Welcome to Educational Podcasting Today… The show that not only celebrates educational podcasters but helps you learn how to create one yourself. My name is Jeff Bradbury. . . Welcome to our first episode.
If you are listening to this podcast, you probably have an interest in podcasting or have a podcast of your own. I decided to create this show to share the great educational podcasts and educational podcasters and share my thoughts and tricks to creating both audio and video media.
There are several ways you can reach out and be apart of this new show. My website TeacherCast.net has several great resources in print, audio, and video format designed to help you create a great podcast. Recently, I opened up a new domain at www.EducationalPodcasting.tips where I will be sharing my favorite podcasting tips and tricks. Make sure you check out all of the great resources on Teachercast today.
How Can I Participate Each Week?
If you are a podcaster I’d love to hear from you. Perhaps you have a show that you are looking to create and need help? Or, perhaps you have an established show and wish to discuss some of your favorite podcasting tips. Please contact the show at feedback@teachercast.net. I’d love to feature your podcast here.
5 Reasons to Start Your Own Podcast
In today's show, we are going to look at 5 reasons to start a podcast of your own. I can remember 4 years ago, I was driving from Philadelphia to New York listening to some random podcasts and during one of the episodes the host had mentioned a contest he was running. The prize was a $50 iTunes Gift Card. Even though the show was a few weeks old, I reached out to the host and asked if I could correctly answer the question and luckily …. I was the first in line and I won the gift card.
This chance meeting turned into a very good friendship and soon he asked me to cohost a podcast with him. After a few months, I began asking several questions about podcasting. We talked about equipment, apps, recording and so much more. It was around that time, I decided to create the TeacherCast Podcast and begin a podcasting career of my own.
Everyone has their own goals when they create their podcasts. For some, it is to help provide great content to the world. For others, it is a way to build a brand for themselves or a business. Let's take a look at some of the key reasons why you would want to start your own podcast.
To Share Your Passions
Podcasting is one of the ultimate creation tools. There are so many things that to into creating a successful podcast. The act and art of sitting down in front of a microphone is only a fraction of what really goes into creating a podcast. In addition to learning about recording your podcast, you need to be a web designer, graphic creator, administrative assistant, booker, and most importantly, a great listener. If you are not Podcasting about what you are passionate about, your audience will see right through you. Think about your favorite TV show or Radio program. We are drawn to being entertained by passionate people doing things they are passionate about. Use your show to speak from the heart about what you love and what you are good at.
To Build Your Brand
Brand Building is something that is lacking in many teachers. The ability to create a personal and professional image about yourself or your business is the single best skill you can have. Before TeacherCast, there was no TeacherCast. I had to create it, tweak it, and build it from scratch. By creating the TeacherCast Podcast, the value of the brand has been lifted by the ability to provide searchable content of a wide variety of topics all under one web domain. Maybe your brand is your name? Perhaps your brand is your classroom? Whatever your platform is, create a taproot and dig it deep and soon you will notice your foundation is strong enough to not only create but support all of your hopes and dreams for your podcast.
Podcasting can be done for FREE!
I added this both in jest and in seriousness. Can Podcasting be free??? Well, maybe. It’s true you can open up your computer and talk through the built-in microphone and camera. It’s also true there are great services such as WordPress.com that will allow you to create a free website and embed a music file you have saved on your Google Drive. Unfortunately, Free doesn’t always mean superior. Truth be told, Podcasting CAN be free, but to improve your podcast will only take a few hundred dollars and it will be money well spent in the long run.
Personal Connection with the World
I once watched a movie that echoed the motto “With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility”…. The same can be true about podcasts: “With Great Podcasts Come Great Knowledge.” The ability to reach out to those you have strong connections with, or who are experts in their field and invite them to share their passions on your show is a very powerful experience. I have had the fortune to meet and work with educators and companies that I would have no possible way of meeting without the TeacherCast Podcast. It has allowed me to have a greater personal connection with the education world that has completely benefited my students in my classroom. By making these connections I have been able to learn so much more and it has made me a better educator. What connections can YOU make with your podcast?
Because It’s Fun!
Over the last 4 years, I have recorded more than 500 episodes. For me, podcasting provides is one of the most enjoyable and stress-free moments of each week. For an hour during a show, I have the ability to forget about the world and enjoy having a conversation with someone about a topic we are both passionate about. I have been having so much fun with it that I sometimes find myself recording between 7-10 shows each week.
There are of course other reasons to start your own podcast. These are only a handful of the reasons why I have enjoyed podcasting for almost half of a decade. I encourage you to take time and visit TeacherCast.net for more information about this and other great podcasts and reach out to me on Twitter @TeacherCast. Finally, if you have enjoyed this show, please visit my iTunes page and leave a review and a nice show rating. It’s simply the best way of supporting the podcast and it will help us grow our audience.
Please join me at www.EducationalPodcasting.tips to learn how you can setup and start your own podcast. We hope to feature your show in a future episode.
Take Care of yourselves and continue sharing your passions … with your students.
Jeff Bradbury
www.TeacherCast.net
