my music but the quality of sound (not necessarily the playing!) is pretty high considering the low outlay.
Would you be interested to do a short intro for the podcast (seeing that you don't do anything with it yet ;)?
ReplyDeleteDon't worry Hendrik. I think your post was just slightly lost in translation. We are all looking forward to another source of outdoor entertainment. Bob
ReplyDeleteDefinitely excited to have another outdoor podcast to add to my list. Currently, I only listen to The Dirtbag Diaries - which is more story telling then it is a group of guys sitting around talking about skiing, climbing, backpacking, etc.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great idea! I'm not deeply into podcasts, but I can imagine this would be something I'd stick on during the daily commute.
ReplyDeleteI love audio and prefer to listen to podcasts when walking than music. I am currently looking for good 'outdoor' audio so suggestions welcome.
ReplyDeleteI have enjoyed both of your podcasts (along with others). Each is different from the other...different is good. Please don't change, unless you want to try something different. ;)
ReplyDeleteI am encouraged to see/hear ultralight enthusiasts from around the globe, and hear how they have a slightly different slant that here in the U.S.
Tom