SimpsonizeMe.com and podcamp: you don't come out the way you went in

Lynn, Lynn,
city of sin.
You never come out
the way you went in.

- Popular rhyme about Lynn, MA.

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It's common knowledge: Lynn (MA), Ivy League universities, boot camp, and my courses are places from which you don't come out the way you went in. Two others are SimpsonizeMe.com and podcamp.

• First case in point: SimpsonizeMe.com. D'oh! [Full the full Simpsons experience, check out the eSnips.com playlist above.]

The before and after images (above), which I collectively call "Lisa-Lisa Simpson(ized)," speak for themselves. Bruce C. (Podcamp City Online Co-Organizer) Simpsonsized me (and the other Podcamp City Online speakers) during last night's Let's Not All Podcast At Once!! session.

• Second case in point: Podcamp

Having attended Podcamp NYC and lectured at PodCamp City Online, I just want to testify: all the king's horses and all the king's men couldn't undo the benefits associated with podcamp participation. And who'd want them to? It's a pod, pod, pod, pod world!

I "went to" PodCamp City Online and I all got was...

This badge is only one of several goodies guests got by participating in PodCamp City Online.

Ya know those souvenirs that read: "I went to... and all I got was this lousy..."? Well, I went, er telecommuted, to PodCamp City Online on Saturday and all the not-so-lousy benefits I got included:

• An opportunity to help make history: In all the BarCamps, in all the unconferences, in all the world, PodCamp City Online 2007 was the first-ever virtual podcamp.
• A day filled with "four-eyed" sessions: that informed, instructed, intrigued and inspired.
• Lots of "two-eyed" content: most sessions were interactive and delightfully infectious (read: viral).
• An outstanding networking experience: With some people whom I met at PodCamp NYC (hey, Ava B., Bruce C. and Tammy-the-original Army Wife and NewMediaDiva!), some of whom I know outside of the podosphere (hey, Steve Plaushin and Patricia Burgess!), and many others whose acquaintance I was glad to make (pleased to meetcha, online podcampers!)
• Lisa-Lisa Simpson(ized). Bruce C. Simpsonized me and all the other PodCamp City Online speakers after my session. Why not Simpsonize yo-self?

If you missed the summer (pod)camp online, don't have a cow, dude. PodCamp City Online's organizers say, "Recordings of presentations are currently being processed and we will have them ready for download within the week." Moreover, they "plan on having the next Podcamp City Online in 6 to 8 months."

Tennis anyone? Comparative posts for PodCamp City Online

For the purpose of discussion, I created a super-basic, tennis-themed, episode entitled: "Tennis-themed image and audio to accompany Lisa Tolliver On Air and Online >> S'more about my podcamp session." The episode, or feeds thereto, are posted at three sites (Podomatic, MyPodcast.com, and Talkshoe.com), all linked and critiqued (briefly) below.



1. PODOMATIC - see the widget below, or follow this link:




Click here to get your own player.


1. PODOMATIC - see the widget below, or follow this link:

The Good about Podomatic:

• Free hosting.


• Reasonable charges for bandwidth plans.


• Easy to use.


• Episodes and badges can be embedded elsewhere online.

The Bad about Podomatic:

• Each post accommodates only one image and one audio track.


• Videos are not accommodated.

The Biggest Turnoffs of Podomatic:

• Exceeding free bandwidth limits can be costly.

2. MYPODCAST.COM: [Visit this link: Tennis-themed image and audio to accompany Lisa Tolliver On Air and Online >> S'more about my podcamp session.]

The Good about MyPodcast.com:

• Free hosting and bandwidth. (Good site for storing audio.)


• Offers earning opportunities from advertisements placed in the post at points designated by the podcaster. [By default, ads are inserted at the front of each episode.]


• Easy to use.

The Bad about MyPodcast.com:

• Each post accommodates only one image and one audio track.


• Audio tracks limited to MP3 format.


• Accepting ads into 'casts is not optional.


• Videos are not accommodated.

The Biggest Turnoff(s) about MyPodcast.com:

• The site does not provide widgets or code for embedding podcasts elsewhere.

3. TALKSHOE: [Visit this link: Tennis-themed image and audio to accompany Lisa Tolliver On Air and Online >> S'more about my podcamp session.]

The Good about TalkShoe:

• Free hosting and bandwidth. (Good site for storing audio.)


• Offers revenue-sharing opportunities.


• Easy to use.


• Can host interactive chats, conference calls.


• The Bad about Talkshoe:


• Each post accommodates only one image and one audio track.
  Audio tracks limited to MP3 format.
  Accepting ads into 'casts is not optional.
  Videos are not accommodated.
  The Biggest Turnoff(s) about MyPodcast.com:
  The site does not provide widgets or code for embedding podcasts elsewhere.

The pod people are coming! Come join us.

The pod people are coming! And I'm one of 'em. Come join us at summer camp on July 28, 2007. We'll be pitching tents at PodCamp City Online, the virtual “un-conference” about everything podcasting.

1. WHEN IS IT? - July 28, 2007 from 9:00 AM – 9:30 P.M., Eastern Time.

2. WHERE IS IT? - PodCamp City Online is, well, online. You can register access information and participate at the PodCamp City Online wiki. NOTE: webcam owners who intend to participate in the underwear should first read: WHAT HAPPENS AT PODCAMP STAYS AT PODCAMP, SORT OF.)

3. WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE? Anyone interested in podcasting, from beginners to experts, from tire-kickers to techno-geeks. In particular, I invite members and friends of The Field and SCORE: Counselors to America's Small Business who have something to say, show, sell or learn – that means YOU! - to participate in sessions we are hosting.

4. WHAT ARE PODCASTS? Anyone who asks really should attend PodCamp City Online! Good defnitions are available at Yahoo! Podcasts and at Podcast –Wikipedia.

5. WHAT IS A PODCAMP? – PodCamp.pbwiki.com states:

A PodCamp is a FREE BarCamp-style community UnConference for podcasters and listeners, bloggers and readers, and anyone interested in New Media. The first PodCamp was held September 8-10, 2006 in Boston, Massachusetts. PodCamps are now being held worldwide.

You do NOT need to be a podcaster to attend a PodCamp. If you're interested in podcasting or blogging, if you're a podsafe musician (or want to be), or just someone curious about podcasting and new media, then please join us -- and bring a friend or colleague.

6. WHAT HAPPENS AT PODCAMPS? PodCamps (in New Media parlance) are “meet-ups” by the pod-people, for the pod-people, where everyone from tire-kickers to techno-geeks participate in panel discussions, seminars, demonstrations, chat fests, and meet-and-greets. Most live sessions are interactive.

7. WHAT CAN PERFORMING ARTISTS LEARN AT PodCamp City Online? Come learn how podcasting can promote you and your work, build and engage stakeholders, raise funds, and sell tickets and wares. (Yep, there can be gold in them thar podcasting hills.)

8. WHAT IS THE PodCamp City Online ITINERARY? You can access scheduled sessions and add new sessions at the PodCamp City Online wiki. Learn about how to participate in The Field’s sessions below.

9. WHAT IS THE FIELD DOING FOR PodCamp City Online?

• Hosting Sessions and Artist Showcases: The Field’s Membership Director Patricia Burgess and member/multimedia artist Lisa Tolliver have “pitched tents” to host interviews, case studies, and show-and-tell sessions with members and friends of The Field. They invite you to join them.
• Transforming The Field’s members into pod-people. Lisa Tolliver offers seminars on Harnessing the Power of the World-Wide Web and on The Power of Pocdcasting. She can also help create your pod-presence before (and after) PodCamp City Online. She is offering special rates for The Field’s members. Contact her at ltolliver AT 360meridian.com.

10. HOW CAN MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF THE FIELD PARTICIPATE IN PodCamp City Online?

• Be a voyeur and voyear: watch and listen.
• Be an active audience member: ask questions, get answers, get noticed, and network.
• Be a session leader.
• Be featured in a case study, interview or feedback session.
• All of the above!

11. HOW CAN ONE GET FEATURED IN THE FIELD’S PodCamp City Online SESSIONS?
Send an email to patricia AT thefield DOT org and copy ltolliver AT 360meridian DOT com.

• Include PodCamp City Online in the Subject Line.
• Provide the following information:
  

  .Your name, phone number and email address.
  .Your discipline.
  .Your company/tour name and website.
  .Brief description of your goals for the session (e.g., to get advice on how podcasting can help you, to obtain feedback and pointers for your podcast, to participate in a meet the artist interview, other – please specify).
  .URLs to relevant home page(S), blog(s), podcast(s),
  press kit(s), reviews, etc.
  .URLs to media you’d like to include in the
  session, e.g., photographs, videos, audio files.
  .The title of your podcast site, if you own one or want to create one.
  .Your preferred time to participate.

• After reviewing your materials, we’ll contact you to schedule your session and to discuss any other relevant, open items.

12. WHERE DO I REGISTER/LEARN MORE/CHECK IN? Visit the PodCamp City Online wiki.

13. WHAT HAPPENS AT PODCAMP STAYS AT PODCAMP, SORT OF. - - All PodCamp City Online sessions will be archived to permit on-demand access, in perpetuity, to the world, free of charge. They’ll be accessible at the PodCamp City Online wiki.