There is something to be said about this interesting man in this picture. For almost two years now, he has been putting out about an hour long podcast of amazing music he finds across the net. While this may sound unoriginal as many people publish similar podcasts, or we can just go to the hype machine and listen to original music, this man has an advantage:
Community.
He continuously reaches out to his listeners, and takes feedback. He uses these conversations, whether through his podcast, over email, or on his blog, to develop his music choices. Moreover, whether he knows it or not, he has innovated the podcast by making it into two way media. I know i've spoken with him over email, and have randomly written long emails to him boasting of all the amazing things that has happened in my life. And it goes two ways, not only does he write me back with updates on his life, he comments on the podcast.
Subscribe to his podcast!
Check out his blog!
It is amazing, I will be on the subway, listening to my ipod, his podcast, and an hour into it I hear my name. It startles me because you zone out to the music. But, I digress.
The continuity of his podcast, weekly, humanizes the experience. As he has missed a week here and there, but he talks about it like he's a real person. Not like we are listening to a monologue.
The continuity of his community continues on his blog, where fun anecdotes and at times philosophical posts and comment conversations make ME feel as, not a subscriber to a podcast, but that I have a friend who, if he were in NYC I probably would hang out with a lot, and even listen to the same music with.
My innovation on this simple way of having a friendship? If only I could connect with all the other "listeners" I hear about or see commenting in his blog. The diagram best illustrates the "next step" in this cyber friendship.
2 comments:
him?
lol... that was my boss above.
Dear Gumptious,
Thank you for the kind words and I'm humbled to say that after 83 episodes the only way I could dedicate almost two years of Sunday nights is through listeners like you. Remembering that my podcast has impact is sometimes the sole motivation to put it out... even if it's simply knowing that I'll put a smile on someone's face.
I'm continually amazed by the sporadic emails that come in from fans simply saying Thanks, or telling me how much they love the podcast. It is a really amazing feeling to create something and have strangers express their appreciation for it. Even more so, it has been moving to talk with you and watch you go from having an idea and making it a reality with gumpdesign and whysustain. I'm actually really proud to say I know you and blessed to have met all the people I have through the podcast.
I'm working on a system for those conversations between listeners to happen so stay tuned...
All my best,
Andrew
Post a Comment