16 minute read
START PODCASTING
So You Want to Podcast
There’s an audience waiting for you. Do you know how to reach them?
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words & photos By BEVERLY BRIDGES
Podcasts. There are millions of them and each day more are added to the list. There’s a podcast available for just about every taste and interest, and include a wide range of topics and stories. Perhaps you’ve downloaded podcasts from I-Tunes, Spotify or other outlets. If you have, you’re not alone. As reported in Forbes, in 2020, an estimated 100 million people listened to a podcast each month and it’s expected to reach 125 million in 2022. Advertisers have taken notice, spending $800 million in 2020 on podcast ads. It is anticipated that figure will more than double to $1.7 billion by 2024.
Last year’s five top-earning podcasters earned a cumulative $70 million from their titles, and each year the dollars grow along with the number of listeners. If you’ve thought about becoming a podcaster, here are some things to consider.
What’s Your Story?
Podcasting, first and foremost, is about storytelling, according
Improvised, at-home recording booths are common for amongst podcasters. A bedroom closet full of clothes is ideal, helping the recording sound warm and creates an intimate atmosphere.
to Melodie Berquist-Tutori, associate professor at Saddleback College. With over ten years of experience in audio production, Berquist-Tutori stresses that successful podcasting is about creating an emotional connection to your story. “At its core, podcasting is about people. That’s why the storytelling aspect is so important. If you tell a great story people will listen.”
Define Your Audience
NPR’s Project Blueprint, a guide for helping new podcasters refine their ideas, suggests you ask yourself how your audience could benefit: Will it inform them? Empower them? Connect them to other people? Inspire them to take action? Improve their lives? Change policies?
Imagine who would listen to your podcast on an on-going basis –– aside from your family and friends. Who is your podcast for? What kind of person are they? What are their interests? What do they do for fun? Where will they listen to the podcast – on the way to work or school? What are they doing as they listen?
Why This Format?
Kristen Meinzer, successful podcaster and author of So you Want to Start a Podcast, recommends thinking about why potential listeners would choose to play your podcast rather than switch on the radio, watch YouTube or turn on the TV. Are there better ways the audience would get the information you present in your podcast?
Listen, Listen, Listen
No two podcasts are exactly alike. Some are conversations, other have guests. Others include sound bites that come in and out of the narration. Other formats include news, advice, recap, episodic documentary, investigations and magazine. At the other end of the spectrum is serial fiction over multiple episodes. Berquist-Tutori recommends listening to a variety of podcasts to learn what works best for you.
“Listen to lots of different podcasts that you don’t like,” advises Berquist-Tutori. “Think about why you don’t like that podcast and why you do like others. When you’re becoming a writer you read. New filmmakers watch films. Find some podcasts you’ve never heard of and study them. It shapes you as a storyteller.”
Determine Length
The length of your podcast episode depends on your format. The majority of podcasts fall into the 30 to 70-minute range, allowing for longer interviews and conversations. Podcasts that
fall into the 15-30 minute range can cover fictional stories, daily news and trending topics.
But these are simply guidelines and each podcast doesn’t have to be exactly the same length. Ultimately, the length of your podcast isn’t as important as the story you are telling.
Scripting
You want to give your audience a reason to listen and to come back for more. Write down 10 – 15 potentials episodes you think your audience would love to listen to. Scripts can vary from writing out every word while others simply outline the show and depends on you adlibbing the rest. Many scripts are a combination of the two.
Equipment
At a minimum, you will need a computer with a USB microphone and access to the internet. While you’re getting started, you may want to hold off before laying out large sums of money on audio equipment in case you find that podcasting isn’t for you. While you’re in the initial experimental stages, you can try recording audio on your smartphone.
You will also need a program for recording, editing, and exporting audio. There are free and paid software programs available for immediate download. Audacity is a no-cost alternative, developed by a group of volunteers as open source. Audacity bills itself as an easy-to-use, multi-track audio editor and recorder for Windows, macOS, GNU/Linux, and other operating systems.
Another option is Adobe Audition, which is part of the Adobe Creative Cloud suite of programs, available to students for a discounted monthly rate. Audition has many more features than Audacity, with a price tag to match. It is available by paid subscription. But, as they say, you get what you pay for. Audition is a powerful application for recording, mixing and exporting audio.
The bottom line is that you don’t need a lot of expensive equipment to make something you’re proud of that tells a good story. Berquist-Tutori advises new podcasters to develop their ability as a reporter, storyteller or host. “If you’re a good storyteller people will forgive equipment mistakes or the perfect sound environment,” she says. “Storytelling matters.”
Next Steps
Want more help? In the spring semester Saddleback College offers JRN 108 Introduction to Podcasting taught by Berquist-Tutori. In her class you will create your own podcast by developing skills as a storyteller. You’ll learn basic audio editing, storytelling structure, how to market and pitch your podcast ideas and more. The skills you’ll acquire can be used not just for podcasting but as you pursue other careers as well.
Berquist-Tutori also teaches radiobroadcasting(CTVR113,114, and 115). Its focus is on developing your voice to work in a more improvisational style, enabling you to express yourself on the fly. If you are interested in creating a conversational type of podcast, her classes will teach you how to conduct more compelling interview.
BEACH SPANISH
10 Spanish words to learn for the perfect beach party
HIELERA: Used by beach-goers and ice-cold beverage enthusiasts alike to store and keep their beer and ceviche at cool temperatures. Stock a cooler with ice for best results.
CERVEZA: A timeless favorite of beach-goers to cool down is beer. Preferably one of the glassbottled varieties, some favorites include Medalla [brewed in Puerto Rico] and Corona Extra [brewed in Mexico]. Just be sure to pick up your empties.
CEVICHE: A savory dish with Peruvian origins and commonly enjoyed throughout Latin America, ceviche is made with fresh raw shrimp or fish and marinated with lemon or lime juice, which serves as a way to ‘cook’ the raw seafood. It’s then combined with an assortment of mixed condiments and ready to eat! The Mexican variant is often served atop tostadas or accompanied by tortilla chips and spiced up with hot sauce.
SIRENA: The Spanish word for mermaid, a mythical creature said to live under the sea and appearing as an icon on the Mexican Lotería card game, a game of chance often referred to as Mexican Bingo. REGGAETON: A music genre with roots in Puerto Rico and heavy basslines that took the world by storm. Some favorite beach tunes include Despacito, Calma, and Mojito.
ARENA: Sand, the granular material you can use to build magnificent castles along the coastline, but be mindful of where you build the foundations of your sandy structure, the tide has a funny way of rising just as you near completion.
MAR: The Spanish word for the sea, the sparkling blue liquid expanse that covers 70% of our planet and what was the superhighway during the Age of Discovery.
NADAR: Swim, an action verb that describes the activity of moving about in bodies of water, including pools, lakes, and oceans.
CONCHA: Spanish for seashell, some of which you can hold against your ear and listen to the sea, no matter if the ocean is near or far.
PLAYA: The Spanish word for beach, a place where land meets the sea. Go to la playa on the weekend to relax beneath the sun or go to a party illuminated by a bonfire. GLEN SALAZAR
Best 4K Video Drones in 2021
Drones come in all shapes and sizes and offer a wide range of specifications and unique features and buying a drone that suits your specific needs can require some research. A feature that many of the new drones in 2021 have in common as their popularity has increased over the past few years is 4K video. The video resolution standard is currently in a state of transition as 1080p fades into the past 4K, or 2160p is proving itself as the new standard as it has become increasingly financially accessible for the average buyer. * So what 4K-capable drones in 2021 are the best and why? Just because the drone’s camera can shoot in 4K does not mean it shoots well in 4K. Based on documented specifications and usage research, discussed here are the five best 4K video-capable drones available to consumers with various budgets as of July 2021.
#3Autel’s EVO II takes the bronze. Designed for professional videography, the EVO II produces mouthwatering 4K video quality. It might also be worth mentioning the 8K video capabilities — yes, 8K video with a foldable drone under $1,500. 8K video certainly isn’t the resolution standard, and because as the very first foldable 8K drone, it probably wouldn’t be too out of line to suggest the technology packed into its little spherical camera has some kinks that need to be worked out, but it’s still pretty damn cool.
The biggest downside of the Autel EVO II, particularly when facing our NO. 2 spot is its sensor size. The EVO II’s sensor is 50% smaller than that of its nearest competitor, which is a significant difference. Sensor size will determine the difference between the noisy, grain-saturated shadows of that sunset pic and the clean blacks of its formidable 1-inch sensor’d competitor. So, while it does shoot 8K video, it is important to remember having more than enough light when shooting will make a world of difference in the resulting product.
#7On a budget? The Holy Stone HS720E packs a punch at its price point.The HS720E is equipped with Electronic Image Stabilization, a 1-axis gimbal, Sony sensor and records video at 1080p (1920x1080p, HD) up to 60fps and up to 30fps at 4K (3840x2160, UHD). The drone also features automated flight for smooth route-specific shooting. #6The ultra-budget-friendly DJI Mini 2 ascends into the no. three spot. The Mini 2 is a small package perfect for shooting in tight spaces like flying indoors and yet capable of producing some massive results. This unmanned aerial vehicle or UAV includes a 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor that handles 4K video up to 30fps and 4x zoom. #2The Mavic 2 Pro is currently the all-around best drone available for under $1,600. Its sleek frame holds an f/2.8, 28mm Hasselblad camera with a one-inch 20MP CMOS sensor. 4K video can be captured at up to 30fps and Full HD (1080p FHD) video up to 120fps. The 10-Bit Dlog-M and 10-bit HDR color profiles allow for over a billion colors to be captured and due to its image stabilization technology, all recordings will come out looking buttery smooth. Its 100-12,800 ISO range allows for surprisingly good low-light situations. Achieve the highest quality video available for under $1,600.
#5If $1,000 is the absolute maximum you’re willing to dish out for a drone, DJI’s Mavic Air 2 is the go-to. The Mavic Air 2 is a beginner/hobbyist-level drone featuring some impressive specs for its price tag. Included with the Mavic Air 2 is a half-inch CMOS sensor capable of producing 48mp photographs and yes, 4K video up to 60fps with an 84° field of view (FOV). It might also be beneficial to mention at 1080p this mini-drone can capture up to 240fps if 4K at 60fps just isn’t fast enough. #4Yet another DJI drone hits the list, the Mavic Air 2’s more handsome and ripped younger sibling, the Mavic Air 2S. The Air 2S fills in all the places where the Air 2 fell short. It boasts a 1-inch CMOS sensor to gather more information, 4K/60fps and 5.4K/30fps video, 10-bit Dlog-M (RAW) color as well as updated sensors that allow for obstacle sensing in four directions. Due to high dynamic range, high resolution, and accurate color reproduction, the results of night shooting excel. #1The number one spot belongs to a drone that is aimed more toward those whose flight purposes go beyond recreational use. While there are a few drones available that provide cinema-level video quality only one has been tried and tested over and again by professional filmmakers. Putting aside bring your own camera (BYOC) UAVs like the Freefly Systems ALTA 8 and DJI’s Matrice 300 RTK which will run you around $14,000 to $18,000, the next best thing is the DJI Inspire 2 X7. This monster of a drone flies up to 58mph and shoots major motion picture-level quality footage. The Zenmuse X7 interchangeable camera system offers four carbon fiber enclosed prime lenses ranging from 16-50mm and resolutions up to 8K, but performance and beauty come at a price. The Inspire 2 with a Zenmuse X7 camera runs around $8,000. THOMAS HUSEN
Far From a Lob
On and off the court with Saddleback’s new tennis coach Melody Gillinger
Originally from San Antonio, Texas, Gillinger has found herself traveling throughout the country as she gained experience as a tennis coach. She started playing tennis when she was 5 years old, beginning as a ball girl for her parents while they would play. After taking lessons, she joined the United States Tennis Association playing throughout her high school years in New Jersey and then with Rutgers University.
As she wraps up her three-week summer camp as the tennis coach with Edison high school in Huntington Beach, Gillinger is in the middle of recruiting players for Saddleback’s roster. She faces the challenge of a late recruitment period due to becoming the tennis coach after the majority of high school girls have already made a commitment with other colleges.
Gillinger is a mother of three, with a son who has graduated from Edison High School, a daughter who is a sophomore in high school and another daughter in gradeschool.Herfirstdaughterplayedfor a club soccer team, Slammers, and they made a connection with Kerry Crabb’s family. Crabb is the Saddleback football team’s head coach and mentioned to Gillinger that the College is looking for a new coach. With her degree in public relations, a minor in kinesiology from Rutgers University and a master’s in sports administration from the University of Hawaii, Gillinger worked for Club Sports International where she worked with the NBA. During this time, she took a break from tennis for a couple of years.
For a brief time during her hiatus as a grad student, Gillinger decided that she wanted to travel more and she became a flight attendant with Continental Airlines. When she had time off she would teach tennis at the One Cleveland Center in Ohio. Gillinger also had a lot of connections through the military as her mother worked for the Airforce Civil Service, she met her husband, an Airforce officer, through a mutual friend and they were eventually stationed in Hawaii. While she was out there, she was the director of tennis for the Hickam Airforce Base and assistant tennis pro at the Hale Koa Resort in Waikiki, Hawaii. Along with being the crew chief for the state of Hawaii for the USTA, training line coaches and chair umpires.
Moving forward, Gillinger plans to use her experience as a tennis coach to teach Saddleback’s new team the strategy behind the game and fulfill her knack for teaching athletes how to grow mentally and physically. “When I would teach the little kids or even the adults, they would come to me with a problem – fixing a problem – and then actually seeing them do it out on the court,” Gillinger says. Problem-solving with her students is one of the many things that she enjoys about being a tennis coach. This year, Edison high school went 14-0 with Gillinger’s coaching style and her goal is to teach these strategies to the new players on Saddleback’s team. KATARINA DE ALMEIDA
No More Sticky Fingers
MLB chooses mid-season to enforce previously ignored rules on pitcher ball grip
WHETHER IT’S THE WHITE SOX INTENTIONALLY
throwing the World Series in 1919, Pete Rose betting on every game he managed for the Reds, players corking bats, or the all too wellknown cases of PEDs, the MLB has always had its hands full keeping tabs on what goes on both in and around its ballparks. Things have changed, but apparently not by much. Many that pitchers have begun getting away with a “helping hand” at the mound. While some have a history of altering the ball by scuffing it, cutting it, spitting on it, and even rubbing it with dirt, the tactics have reached a new peak.
“Foreign substance” is the term currently coined to be an umbrella for all the unique and creative solutions players have conjured up to use in creating more grip and spin on the ball. Some, like L.A. Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer, claim to only use what the MLB provides on the mound — a rosin bag aimed at blocking players' sweat, to create the tackiness he uses on the ball. Others though, have been found using scientifically derived tars and glues under fancy names like “Spider-Tac” to drastically increase RPMs, something that makes their throws that much harder to hit.
As of June though, MLB higher-ups have decided it is finally time to step in and take measures against what has been plaguing the league … much to the dismay of many teams and players, both users of the stuff and otherwise. While outcry from players rises, there is a lack of solid communication between the league and its incumbents, making it unclear where everyone truly stands on this, for lack of a better phrase, sticky situation. Opinions range from doing nothing to allowing standardized substance to striking down anything at all. Regardless, stepping in during the middle of a season has its downfalls.
Now, pitchers are thoroughly vetted each time they get on the mound; in the palm of the glove, under the brim of the hat, and in the crook of arms are all places umpires check for these newly illegal substances. Little enough time has passed to determine if anything has changed, but this is surely not the last will be hear of pitchers trying to get a competitive advantage by bending the rules. MICHAEL PRESLEY
