Warm fuzzies

I have to tell about some warm fuzzy feelings I have gotten from the podcast community about starting my podcast. I have received good support from several people.

Let me start with Tim Bourquin from Endurance Planet. I was out on a run one day listening to Endurance Planet when I got the idea for my show. I have been wanting to start a podcast since September of 2005, but was having trouble deciding on a format and a topic. Endurance Planet provided my format. That podcast is made up of 15 minute interviews with endurance athletes (mostly triathletes). It was the perfect format for me. The subject matter came to me just after I decided on the format. I would talk with Missionaries and share about their ministries.

I wrote Tim. While looking for his contact information I found out that he is the owner of the company that does the “Podcast Expo” more properly known as the Portable Media Expo (now changed to Podcast & New Media Expo). He was doing the Podcast Expo at the end of September when I first wrote him. He graciously answered my questions and helped me define my goals.

Then I started writing to Steve Runner at Phedippidations for some audio tips as I actually started making some recordings. He also helped me with a name for my show. How did he help? With a name like Phedippidations, I just decided that he had the worst knack for picking names. So I gave him a list of names and figured the one he hated the most was probably the best one to pick. He ranked a few and the one lowest on his list was the one I chose.

Steve also agreed to play a promo for my show. As soon as he knew I was working on a show he started saying he would make the announcement for me and let the world know. I had to hold him back a couple of weeks, but he should be giving me some air time during his next show if he has a chance.

I wrote Tim back and told him my show was up. He went and listened to the first episode and wrote me back with some encouraging words. He then offered to let me introduce his show “The Podcast Brothers” with a short commercial for my own. I sent that recording to him today. Maybe it will be out in the next few weeks.

Then there is Terry at Planet3rry. He has his own podcast called Gravity @ 1053 (linked from the blog site). He had no direct link to me getting started with the podcast, but being able to hear him go through his beginning episodes and reading his blog encouraged me to make the step. Terry and I have also shared some WordPress tips to make our blogs a bit better.

Of course, the vast number of podcasts I am currently subscribed to and the ones that have come and gone since I have started listening to podcasts, are also to be thanked. From some, I have learned what not to do. From others, I can only be envious of their studio setups and cleverness with words.

Thank you all.

Time change

(I wonder how many blog posts will have that as their title today? Quite original.)

People go on and on about how much they hate the time change business and how that their hour gets stolen from them. Of course this is the time of year it gets given back to them.

I have no strong opinions about whether we should or should not change the clocks. I guess it helps one way or another. But what I do have strong opinions on is the incessant complaining by people about how they are robbed that hour. Get over it! No one took an hour from you. And you do not have it given back in the Fall.

I guess it affects me less than it does most people because I do not live by an alarm clock. If I had to be up at a certain time every day that might make a difference. But you get used to it in less than a week. Why all the complaining? For me, I get up between 6:30 and 7:00 every day. With the time change that will be move around a bit, but I will settle back into my getting up time in a few days.

Some people just need to learn to take naps.

Episode 1 is up!

I got the first episode of the podcast done and on the server. Surf on over to www.missionarytalks.com to grab a fresh copy.

I would really appreciate any input. I have listened to it a million times trying to get it going. I am concerned that there might be words missing that I edited out. Or that I put in a phrase twice. I stayed near my goal of 15 minutes. I think even I can forgive 2 seconds over.

I am pleased with it. Hopefully others will be as well. Now I really need to get the website fixed so that all the links actually point to something.

6 miles!

I got my six miles in this morning even though I was really sore yesterday and did not think it was going to be possible. I ran it at a 10:44 pace.

It was good to be able to get back on the road and feel like I was doing something. I remember after my last half marathon that it took a while to get back into it. I was much better prepared to deal with that mentally this time around.

The weather was great today. It was 78 according to the thermometer, but it felt much cooler. Completely overcast. I thought it was going to rain the whole time, but never did. Of course humidity was 100%.

Tilley Hat

Last week I was walking downtown during a big Tilley LTH6tourist time. I was walking with another “gringo” when we were approached by a salesman. He asked where we were from and I responded with the name of the area of town where we live.

He said (in his perfectly broken English), “No, you from Canada porque you wear Tilley hat. Tilley are originado de Canada.” I was instantly impressed. If you don’t know what a Tilley is, it is because you have never met a person wearing one. You can’t spend much more than just a couple of minutes with a Tilly hat wearer before he will tell you all about it.

They are pretty distinctive. I would say that I could pick out a Tilley in a lineup of fine hats. I was really impressed that this Mexican fellow would recognize a Tilley. They are not cheap and therefore I am sure that he has never owned one.

I won’t go into all the details of why a Tilley is such a wonderful hat, you can read that at their website. I will say that I love mine. I have the LTM6 model, which is the one in the picture (click for a bigger pic). It is comfortable, does not look bad after being sat on and really looks sharp in general. I could go on and on. They really are all they are advertised to be.