Last week, we discussed the Basics of Talkshoe and continuing with that line of thinking, this week, we will discuss Broadcasting on a Shoestring.

Everyone has the ability to produce a good sounding, professional style show, and most everyone has the inclination to do so. Sometimes, your financial situation, especially during these hard, economic times, can get in the way of allowing you to do this.

Tonight, we will discuss different hardware, equipment and software that you can use to setup your home studio to produce a more professional style podcast. You may need to spend a few bucks to do this, however, we will attempt to show you the most inexpensive way to get yourself setup.

To begin with, when using Talkshoe, of course, the service itself is free. The service is free, but consider that your Internet connection is not! Look at your current provider or ISP and see what package you are subscribed to. If you are wanting to do just audio broadcasting, then you can easily get by with a lower end package of say 1mb down and 128k up. However, if you are wanting to do audio AND video broadcasting, then you will want a higher end package with at least 1mb to 3mb up and maybe 3mb to 6 mb down. When broadcasting, your upload speed is more critical than your download speed. Check with your ISP or Internet provider to see what packages they offer and you might even be able to upgrade for only a few dollars more a month!

Now, once your Internet connection is worked out, you will want to look at how you are connecting to the Talkshoe Service. Talkshoe allows several methods of connecting including landline or cell phone by way of 724-444-7444 and of course this may be a toll call depending on your phone service, so expect long distance charges when calling this number, especially if you don’t have a good long distance plan on your land line or cell phone. Another way to connect is by the SIP Interface using Gizmo, SJPhone or XLite and of course, don’t forget the Shoephone that is built into the Talkshoe Pro Client. And then of course, there is Skype. With Skype, you can purchase an outgoing plan for around $36.00 US per year and you will have the ability to dial into Talkshoe using the 724-444-7444 number WITHOUT long distance charges! We’ll talk more about these alternate methods of dialing in shortly when we discuss some of the equipment you will need.

Ok, one quick comment about dialing in before we move on, remember, depending on how you are dialing in or connecting to the Talkshoe service, will greatly affect your audio quality and your recording quality. If you dial in using a cell phone, for example, then you quality will be lower as this will be an analog or phone quality audio. When you connect using Skype or SIP, then you will have a higher quality, because your connection is a higher quality connection. Again, we’ll talk more about quality when we discuss the equipment later.

Talking about equipment, a good microphone and headset will go a long way to helping you to have a great quality audio and recording. Most places such as Radio Shack, Office Depot, Office Max, Staples and even Wal-Mart carry quality products at low prices to get you started.

Listen to this episode in the player below to hear what some of the listeners had to say about this topic!

Tonight, we will discuss, how to do a live, interactive podcast without spending a lot of money! http://www.podcastertraining.com

“Id like to be a writer, but
I can’t find the time.” I’ve
heard several say.

It’s a must to push pass
excuses for not writing.
There are two choices for
you. They are to write, or
not.

Don’t give yourself any
excuses as to why you
aren’t writing.

Instead, find time to
jot ideas down. Later,
edit, and explore the
idea.

Set your alarm one hour
or two earlier to get writing
time. Scribble notes down
on a break, at lunch. Try
idea gathering as you
commute home, before bed,
or while relaxing in front of
the television.

You witnessed an interesting
event? Heard idea provoking
chat as you passed several
people? Take a few moments
to write your thoughts down.
It counts as writing time.

Let’s look at why passionate
writers are successful.

Passionate writers are
successful, because they find
time to write.

Passionate writers squeeze-
out some portion of their day
for writing, and so must you.

Perhaps, the time you spend
in the bathroom is your writing
get-a-way.

Have a writing session as you
enjoy coffee, tea, or orange
juice.

Think of reasons to write.
It frees you. Enlightens
you? You have something
to contribute to the world?
It stresses you down? You
have a story to tell.

Get into the habit of
writing at the same time.
This good habit is practiced
everyday. Stay there a
minimum of two hours.
This is your time.

Bring inspiration. Inspiration
is a quote, favorite book,
poem that needs your touch,
or a note to yourself.

A possible note: I will write
at four o’clock. Repeat it
to yourself throughout the
day.

It becomes a goal, something
to look forward to. A dream
in the making. Connect to it,
realize your potential.

Look at a possible
writing idea from my life.

The city I live in gave me a
fine.

“Why?” You asked.

The fine was for litter.
Yes, litter.

I place my trash bags out
every week, at the same
time. This is a habit, like
brushing my teeth.

On a particular day, a violation
notice was pushed in my door.

I paid the violation.

Now, three and four weeks
after payment, the city is still
sending me a bill.

I’m being billed for the original
fine, and penalty. The penalty
is as much as the original bill.

I referenced it to point-out
the fact that life gives us
writing ideas.

There are endless ideas
running to my mind about
the litter fine.

Find the passion in you,
and don’t make excuses
for not writing.

In closing, push pass
writing excuses by
doing the simple act of
writing.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Tonight, we will discuss the Basics of the Talkshoe Service. As many of you already know, I am a Support Rep for Talkshoe, so what we are talking about tonight will come, partially from, some of the requests that have come across the support lines.

To begin with, Talkshoe, as you already know, allows you to host and listen to, live, interactive podcasts. Some of you newer hosts may have questions pertaining to the service or how to do certain features, etc. We will attempt to answer all of your questions tonight, so feel free to chime in at anytime and ask, in case we miss something!

Now, to start off, the first thing you want to do, is to register for your free account at Talkshoe. This takes only a couple of minutes and like I said, it’s free! Once you have this done, you are ready to begin listening to shows or even host a show or shows of your own.

Next, let’s walk through the steps to setup a new show on Talkshoe.

To see a visual demonstration of this section of the show, please visit http://www.newmediapro.tv and click on Video On Demand.

We will take you through the basics of scheduling a show and starting that show as well as some features you may need to know more about. This will be a good episode for newcomers to Talkshoe. http://www.podcastertraining.com

Fiction and non-fiction presented
to an editor should be free of
spelling errors, poor sentence
structure, and weak writing. Now,
that isn’t to say, you’ll never error.
Simply, critique your work.

The important step is creating.
There will be time to go back,
review, and critique.

I’ve been in the moment of
writing, many times. I stopped,
read through it. Some paragraphs
were unreadable, weak verbs. I
had to put it aside for a few days,
and then do the critiquing. I found
mistakes immediately after writing.
What would I, you, find when
refreshed?

Like I always say, longer writing
projects require more time away.

An editor can spot mistakes in
paragraph one. To be honest, it’s
a waste of the editor’s time, and
your energy when your best work
isn’t sent out.

“How do you know?” You asked.

I’ve made similar blunders. Yes, I
speak from experience. It has led to
failures, of course. I gained from the
process, learned to write better. It set
me on the rode to developing an editor’s
eye.

The editor’s eye took me some years
to grasp. It could happen, sooner or
later, for you. Keep learning, writing.
It is the only sure way, I know of, to
reach writing goals.

It’s good form to request writer’s
guidelines before submitting your
work to a publisher. Also, a must
do is to include a self-addressed
stamped envelope. Sometimes, the
guidelines can be read online.

There are publications that offer
online issues for sale. Read back
issues of magazines to get a feel
for the style, flavor of it.

“Why read back issues?” You
pondered.

You are better able to give the
editor what he/she wants.

The dictionary and thesaurus are
tools that should be kept at your
finger-tips. Spell-check more than
once.

The dictionary explains the
meaning of words. It, also,
helps with spelling.

The thesaurus provides words with
the same, almost the same meaning,
and opposite meanings of words.

“Why is the thesaurus needed?”
You questioned.

Let’s look at angry.

“What’s the point?” You stared
at the word.

Your writing calls for an emotion,
anger, for example. Instead of
using angry nine times, replace
it with: annoyed, bitter, cross,
enraged, fuming, irate, vexed,
heated, or offended. I found
the words in the thesaurus.

It’s boring to read the same
words over. Also, it marks you
as an amateur.

I’ll show you.

Henry was angry at Jess. They
fought over the cat. Jess kicked
the chair. I guess, she was angry.
They were so angry until I had to
get my brothers.

Tom and Bill persuaded Henry
to leave. Henry broke the door
down.

The re-written version follows.

Henry was irate when he walked
in the door. Henry and Jess
fought over the cat. Jess fumed,
and kicked the chair.

They exchanged heated words,
and I ran to get my brothers.

My brothers, Tom and Bill, urged
Henry to leave.

They offended Henry, and he
shattered the door as he left.

Critique the above two paragraphs.
Would you write the paragraphs
differently? How? Did you find
the thesaurus helpful?

Leave me some comments, thank
you.

The goal is to pull-out weak,
bloated, and grammatically
incorrect sentences. Once that
is done, you’re on your way to
success.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Many times in past episodes, you have heard me mention using WordPress, not only for blogging, but as a web site too. Since it’s early days, WordPress has developed into, what many feel, is the Number One software for blogging.

Tonight, we will discuss using WordPress as a platform for your podcast. No, not to host your podcast, but to give your podcast an additional presence in the Internet Real Estate Arena.

To begin with, let’s talk about what WordPress is. WordPress is a software package that you run on the Internet and it is commonly known as a Content Management System or CMS. With the availability of literally thousands of plugins and themes, you can easily make your WordPress site do anything you need and look completely different from the millions of other WordPress sites running today.

Podcaster Training and it’s parent site, The NMP Network, each operate a WordPress site. Using a News Style or Magazine Style Theme, these sites do not resemble a typical blog, but they are organized and easy to use. Along with several plugins, oh, a plugin is a smaller extension program that adds functionality and normally provides a specific task to the site, each site has lots of features not normally found in your typical blog. Again, giving a unique perspective to your site.

Now, to bring a very unique perspective to this discussion, Jeff Chandler from WordPress Weekly is with us tonight and I hope he will share his insights on this topic with you.

We discussed the various themes and plugins that Jeff, Josh and myself use and had some input from a new listener about his site and how he uses WordPress.

You will definitely want to listen to this episode to find out more and be sure to tune into Jeff’s WordPress Weekly show on Talkshoe every Friday Night at 8:00pm EST (or you can at least subscribe to his RSS Feed so that you don’t miss my show!)

Be sure to follow Podcaster Training on Twitter @podcasttraining and Jeff @wptavern and Josh @buddemedia

Popularity: 3% [?]

When it comes to blogging, you have many choices. Tonight, we will discuss using Wordpress as a blogging platform and as a web site. http://www.podcastertraining.com

“I can’t get my writing day
started,” You complained.
“I’ve tried to play the game
to writing, but I’m not feeling
it.”

One method will not work
for everyone. No matter
how hard you try, some
days you’ll not connect
with a specific writing
method.

Still, you must write.

Take a deep breath,
several times, if
needed. Relax.

Next, write anything,
everything, that comes
to mind. Write about
your favorite color, for
ten to fifteen minutes.

Scribble down why a
particular season is
the most pleasing to you.
Or, describe your favorite
time of year, and why.

Make remarks about any
noises you hear.

What was the longest day
of the year? Why did it
seen so? Was it a bad
experience for you? Was
it the best day of your life?
Write about a funny
experience.

Think of a plot,
characters, when
re-counting an incident.

Or, do some research
on an area. Gather-up
more information to
write an article.

Pull-out a book to read.
Is there a section you’d
like to re-write?

If yes, make sure the
passage is yours, not
paraphrased. Don’t
restate someone’s words.

“Why?” You asked.

The writing starts your
day, and stimulates the
right brain.

“What does the right
brain have to do with
anything?” Someone
questioned.

The right brain is
responsible for
creating, your
creative side.

The same holds true
if you write an e-mail,
snail-mail. The writing
prior to working on your
regular project(s) serves
to kindle your creative
flow.

Start your writing day
by toying with new
ideas.

After ten to fifteen
minutes, your creative
flow should be ignited.

If not, continue with
the exercise.

Perhaps, the exercise
has turned into a piece
you plan to show-case,
sell.

The writing exercise
gets you into the
writing mood. Your
writing day starts
with all kinds of
possibilities, new ideas.

File away new ideas,
possible projects, for
later. Come back to
them as time permits.

Carry writing ideas
from the exercise
to your normal,
regular, projects.

In closing, stir-up
old projects with
new ideas. This
is how to start your
writing day.

This writing exercise
picks up momentum
as you churn out new
material.

Popularity: 5% [?]

It's been a while since we discussed this platform for video streaming, so tonight, we will "rediscover" Mogulus once again. http://www.podcastertraining.com