During our premiere episode of Talkshoe Support Live!, we will discuss the various methods for connecting to the Talkshoe Service. Each week, we will discuss another feature or aspect of the Talkshoe Service and will bring the hosts and listeners of Talkshoe a variety of recorded training sessions that will last from 10 to 15 minutes. Immediately following the recorded training sessions, we will open the phone lines up for a Q&A session. All questions, suggestions and comments will be noted by the Talkshoe Support Staff and we will attempt to answer your support issues during each show.

The Talkshoe Support Live! shows will be held at Show ID 875 every Monday Night at 7:00pm EST. Hosted by support reps, Dr. Robert White and Josh Budde. The recorded training sessions will be available at http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/875 as well as playable here with each show notes post.

With regards to connecting to the Talkshoe Service, there are several methods available.

Land Line or Cell Phone by dialing into the (724)444-7444 number
Skype Out dialing into the (724)444-7444 number
Using Shoephone, XLite, SJPhone, Gizmo or other SIP client
Or just simply logging into the chatroom and interacting with the service by chat.

Listen to the recorded session in the player below to get the full details of how to use each of these methods.

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Beginning Monday, June 8th, 2009, Dr. Robert White and Josh Budde, both Support Reps for Talkshoe, will begin hosting a new Live Support Show at Show ID 875, starting at 7:00pm EST every Monday Night.

The show will begin promptly at 7:00pm and there will be a short explanation of the shows format before the recording is started. Everyone will come into the show muted, however, the chat room will be open during the entire show.

Once the recording begins, there will be a 10 to 15 minute training that will be recorded and then the recording will be stopped. Once the recording has stopped, the phone lines will be opened and a Q&A Session will begin. We will go until all questions have been answered or fielded.

We urge all hosts and listeners alike to attend this show every week. We will take your support requests, comments and suggestions and then either answer your questions right there and then or if additional research or support is needed, it will be handled immediately following the show.

This new show is just another way that Talkshoe is getting you the support you need and want. Remember, that every Friday Night on Podcaster Training, there is also a time for Talkshoe Support added to that show too!

See you on Monday Night!

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!

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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!

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If you have been here within the past couple of days, you have noticed that I have once again changed themes. I decided I wanted a more “magazine style” theme for the site and have began the never ending search for that ever elusive theme.

The current theme, called Arthemia 2, seems to be a good fit, at least for now. It has most every thing in it I want/need and is fairly easy to maintain. It does require some manual PHP coding for certain items, however, I shouldn’t have to make those changes very often.

One big change that has come about due to the new theme, is the placement and exposure of The New Media Site of the Week. Previously, it was very prominent in the top right corner of the page. Now, you will find it in the Blogroll section under SOTW (oddly enough, huh) and I have added a few features to these listings, since they will be staying on board for a time now, instead of rotating off, such as an RSS feed to your site and a graphic image to represent your site (as long as I can locate those on your site, they will be added).

You will find the other new options that were on the previous theme, such as the ratings system and the gravatars. This theme has a special section for a Headline News Story and some Featured Stories and I will use the segment features like WordPress Weekly News and Josh Buddes’ BPN Segment there. Other segment hosts that submit posts will be featured too. Currently, only Jeff and Josh are submitting show notes for their segments.

I still have the Popularity Plugin running and you can see those stats on each post. This will give you a better idea of what my readers are reading and enjoying the most!

There are more changes and additions coming in the next few weeks as I test out more plugins and maybe a theme or two. I’ll keep you posted!

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Hey All!

Just wanted to let you know, doing my first ever Scripted segment/show in podcasting went awesomely! Listen to tonight’s episode to hear about my switch to video. Stay tuned, because I will be using Scripts for now on, on Podcaster Training, plus all of my new video shows will be scripted.

I’m sure some of you are itching to get your hands on the Script I used tonight, it is on Google Docs.

Reading from a script is a very, very hard task for many. But, with the Help of Patti Serrano and my talents as a Voice Actor (also known as podcaster) I was able to get myself prepped in less than an hour yesterday.

I’d also like to Thank: Rob White and all of the Friday night, Podcaster Training talkshoers for helping me get where I am today. I don’t know where I would be today, if I would have never found TalkShoe or Podcaster Training. You all have been a great help, you have all helped many!

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Yesterday, Thursday, June 19, 2008 I interviewed Tracy from Wetpaint about her role as an Interaction Designer for Wetpaint. It was a great turn out and I’d like to thank the 13 people that had joined the Chat and the two people that called in.

Thanks to Tracy for volunteering to be on the show for Wetpaint’s Second Birthday. Thanks for answering all of the questions that I had asked. Also, It was great that you explained the difference from Wetpaint’s UI and what sets it apart from Wikia or PBWiki’s UI.

Also on Podcaster Training, I had announced that the Development Schedule for the Budde Podcasting Network is two weeks behind. I am sorry about this and I plan on Bringing the Network back online by July 14 or 15th.

Attached is the Audio file of Episode 13 from Wetpaint Nation, which was recorded live yesterday on TalkShoe ID: 10200.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

If you have any questions, comments or anything regarding Wetpaint, Podcrasher Note or just TalkShoe in general.. Shoot me an email to podcast [at] buddes [dot] net.

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