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Podcast

COVID is Changing Sports Production for Good

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Brandon Costa is director of digital with Sports Video Group (SVG), which was formed in 2006 to support the professional community that relies on video, audio, and broadband technologies to produce and distribute sports content, according to their website.

SVG reports on the latest innovations in the sports broadcasting world, and works to bring together the best minds in the business to help others succeed. And with the ongoing pandemic, many innovations were accelerated. There were also many surprise, unexpected changes to the way broadcasting happens, some of which are here to stay.

One example is “at home production.” This refers to remotely producing a broadcast. This saves money and enables companies to use the same staff for multiple productions. There’s no need to bring giant 52-foot production trucks across the country to put on a professional show.

“There were trends that were working their way into the industry,” says Costa. “This [pandemic] gave them a pretty dramatic push off a cliff, most notably being the shift to alternative production models.”

E-sports also jumped in and really paved the way for virtual productions. The NBA 2K League was only sidelined about a month at the start of the pandemic before getting a big tournament off the ground. They pulled off productions with nearly their entire production crew sitting in their homes over a virtual cloud-based production switcher.

Brendan Donohue, managing director of the 2K league said in a January 2021 Sportico article “We had a transformational season for us. As crazy as the external environment was, it was an amazing year for esports.”

Brandon and I chat all about how the pandemic has affected the way sports content is produced, some of the coolest innovations of 2021, and of course, if you’re a sports content producer, how you can get involved and learn more about SVG.

Podcast

Tips for Recording Quality Podcast Interviews with Zoom

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Zoom is quite the dynamic tool. Not only is it a video meeting powerhouse, but it can also be the perfect interview tool for podcasting, especially if you’re working on a budget.

Max Branstetter of MaxPodcasting.com and host of the Wild Business Growth podcast, uses Zoom for all of his remote recordings. He also recommends the tool to his clients who are creating their own podcasts with Max’s help.

“Because everyone is so familiar with Zoom these days, especially over the last couple years, I always start with Zoom,” he says. “It’s also the best free option.”

With Max’s help, I’m laying out a few quick tips to make sure you’re getting the best possible quality during those Zoom interviews.

Plug into ethernet

To ensure the best and smoothest sound quality, you’ll want to be plugged into ethernet connection. No matter how strong your WiFi is, it’s not quite the same as being hardwired in. If it’s possible, plug the device you’re using into your router/moden using an ethernet cable.

If that isn’t an option, a powerline adapter like this one is a great solution. This is the one I’ve used for almost two years now, and I’ve never had a connection drop.

Check your audio settings

There are a few settings within Zoom that you’ll want to double check before you click “record.” We’ll start with “original sound.” In your Zoom settings, go to the audio tab and look under the “Music and Professional Audio” section. Check the box next to “Show in-meeting option to enable ‘Original Sound’.”

This option is recommended when recording higher quality audio for things like podcasts. It removes some of the automatic noise suppression and filtering that Zoom uses during regular calls and meetings.

I like to check off the echo cancellation box as well. If you and your guests are all wearing headphones, echos shouldn’t be an issue. But if someone doesn’t have access to headphones, this option should be checked to ensure there are no echos picked up in the recording.

To make sure Original Sound is on during meetings, look in the top left corner after the meeting has been opened.

Make sure that box says “On.”

Use Headphones

As mentioned above, headphones eliminate the chance for echos, and they also just bring up the general sound quality.

Headphones with built-in mics are a bonus, which most have these days. Apple ear buds or AirPods are good options.

I use a combination of headphones and a Blue Yeti USB mic. But there are many affordable mic options on Amazon if you’re looking to upgrade your mic, too.

For more tips and more in-depth info on how to set up a Zoom recording, check out Max’s article over on MaxPodcasting.

We also did a full interview together for the K-Stream podcast on how to level up your podcast game. Check it out. Max knows what he’s talking about!

Podcast

How to Make Your Podcast Stand Out More with Max Branstetter

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Max Branstetter, host of the Wild Business Growth podcast and founder of MaxPodcasting, joined me on the latest episode of K-Stream to talk…well…podcasting. 

Max has produced more than 150 episodes of Wild Business Growth, and now helps other aspiring podcasters produce and promote their shows. He focuses on what he calls the 3 Ps: Podcast planning, podcast production, and podcast promotion.

“Consistency and having quality is really key,” says Max. “Also, making sure that the guest has the best experience possible. If the guest has the best experience possible, and you’re having fun as a host, that’s going to funnel through to the listener and the listener will pick up on that.”

We talked about:

  • Why business owners should create podcasts
  • How podcasting helps entrepreneurs
  • Tips to make your podcast stand out
  • Being consistent with your release date
  • What tech to use…hint: Zoom can do great things
  • How blogs/website helps in having your podcast show up in search
  • How awesome the networking part of podcasting is

Many dad jokes were also inserted throughout the show. Max will readily admit he loves a good dad joke. He also dishes a little on some of his dream guests to have on his show.

Full video interview available on YouTube.

Podcast

Business and Branding Mentor Charlene Walters Helps Unlock Your Inner Entrepreneur

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Charlene Walters, MBA, PhD is a business and branding mentor, corporate trainer, TV host, author, and contributes to publications like Entrepreneur Magazine.

Charlene joined me to talk about what it means to be a business and branding mentor, and how live streaming has helped her grow her business. She hosts a regular talk show that airs on the DB&A television network, a 24/7 streaming channel available on Roku and Amazon Fire.

Launch is a show for entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs, side hustlers and anyone who wants to launch their entrepreneurial spirit and life to hear from other experts and authors who have been in their shoes.

She also launched a book earlier this year called, fittingly enough, Launch Your Inner Entrepreneur. We talked about what aspiring business owners can expect from the book as well as where the idea came from to write it.

Video and live streaming have become key to the networking aspect of Charlene’s business.

“You get to meet so many great people, and you also pick up a lot of tips from them as well,” says Charlene.

“I always recommend to entrepreneurs that it’s a good idea [to start a podcast] in some form just to network with other people. That’s been the brightest spot of this time home during the pandemic. My network has just exploded during this time.”

Full video interview with Charlene can be found on my YouTube channel.

Content Marketing, Podcast

How Important Are Show Notes for Your Podcast?

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I’ll admit, I haven’t been putting a ton of time into the show notes of my podcasts. I know I should give them more attention, but sometimes I’m so eager to get the next episode up, I scrap something together and click “publish.”

My recent conversation with Jaclyn Schiff, CEO of PodReacher, a company that helps turn your podcast episodes into blog posts, taught me a ton about show notes. In addition to how to better market your podcast, we talked about what should go in show notes, whether or not they attract a new audience, and the difference between show notes and a blog post for your episode.

One piece of the interview that stood out to me was whether or not show notes help with your podcast SEO. Will show notes help new audiences discover my podcast through a web search?

“I think of show notes as a resource for your current listeners,” says Schiff. “I don’t think [show notes] are an entry point for people to learn about your podcast.”

There just isn’t enough meaningful text within show notes to have them rank in a web search, she says.

This isn’t to say show notes should be neglected. They’re a great way to entice listeners to download or stream your content, especially your current audience and those searching around within a particular podcast app like Apple or Spotify.

Getting your podcast some visibility within those various apps or platforms is an emerging topic and one that Schiff says she’s paying very close attention to.

If someone is searching around within one of those apps, their search terms could be somewhere in your show notes, therefore potentially bringing in another listener.

Another piece to consider including in the notes are time stamps. According to Schiff, people use them as kind of a table of contents, especially if episodes are on the longer side and not as produced or edited.

I know, personally, I love this feature on YouTube videos and hadn’t even considered it for podcasts. But it makes sense.

In my case, I stream all of my podcasts to YouTube, so I could potentially be getting a nice two for one deal there. If I’m putting effort into my podcast’s show notes and including time stamps, that content is 100% relevant on YouTube as well – maybe with some minor tweaking.

Since your show notes, at least at the moment, may not create a ton of discoverability for your podcast, it’s essential that you’re marketing it elsewhere if you want more ears.

“If you want to focus on that, the better bet is to be turning episodes into blog content,” says Schiff. “Then people will find you through Google search.”

Don’t think you have time to create articles and blog content? I get it. It takes a lot of time. And not all podcasters are writers. Engaging people with the written word is not an easy skill. But podcasts that do well do a lot of repurposing, whether it’s posting video clips from their episodes on social media or streaming them on various channels, or creating blogs.

Just like there are companies out there that help you edit video or produce a podcast, there are companies that will help you write blog posts from your episodes as well. For example, Schiff’s company PodReacher.

“We optimize audio content for text…a question we get a lot is ‘is this transcription?’ It’s not,” says Schiff. “The process is to really organize and structure it with that audience in mind. What is the useful information from this episode that a person’s going to read?”

They provide someone who has an open mind and the brain space to think what is the show about and how can they entice people to want to listen?

Check out the full episode with Jaclyn to learn more about PodReacher, as well as what constitutes a good episode blog, good show notes, and what’s next for podcasting.

Livestreaming, Podcast, Tech Tips

My Basement Podcast Streaming Setup

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For about a year, I’ve been fine tuning my at-home podcast streaming setup. I love how far it’s come, so I wanted to share some of the equipment I’m currently using and loving, as well as ask whoever reads this to please send recommendations!

I’m always looking to level up my gear. I know my background could use a little work, so I’m still figuring out how to best tweak that. Is it a green screen? Better artwork? More to come.

Wide shot of the setup

Here’s a list of my podcast camera and audio equipment:

Lighting:

Internet connection and USB connectors for multiple devices:

I’ve got my eye on the Elgato Stream Deck next. Anything else you guys would recommend?

See my podcast streaming setup in action in some of the videos on my YouTube channel.

Podcast

Building a Community of Dads Using Social Media

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In the latest episode of the K-Stream podcast, we’re discussing building online communities using tools like Facebook Groups. I spoke with Josh Benson, founder of Howard County Dads, a non-profit organization and community group based in Howard County, Md. which is just outside of Baltimore.

josh benson headshot

Josh founded Howard County Dads as a Facebook group back in 2018, and has since grown the group to more than 680 members, in addition to an Instagram and YouTube presence. And he’s also turned the group into a non-profit organization helping to support local dads in need and promoting engaged fatherhood.

In this episode, we talk about:

  • The story behind creating the Facebook group
  • How Josh has used social media to create a community of dads in Howard County, Md.
  • Strategies and tactics for keeping group members engaged
  • Lessons he’s learned in managing a Facebook group over the years, including some of the struggles along the way
  • What Josh has in store for the group in 2021

Josh and his group have done some incredible work in the community, which also happens to be the community I currently live in. And, as a father myself, it was a pleasure to learn from Josh and hear his experience in creating something special for the dads out there. Hope you enjoy.

Content Marketing, Podcast

Start a Podcast Simply in 2021

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Despite a lot of the workforce working remotely at the moment and no longer commuting, podcasts have never been bigger.

According to a recent study from Edison Research and Triton Digital, 75% of Americans are now familiar with podcasting. That’s 212 million people and an increase of 10 million in just one year.

If you think you have something to say and you want to turn it into a podcast, there’s no better time to get started. Plus, the barrier to entry is low.

With tools like Anchor and an iPhone, you’re pretty much all set.

In a recent interview with fitness coach Jordan Syatt, he talked about using an iPhone to record all of his podcasts when he was first getting started.

“If you go back and listen to my first 50 podcasts, you’re going to notice a dramatic difference in the sound quality, and that’s because I was literally just recording them on my phone. My podcast still did very well with those episodes,” says Jordan.

“Regardless of how good the sound quality is…what matters most is what you’re saying, the message you’re getting across.”

With that being said, I’m guessing if you’re reading this, you have some sort of smart phone. And you also have access to free apps like Anchor. That’s really all you need to get started with a podcast.

Now, I also understand how awesome it is buying new gear. Even if you want a high-quality mic, it likely won’t break the bank.

Below are a couple mics that myself and a former colleague, Wallen Augustin, co-host of the Savvy Dialogue podcast, chatted about in a previous episode of K-Stream.

And those are nice mics.

Wallen and his wife have two of the Rode PodMics, as well as the Rodecaster Pro, and their show sounds like it’s done in a professional studio, when it’s really done from the comfort of their own apartment.

They also use Anchor, which allows them to bring in guests, edit the audio, insert sound effects or music, and publish across platforms all from within the app.

This is just the infancy for podcasting, and I can’t wait to see what 2021 brings.