Since the inception of this show, almost 3 years ago now, I have always had a Co-Host. For some shows, a Co-Host may not work out well, however, for most, having a Co-Host is almost like breathing new life into your podcast.

Many podcasters begin solo and they do alright, then over time, the broken toaster effect starts to set in (we all remember the broken toaster episode a few weeks ago) and then the podcaster simply vanishes into the night, never to be heard from again.

Enter the Co-Host. This is a person who mans the “second chair” for your show. Kind of like Ed McMahon to Johnny Carson…ok, I just dated myself there, didn’t I? But I think you get the idea.

A couple of years ago, I had an idea for a business oriented show here on Talkshoe. I invited Patti Serrano to join me for the first show as a guest host and the mix was just right and I asked her to stay on as a permanent Co-Host for that show. We ran that show for almost 1 and a half years and it was very successful as a downloaded show.

When I started this show, it was started as a Talkshoe Support show and Tommy Vallier, then the only support rep for Talkshoe, came in on my first episode and became my Co-Host and was here for more than a year before he moved on to bigger and better things. As time progressed, this show evolved and I picked up another Co-Host, Jeff Chandler, who went on to start up his own Wordpress Weekly show, something he had done prior, and is still going strong today. After flying solo for a few months, I then invited Josh Budde on as my current Co-Host. This show is more of a two host style show and it just flows better with two hosts.

Of course, prior to bringing Josh on, I brought in the concept of Segment Hosts. A Segment Host is kinda like a Co-Host, except they only do a short 3 to 5 minute segment during your show. Maybe this would enhance your show, much like it did mine. A Segment Host can add more details to any show and the nice part about a Segment Host is that they don’t have to talk about what you are talking about, thus adding content to your show.

Now, consider your show that you have right now. Depending on the niche you are serving, you may be able to bring in a Co-Host easily and begin enhancing your show. So, just how do you find this ever elusive Co-Host? Easy! Start listening to other shows that are in the same niche that you are serving. If you can’t find one that way, look at your current listeners and see who is coming in faithfully on most every show. Start by asking them, as a group, to see if there is any interest. If you have more than one, then you can pick and choose, otherwise go with your gut and give this person a try out and see if there is a fit.

Now, you have a Co-Host, the next step is to set a time, once a week, if your show is a weekly show, for example, to get together on Skype or a Private Call and put your heads together and decide how the show will progress and collaborate on Show Notes, etc. to make sure you will have a good flow. I would suggest using something like Google Docs to collaborate your Show Notes, so that both you and your Co-Host can easily make modifications to the notes and both can easily stay on the same page.

Also, don’t forget, that when you have a Co-Host, you need to include your Co-Host in certain activities and discussions that will give your listeners a different voice to hear during your show.

Now with Segment Hosts, this operates a on a little different scale. With a Segment Host, they will most likely be talking on a subject that is different from your main show and something that they are familiar with. Because they aren’t really involved in the main discussion of the show, give your Segment Hosts their 3 to 5 minutes (or how ever long you have decided for them) to do their spot and then take back the reigns again and continue on. There is normally no collarboration with Segment Hosts, unless they are centering their segment around what you are talking about on that show. For example, if you have a Movie Review style show and you have a segment host coming in, they may want to know what movie you will be reviewing so that they can talk about when this movie is being released to DVD or maybe some special features that the DVD release will offer.

Ok, let’s say you have implemented a Co-Host and maybe even some Segment Hosts. Should you give them space in your blog or web site for their own show notes, commentaries, etc.? You betcha! Make sure that your Co-Host has their own category or seperate space and each Segment Host too. Now, not everyone will want to do this, but make sure you make the offer just the same!

Listen to this extended version of the show in the player below!

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

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I just wanted to take a minute to thank a few regulars to my show for their awesome work and attendance to my show, Podcaster Training. Each of these individuals play an integral part of making my show a success and I felt it was time they were recognized.

First and foremost, Patti Serrano, @iGrandma on Twitter, has been a huge part of my show, even back when we produced a show together more than 2 years ago. She now has her own shows she produces, such as Call Your Grandma and she still finds time to come on every Friday Night and give a segment on The Business of Podcasting.

Josh Budde, @JoshBudde on Twitter, has really blossomed and is not only producing a segment on Podcaster Training, but is producing several of his own shows and doing a great job too!

Jeff Chandler, @jeffr0 on Twitter, was my Co-Host for a short time and is now back in the saddle again with his ever popular WordPress Weekly show that airs on Friday Nights at the same time as my show. Jeff still takes some of his valuable time and records a segment for my show and my listeners are always looking forward to see what he has to say!

Michelle Trent, @michelletrent on Twitter, produces a segment on Social Media and can always find some unique sites for us to visit! She also produces her own shows and is still on every Friday Night with a new site for us!

Dave Cooper, @daveac on Twitter, is a regular on the show and our friend from the UK. He always has some great input about the topic of the night or about something happening in the New Media World and adds a great deal to the show! Dave is involved on some other shows on Talkshoe and produces his own video blog.

Bruce Turner, @blueridgebruce on Twitter, is another regular on the show and has filled in for me as a Guest Host and has added a great deal, even on short notice, like the video he sent me last week pertaining to the main topic of remote podcating. Bruce produces his own shows on Talkshoe and uStream and even does remote broadcasts for others.

Thank you all from Podcater Training! It is because of each one of you and the other listeners that make my show the success it is today!

Popularity: 6% [?]

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2008 is coming to an end. As we prepare to begin another new year, I thought I’d take a few minutes and look back at this past year and what has went on at The NMP Network during 2008.

The year started as most do, we had a mild winter in Indiana and thanks to that, I was able to be around the studio more during this winter than I am most of the time.

Just two months prior, in November 2007, we changed the format and name of our Friday Night Show from So You Want To Host Your Own Talkcast to Podcaster Training from Two Beams. The format changed from a Co-Hosted Show to a Segmented Show, offering more than just straight out training from the hosts. In February 2008, Tommy Vallier, my Co-Host from the beginning, left the show to pursue other interests. I looked around for another Co-Host, however, decided on adding Segment Hosts instead.

I brought on Jeff Chandler from the WordPress Weekly show to do a segment on WordPress each week and then Josh Budde followed along a short time later with his segment outlining changes at Talkshoe and his podcasts.

Patti Serrano and myself had been hosting a show called Business 101 on Monday Nights and when Patti needed to free up her Monday Nights for other business, we moved Business 101 to Friday Nights as a Segment on the Podcaster Training show and renamed it The Business of Podcasting.

In March 2008, I shortened the name from Podcaster Training from Two Beams to simply Podcaster Training. I also ceased using the domain http://www.twobeams.com for the show and dedicated http://www.podcastertraining.com as the shows new web site. I restructured the blog at http://www.nmpnetwork.com as the new portal for all the shows I currently produce as well as past shows that are no longer in production. The shorter name became the brand for yet another format change to the show.

I was approached by Jeff Chandler one evening about becoming a Co-Host on the show. We discussed it and he had several great ideas, most of which are still implemented today. Jeff co-hosted the show for about two months at which time he re-started WordPress Weekly again and took it out of hiatus. Because his new show was at the same time on Friday Nights as Podcaster Training, he decided to leave his co-hosting position and send in a pre-recorded segment each week. I was happy to see him restart WordPress Weekly and have supported him in his transition. He continues to send in his segments every week and they are a welcome part of the show!

In August 2008, I decided to leave Talkshoe and go to a straight video format. Talkshoe was having some severe technical issues with their audio, or at least on my shows, at the time. Something in the VOIP setup on their end was making for some terrible feedback and echoing for the listeners, making my shows unbearable to listen to. I left, reluctantly, and began a journey to different video streaming services only to be met with different type of issues, mainly the services being too unstable for an hour long show like mine.

Near the end of September 2008, I returned to Talkshoe, after confirming that the audio issues I was experiencing when I left, had been addressed. It appeared they had been addressed, so I came back and started back on an audio only platform with Talkshoe again. Even though there are still some little issues here and there, they haven’t been severe enough to prevent my shows from being produced and listened to.

Since my return to Talkshoe in September, my number of listeners have been growing. Thanks to this growth is in part of bringing on another Segment Host, Michelle Trent, who joined us in November 2008 and does a segment on Social Media News and Twitter. Michelle has several follow her to the show each week and we are happy that she was able to join us with her segment.

Well, that pretty much brings us up to date. The NMP Network added a few new sites over 2008 including a new Membership Site for PLR and MRR products using the http://www.twobeams.com domain. We also revamped the http://www.podcastertraining.com site to add more training for site visitors. Lastly, for those who want the more personal approach to training, http://www.learntopodcast.com was added to give just that!

That wraps up 2008: A Year In Review. We are looking forward to a great 2009 and hope you are too! Happy New Year Everyone from The NMP Network!

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