Interview
Download the Podcast - 5:28 - MP3.

Greg Narain of Beercasting launched a newsgroup at Yahoo! called podbiz.

Greg started the new group in realization that the commercialization of podcasting is now upon us, especially with the news of the Sirius/Adam Curry deal. He noted that conversation on the Yahoo! podcasting discussion list has become polarized. Good points on the discussion group, but in Greg's view, it is looking more like art v. capitalism. And so, he is providing a new space for discussions about the business discussion as it relates to podcasting.

I inteviewed Greg today about the announcement and followed up with a little commentary of my own. People are getting fiercely passionate about podcasting. And it seems to come down to expression. How you express yourself in the public domain is deeply personal to a lot of people. When money and big corporations come into the picture, questions surface about authenticity, a hallmark of DIY media. And emotions run raw.

Commentary...You Don't Need A Satellite To Do A Podcast

Download the Podcast - 5:31 - MP3.

It's not just podcasting that is getting attention from the marketers and corporations with money to spend. The drive for DIY media is running fast. As money comes into the picture, the feeling of control also surfaces. Who controls what you say? With podcasting, blogging and other DIY stuff, the control is only in the hands of the creator, the person making the content. If corporations come into the picture, what happens to the authenticity of the medium?

For now, anyone can be a podcaster, their own radio star. And isn't that what is giving this medium its power? It's not Adam or Sirius and its machines flying through space. It's the DIY trend that's fueling the podcast craze.

You don't need a satellite to create a podcast. But someday it sure would be cool to make one. Anyone out there have a DIY satellite kit? Phil?