I don't get the 45 minutes thing either John.
But I do see value in podcasting, particularly the CEO podcast. Not a regurgitation of the annual report. Original content. If you have an articulate CEO who likes talking with others in an industry about shared interests, etc. a short podcast say 15 minutes or so, every few weeks (whatever he or she can manage) seems to me to be a far more effective way for a busy CEO to join the conversation than a blog.
Susan:
I agree ... and it would work well for internal communications, too. Maybe even better, since the employee has a built-in reason for wanting to listen.
Our church posts podcasts of our preacher's Sunday morning sermons on iTunes. If I'm out of town on a Sunday and miss the sermon (or if it's really good and I want to hear it again), I download it onto my iPod. Case in point, I was out of town a few weekends ago and listened to the sermon a few days later on my iPod while flying on a business trip.
So, podcasting does have its useful niches. But I agree that it's not an end-all, be-all, mainstream communications tool.
John, how does listening to someone talk for 45 minutes on a podcast differ from listening to someone talk for 45 minutes on talk radio, one of the most profitable and popular mediums around? As far as I can tell, the biggest difference is niche content that won't make it on the radio but will satisfy individuals' information needs. If you don't like to grill, you probably won't have an interest in "Barbecue Secrets." If you do, I guarantee you can't find its like on the radio, but you'll listen religiously to the podcast.
Also, it ain't all talk. Give "Accident Hash" a listen, for example...
Shel:
Again, I'm not criticizing podcasting. It's really just a personal thing. I don't like talk radio, either ... never have.
It's also a lifestyle issue. I don't commute, and I don't go to a gym, and when I am in the car or working at home I like to listen to music -- but I don't like headphones and I don't like wearing a portable player.
I realize, however, that lots of people do.
I can see many, many valuable uses for podcasts. But it's probably not the best way to reach people like me.
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