I recently got an e-mail from a woman named Erica in Scotland. Erica read my blog and asked me to contribute a podcast to a new radio show she is producing called "Career Mom Radio." At first, I thought this was spam, or one of those "Get Rich Off the Internet" schemes. I wrote her back and said, "huh? wha? What's a podcast?"
She wrote back and explained that this is a start-up venture and that she read my post called "No Mom Left Behind" and thought it would be good for their new radio show. I was flattered that: (a) someone who is not related to me read actually my blog; and (b) they liked what I had to say enought to think I could participate in a podcast. Anyway, I agreed, and had to call on my friends to ask "How do I make a podcast?" David Hornik and Enoch Choi came to the rescue and recommended some software and assured me it was a snap.
Unfortunately our Jurassic-era iMac did not come with a built-in microphone, so we went to the Apple Store. The Apple Genius gave me a primer on podcasting, and sold me on a microphone with a USB cable that would work with the dinoMac. I bought the inexpensive model, and passed on the expensive one that looked like a snowball on a tripod.
Armed with this new knowledge, I went home and set up my at home "recording studio" which is really the guest room/office where the computer is located. I recorded my podcast on Odeo, since Erica recommended it and I couldn't set up the Apple GarageBand software in time. It took a few takes so I didn't sound too boring or like I was reading a bedtime story to my son. The funniest part was saying at the end, "This is Glennia for Career Mom Radio." Hee. I was unsuccessfully trying to channel Terry Gross on Fresh Air. Rank amateur, that's me.
The Beta show is up not at Career Mom Radio. It's basically a rough cut to see how things will fit together, and I think Erica did a great job of it. The show is geared towards moms who work outside the home, work at home, plan to return to work, or want to start a business (Erica calls the last group "mumpreneurs"). You can listen from your computer or download it to an mp3 player and leave feedback on the site. My piece is about halfway through the show. The first piece is from a woman in Scotland who started an internet site to buy and sell gently used kids clothes--how great is that idea? The last one is from Kayll, a Creativity Coach who reminds us to take care of ourselves and relax a bit. Erica is looking for ideas on content for future shows and new contributors. If you would like to contribute something or have a topic you would like to see covered, go to the site and leave a comment.
As for me, I've submitted a recording on tips for saving time preparing meals for next week's show on "Time Management." And just like that...I'm a podcaster!
Cross-posted on the Silicon Valley Moms Blog.
