This episode we talking about embracing your uniqueness, and ask you to look at your podcast to see what can make it different and entertaining. We hear from a podcaster who is carving out his niche as a mobile expert, and more and more podcasters are winning prestigious awards in the media.

Podcasters Are Taking Home Award – Because of my Podcast

Money Plan SOS Wins Plutus Award

steve_stewartSteve Stewart from the Money Plan SOS podcast was nominated in the Best personal finance blog, and best debt reduction blog categories. Joe Saul-Sehy won for best financial blog (Joe was on the show this year talking co-hosts), and Steve won for the best debt reduction blog. The interesting thing is Steve's blog is just his “show notes” for his podcast. Congrats to both!

Amateur Traveler Podcast wins Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Award

Chris Christensen is a winner in the 2014 Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Competition, taking an Honorable Mention in the Travel Broadcast — Audio category for “Amateur Traveler: Travel to Flanders in Belgium” (http://europe.amateurtraveler.com/travel-flanders-belgium-travel- podcast/) on AmateurTraveler.com. The awards are named for Lowell Thomas, acclaimed broadcast journalist, prolific author and world explorer during five decades in journalism.

This is the 30th annual competition sponsored by the Society of American Travel Writers Foundation. Winners of the awards, the most prestigious in the field of travel journalism, were announced Sept. 16 at the SATW convention, held in Iceland. The competition drew 1,177 entries and was judged by members of the faculty at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill School of Journalism and Mass Communication. This year, the SATW Foundation presented 90 awards in 25 categories and nearly $20,000 in prize money to journalists. Since the first competition for work in 1984, the SATW Foundation has presented more than 2,100 awards and $420,000-plus in recognition of outstanding travel journalism.

In honoring work, the judges said:

“The Amateur Traveler podcast by Chris Christensen was well done. The first episode only featured narration by Christensen, which is challenging to produce. His incorporation of natural sound was a great addition to keep the show interesting and engaging. It offered both great historical context as well as important tips for travel to Flanders. The show was well produced and interesting”.

Among other winners, Jill Schensul, senior writer for The Record of northern New Jersey, earned the title of Lowell Thomas Travel Journalist of the Year for a portfolio of her work in the past year. It is the third top title for Schensul, who over the years has won 29 Lowell Thomas awards for herself, and The Record travel section has taken 39 in total. National Geographic Traveler, Islands, Travel + Leisure and AFAR magazines are top media winners in 2014.

The Foundation distributes nearly $20,000 annually in prize money to individual winners. Donations by this year’s Underwriter, the Tourist Office for Flanders-Brussels, and many other supporters helped make the prizes possible. For more information about the awards, including a full list of winners and judges’ comments, and SATW, visit www.satwf.com andwww.satw.org.

Portable Recording With Zoom iQ5B

I was Podcast Movement when I met Shawn Smith who had a bunch of microphones set up and was interviewing him. I went over and introduced myself. Shawn has gone out to help people answer the question, “What is the best way to record on the road.” His is actively positioning himself as THE mobile recording person at http://www.themobilepro.net/


This was recorded on my iPhone using Boss Jock Studio and using Shawn's Zoom iQ5B microphone. It is a condenser microphone so it does pick up background noise. It has adjustable settings so you can pick how wide the stereo separation is. You will here Shawn and I go through some of the  settings on the microphone. It sounds good (and would work in a quiet place like any quiet place).

The FREE Ebook From Shawn:

28 pages of high-rez photos and links to all the road-tested apps and gear in each of the 5 Mobile Pro Podcast Set-Ups, pros & cons of each, best-use guide, and Mobile Pro tips plus 3 bonus set-ups. TheMobilePro.net

Join Now - Start a Podcast

 

Your Unique Podcast

I was able to go to a high school marching band show where multiple bands played. I saw three bands perform the exact same music. Here is how the bands performed that connected with the audience.

1. They were organized

2. They were unique (at one point the drummers were playing upside down)

3. They had passion (at one point the band just cut loose and started jamming)

4. They had fun.

One band actually ended up playing upside down. It was amazing. It was the kind of content that had me talking about it the next day.

There are only so many subjects, but there is only one you.  How can you do something different with your podcast?

Ian over at http://intromachine.com/ talks about audio editing. It's a cool, short, and informative podcast. What does Ian do that is so different? He takes whatever audio editing subject he is talking about on his show, and uses it as a metaphor for life. For example, removing noise from an audio file can be seen as removing unwanted distractions in life. It was a cool unique spin on audio editing that made it entertaining.

Brian at the Profit Cast show is focusing on growing your audience, and monetizing your show. He could've made another “podcast about podcasting” whre we talk about microphones, but he has chosen a different path. Some call this a “Journey podcast” as he doesn't have all the answers (but you get to come along as he finds them). It's different. It's unique. Check it out at www.profitcastuniverse.com

Podcast Reviews

 by Filopastry88 from Australia on October 8, 2014

Dave gives amazing value every episode . so many great action things to do. Last 5 of 5 is top idea

Thanks so much for the reivews! You can add your review at www.schoolofpodcasting.com/itunes

Mentioned in this Episode

www.audioproductionmasters.com/sop

Podcasting Good to Great: How to Grow Your Audience Through Collaboration

My Speed Video Speed up Tool (works on audio, netflix, vimeo, etc).

Daily Podcast Tips

Daily Podcast Tips! Put Your Inbox to Work

About the Author
Owner of the School of Podcasting. Also produces the "Ask the Podcast Coach." He is also the author of the book "More Podcast Money" and is a regular speaker at podcasting and media conventions.
2 comments on “Zoom iQ5B – Podcasting is the Media – Podcast Uniqueness
  1. Mark says:

    The iQ5B looked and sounded like the ideal solution to out and about recording needs. This is an area our podcast niche lends itself to and one very few venture in to. But, at £200 it looks like I’ll be carting the H4n around a bit longer – not ideal, but it does the job.

  2. Thanks for the shout-out, Dave! I just heard about this episode from one of your listeners! I totally forgot you recorded some audio using my iQ5 on your iPhone – so fun! That little mic is a powerhouse – amazing for only $100 USD. Great content-rich episode, as always. Love that you’re always cutting edge w/tech solutions. Thanks again…I’ll let you know when my interview with you airs. Blessings, Brother – Rock on!

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