Tim Baker is producer and host of the long-running mashup podcast Radio Clash. An early adopter of podcasting, Tim remains passionate about bringing new and original mixes to his global audience.

When & why did you begin podcasting?

I began podcasting in in November 2004; I’d not heard about it until Ross from the sadly-missed MashupPodcast started his and posted about it, I listened to a few and loved the idea so much I started mine 4 days later (I’m a quick worker!). Inspiration was definitely primarily Ross’s MashupPodcast, but also the shows I was listening to at the time: Yeast Radio, Radio Zoom, Daily Source Code, Dawn and Drew and Insomnia Radio.

What is the most significant thing to happen to you personally as a direct result of producing your podcast?

People recognising me or knowing me purely through the podcast, and meeting new friends. The former doesn’t happen that often; it’s freaky when it does, but I’ve made some lasting friendships via the podcast which alltold given the press or the attention, is the really important thing.

What podcasts, if any, do you regularly listen to or watch?

I listen to quite a few – that would be a massive list, but the ones I never miss are Night Nurse Show, WOBCast, Some Assembly Required, Pods and Blogs (BBC), £50 Note, Skip to the End with Juxtaposeur and Do or DIY (WFMU).

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

Until my mother or someone threw it out (I’m still gutted can you tell?) I had a drawing of myself as an artist I did when I was 8. That’s what I wanted to be – and I did it to degree level. Also later an interest in journalism, so that’s probably where the blogging comes from. I also wished I was musically talented; that’s one superpower I wish I had.

What does the future hold for you and your show(s)?

I think new shows and different formats and mediums; Radio Clash will continue but maybe not in the format that people expect or current medium; I’m toying with the idea of doing a video podcast or integrating with YouTube and social media in some way – despite me being as photographic as an old teapot. Also more tie-ins with the Parkade in Second Life (which I co-run with 2 others); be they recorded sets or more interactive cross-promotion. Watch this space (quite literally!).

John Arnold was your average hobbyist photographer until he started sharing his knowledge of photo-editing techniques with the world. Now he produces one of the most popular Photoshop tutorial video shows around: Photowalkthrough.

When & why did you begin podcasting?

I was inspired by my buddy Chris Marquardt – host of Tips From The Top Floor. I was a regular listener to his show and I wanted to show the members of his forum how I’d processed one of my images. It turned out that a screencast was the simplest way to show what I’d done and people seemed to like the results so I kept doing them.

What is the most significant thing to happen to you personally as a direct result of producing your podcast?

It’s a bit of a dream come true because the result of doing the show is that I’ve actually become a photographer for real. I was a hobbyist like most everyone else but doing the show forced me to learn, learn, learn and start behaving like a photographer. It turns out that’s a big part in becoming one.

What podcasts, if any, do you regularly listen to or watch?

I’m still a big fan of Chris’ show, Tips From The Top Floor and I listen to quite a few photography related shows. I’m also a gadget fan and geek so I listen to quite a few tech shows including TWiT and Tech 5.  I also love No Agenda for the sheer randomness of Adam and John’s discussions.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

More than anything as a kid I wanted to work with computers. I ended up as a programmer but I’ve always been keen on art and I could never understand why people insisted that science people couldn’t also be art people. I’ve been trying to prove that we can be both my whole life.

What does the future hold for you and your show(s)?

The more I immerse myself in photography the more I realise I’ve still got a lot to learn. From here it’s onwards and upwards. I’ve also realised that I enjoy teaching very much so I expect I’ll continue running workshops and producing tutorials. More than anything else, though, I love the community that my show has built up. It’s creative, supportive and educational – we share an interest and enjoy each other’s work.

Support John Arnold’s PhotoWalkThrough by using his domain discount codes from GoDaddy.

Based in Germany, Chris Marquardt produces and hosts one of the most popular independent photography tips and advice video shows around.: Tips from the Top Floor.

When & why did you begin podcasting?

My brother pointed me to podcasting in 2005, and in April that year I had the first show out. I instantly knew that podcasting would be a great opportunity for me, and being a professional sound guy producing CDs and doing sound for video productions, and having a topic that is near and dear to my heart and that I love telling others about, it was a no-brainer for me to start podcasting.

What is the most significant thing to happen to you personally as a direct result of producing your podcast?

Doing the podcasts has been a rollercoaster ride on many levels. And I mean that in a positive way. About a year into it, I lost my daytime job, and instead of going the “normal” route trying to find a new job, I took the opportunity and went self-employed. Two years ago I held my first photo workshop here in Germany, and thanks to the power of community I ended up with participants from the Unites States, from England and Switzerland, and even from China and Japan. Last year I did my first workshop tour through the United States and I’m actually going to do the same again this year. In addition to that, my podcasts have given me enough visibility to be noticed by several companies that I now produce podcasts for.

What podcasts, if any, do you regularly listen to or watch?

Well, obviously the Charlie (Adam Curry’s Daily Source Code), then a ton of photography-related shows, a few public radio productions, WNYC’s Radio Lab and This American Life are great, some of Leo Laporte’s shows (well, most of them to be honest) and a few local podcasts from Germany. All in all, with over 60 entries, the list is far too long, but I like to be in the loop, and with my new German show “podhalde23” that is a podcast about new media and podcasting for podcasters, it really helps.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

As a child I think I was pretty mainstream wanting to be a train driver, but when I grew up I ended up playing a lot of music in bands and for a while had the dream of becoming an rock star. What can I say, podcasting gives me at least some of that

What does the future hold for you and your show?

You’re never there. I firmly believe in that. Without evolution and constant change, things get stale and you deprive yourself of the opportunity to grow. The key is in identifying what makes one’s show unique and appeal to the audience and keep the key bits while evolving other parts. With Tips from the Top Floor I keep my audience on their toes. They get audio and video, tips and tricks, interviews, sound-seeings and the odd experiment where I play with the medium and try out new things. My German podcast “Happy Shooting” is starting to get more attention from advertisers these days, so that stays interesting too. And with my latest project “podhalde23″ that I do together with Germany’s #1 comedy podcaster, we struck a surprise success, topping all sorts of podcast charts for weeks on end.

These are definitely very exciting times, and I’m really glad to be at the right place at the right time.

Support Chris’ show when purchasing domains by using one of his Godaddy promo codes. Get 25 free prints from HP Snapfish with our coupon for photo prints.

Marcus Couch is the man behind the legendary hard rock music show The Scene Zine. Marcus shares his music industry talent to thousands of new fans, digging up the best independent hard rock and heavy metal music on the planet

When & why did you begin podcasting?
I began producing The Scene Zine about 10 years ago while owning a record label. The show was originally designed to feature independent rock artists on our label. It was released as a monthly CD compilation with band interviews, music and music scene news.

In mid 2004 I began researching ways to put the show online and came across RSS technology and eventually podcasting. I started podcasting in late 2004 after hearing several episodes of DSC, specifically an episode with Adam Curry and Ron Bloom titled “Strategy Cast 2.0″ where they provided a road map to podcasters. I followed the directions to the letter and wound up signing with MEVIO a few months later after recording only 11 episodes.

What is the most significant thing to happen to you personally as a direct result of producing your podcast?
I have made friends with a lot of creative, talented people and have been generously provided the opportunity for a dramatic boost in lifestyle. I’ve also learned a lot about online marketing and brand building.

What podcasts, if any, do you regularly listen to or watch?
I listen to a ton of business and marketing related podcasts as well as shows like Karmabanque, Weekly Web Tools, The Musician’s Cooler, Yeast Radio, Learning Greek, Happy Tree Friends and about 80 more.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
I wanted to become an officer in the US Navy and be deployed on a nuclear submarine. It happened for me at age 24.

What does the future hold for you and your shows?
I am transitioning into video with two new shows for 2008. One is music based, the other focused on online and affiliate marketing.

The Scene Zine’s Show Sponsors
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Anji Bee is the soft, sultry, sexy voice of the Chillcast, and one half of the Love Spirals.

When & why did you begin podcasting?

I used to be a college DJ, hosting several music shows and working in station management for 3 years. After I left, I discovered online radio. I started a Live365 station back in January 2000. Eventually I produced some half hour interview features, such as one with Hungry Lucy in May 2005. Garageband had just begun their free podcast service, so I uploaded it there, too. I followed up with a feature on Lovespirals, and then decided it was high time I did a podcast proper.

My first podcast was Chillin’ with Lovespirals, which launched in early June 2005. The idea was that a podcast would be the perfect way to share information and music from our upcoming new album, Free & Easy. I had already been sharing audio interviews online on sites like Mp3.com and SoundClick for years, so I knew our fans enjoyed hearing us discuss our music. I had a hard time, though, convincing my partner, Ryan Lum, that it was a good idea because there weren’t any band podcasts out there yet and he was worried about our bandwidth. Our first episodes were fairly short because of the bandwidth issue.

I still really wanted to do a music podcast, too, and I briefly toyed with the idea of combining concepts into one show, but I’m glad i didn’t, because it would have been too confusing. Chillin’ with Lovespirals is a talk show, whereas The Chillcast is a music show. Sure, sometimes we play a little music on Chillin’ with Lovespirals, and sometimes I have conversations on The Chillcast, but they are totally different. Ryan and I do a much more informal show than when I’m alone in the studio, and you really get to see more of who I am as a person, rather than as a DJ.

Anyway, The Chillcast with Anji Bee, began its life as The Chillcuts Chillcast as more of a tie-in to Lovespirals, since our label name is Chillcuts. I hosted the first 3 episodes on OurMedia.org in January 2006, then I was picked up by PodShow, and the rest – as they say – is history…

What is the most significant thing to happen to you personally as a direct result of producing your podcast?

Podcasting has changed my whole life, honestly! The biggest and best result is that I was able to “quit my dayjob” just like Adam Curry talked about on the DSC when he signed me as part of the first big group of producers to the PodShow network. It has been incredibly liberating to be able to focus solely on audio production, whether it be podcasts or music. And since I have more time to devote to my craft, I’ve been able to improve my skills – both with my singing and my voiceover work. Likewise, I’m able to spend more time developing my marketing, which increases my listener base, so all the way around, it has been fantastic. I’ve met so many wonderful people through podcasting, too, and many of them have inspired me to try new things and reach new vistas. I really can’t say enough about what a great growing experience podcasting has been for me.

What podcasts, if any, do you regularly listen to or watch?

I have to admit I’m a bit spotty with my podcast listening/watching. The one show that I remain totally loyal to is the first podcast I ever subscribed to, and that’s Diggnation. I’ve been a fan of Kevin Rose since he used to be a supporting cast member of The Screen Savers on Tech TV, and I’ve followed everything he’s done since that time. I’ve been listening to the Daily Source Code since Adam started the Podsafe Music Network in 2005. Once he played Lovespirals on the show, I was pretty hooked! Many people actually discovered me through the conversations that Adam and I have had on his show via audio clips. Sometimes it’s hard to keep with him, he’s so prolific, but I check in to see what’s new. I’m also a big fan of In Over Your Head and was devastated when Julien took an extended hiatus recently, but he just made a new episode so I’m hoping he’ll get back into it. Of course I also like to keep up with my friends and ShowGirls co-hosts, the Rumor Girls! I’m into several more music-based shows as well, like Radio BSOTS and Dave’s Lounge, as well as mixed music and talk shows like Mysterious Universe and Friday Favecast. I also dig Tea with Hungry Lucy – and if I’m not mistaken, I was the one to inspire them to begin their show! There’s so many other podcasts that I check out from time to time that I couldn’t possibly list them all, but just to throw out a few; Accident Hash, Cranky Geeks, TWIT, and tons of others.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

Honestly, I had a hard time deciding between an artist, a musician, an actor, or a writer and I think that now I’ve pretty much combined all of those things in what I do. I record and release music, I create my website and album art, I perform in my vidcasts and podcasts, and I write – well, not only lyrics, but blog posts, bios, blurbs, heck even this interview. Seems like there’s lots of writing involved in my line of work, surprisingly.

What does the future hold for you and your show(s)? W

Hmm… well, of course I’d love to be the Natalie Del Conte of music podcasts, but then again, I like where I am right now. People sometimes tell me I’m “famous” but if so, I’m definitely a micro-celebrity. Or maybe that would be a micro-micro-celebrity? I just want to keep finding and sharing great music, helping to promote worthy artists, and making my own music. It’s been fantastic to meet and work with some of my musical inspirations, like Beth Hirsch, Laurence Tolhurst, and Kirsty Hawkshaw, and I hope to do more musical spotlights with seminal artists like them. I’ve also been expanding The Chillcast into the video realm with my newly launched Chillcast Video and hope to do some video for Chillin’ with Lovespirals next. I’d like to document the writing and recording process of Lovespirals 4th album with behind the scenes videos, so watch for that this year!

This week’sMini-Interview is with Mike Yusi, producer and host of The UC Radio Podshow, and co-presenter of Pacific Coast Hellway – check out the latest UC Radio episode here.

When & why did you begin podcasting?

It started off with me plugging in my USB headset, opening Quicktime and reading pages from a website I had when I lived in Chicago in the late 90’s called “Mike’s Midwestern Updates”.  The site was full of stories about the Midwest that were hard to believe, things like people freezing to death in their bathtubs because they opened a window to let the steam out, then fell asleep in the tub.  That kind of stuff.  The site was really successful, but reading the stories years after the fact was boring as hell.

After a couple of weeks, I wrote to Adam Curry, because I was addicted to “The Daily Source Code”, and asked him for advice.  Adam had no idea who I was, but he wrote back and said that I should think about doing a show involving something that I was passionate about.  His exact words were,

“talk about the things that you and your closest friends talk about when there is nothing else to say”.

That made it easy.  I grew up in a musical family, I got my first three rock albums at age 11, (Led Zeppelin 3, Jimi Hendrix Are you Experienced and Jim Croce’s Greatest Hits), I’ve got a pretty good internal censor that weeds out crappy music pretty quickly, and I played in a band in Southern California in the 80’s and 90’s.  Music is what I know, it’s what I’m passionate about and it is easy for me to talk about it.  So, I ditched the stories and went with the music.  That was in October of 2005.

What is the most significant thing to happen to you personally as a direct result of producing your podcast?

I played in bands for years and found that I missed being connected to new music.  Getting it out there, whether on a stage or through my show, has reconnected me with the one constant passion in my life, music.

And getting involved with the people at the MEVIO network, Mark Yoshimoto Nemcoff mainly, has been an incredibly artistic and creative experience.  There is no way my show would be seeing the growth and success that it has over the last year and half if I wasn’t a part of the PodShow family.

Podcasting has also been a great way for me to explore myself and why I’ve loved music my whole life.  I’ve said it many times, podcasting has been my therapy and my addiction at the same time, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

What podcasts, if any, do you regularly listen to or watch?

Well, as Co-Producer and Co-Host of Pacific Coast Hellway, I listen to that one pretty regularly, and after two years, I’m still a Daily Source Code fan, Accident Hash is a favorite, The JerseyToddshow and RubyFruit Radio to name a few.  There are about 10 other music shows I listen to, but I tend to let them pile up then listen to them for hours in one sitting while working.

Video casts, not that big a fan, however, I wait by the inbox as it were, for GeekBrief TV.  Love that show.  I think Cali has just got it nailed down.  Not just her personality, but the content is always so well presented, even when it’s about Windows products.  (insert random Mac fan comment here)  I also like The Lost Tapes and PCH TV.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

Honestly, I wanted to be a hockey player, but I never learned to skate and ice is hard to find in Santa Monica.  Then I thought pro football or baseball, but after high school, I gave up on that dream.  Then I wanted to be an English teacher, but that changed as soon as I stepped onto a stage on the Sunset Strip with a guitar strapped on.  Unfortunately, that didn’t pan out, but I lived the dream for a while.  I ended up living in Belize for 7 years starting and working for a couple of companies, moved home in 1998 and went into web design.  I’ve done that for the last 10 years.

What does the future hold for you and your show?

I just resurrected my second show, “Sonic Wallpaper” at sonicwallpaper.mevio.com, which is where I play 10-12 of the most commented on songs from my main show, The UC Radio Podshow in the previous month.  It’s like a greatest hits show, if you will.  I don’t talk much, just intro the bands and give you 35-45 minutes of good solid rock.

As for UC Radio itself, I just did my first interview with the band Urbansnake and it was a huge success.  Listeners loved it, and the band thought it was great so I’ll be doing more of that.  My hope is that I’ll be able to get one interview in a week, on the Monday shows, and continue to do an album referral on Thursdays shows as I’ve done for over a year now.  I’d also like to start doing more live interviews with bands around Hollywood, so you can look for that as well.

Mostly, I’m hoping to develop more offshoots from the show, maybe a show with just interviews, or just album referrals, but UC Radio is my baby so it will always be the central character in my play.

Help me by supporting my show’s sponsors. Get discounts from the following industry-leading brands: pets discount for 10% off any order plus free shipping, discount rental cars, great shoes and athletic discounts for affordable athletic shoes and apparel, and cheap domains.

Pete Cooper is one half of the very British Emma and Pete Show – a ‘couple-cast’ straight from the Home Counties, it’s cute, clever, with a splatter of geekiness. He also produces the daily electronic music show Bleepshow.

When & why did you begin podcasting?
I discovered podcasting when I heard a clip of Adam Curry’s Daily Source Code on someone’s blog. He’d been recording a show in the car when one of his buddies drove by and was listening to a previous show – it was all a bit surreal, and I thought how ace it would be to do that. I started badgering my dear wife and she resolutely ignored me, explaining that it was just another of my ideas that wouldn’t amount to anything, and I let it drop. In April ‘06, she said she wanted to do a podcast. The irony wasn’t lost on me, and I poked fun at her for a bit, then we started the Emma and Pete Show.

What is the most significant thing to happen to you personally as a direct result of producing your podcast?
All the people I stay in touch with are podcasters or new media. They are, generally, a nice bunch. Some of them are wonderful people – my best friends were all found in podcasting and new media – and a lot of them share the same creative mindset as me, and that makes collaboration and idea sharing both natural and practical. At the same time, I’ve also been introduced to some of the most self-absorbed, odious, insignificant cretins I’ve ever had the misfortune to meet. Which is good, on the one hand, ‘cos it reminds that I need to stay fairly level-headed.

What podcasts, if any, do you regularly listen to or watch?
Very few. This sometimes surprises people, especially when I bang on about getting people to listen to my stuff. It’s a bit like working in a chocolate factory – I do have periods where podcasting is just a routine and I need to get them done and out of the door, and as they’re time-consuming I like to do other stuff when I get some spare time. On the same tack, it’s nice to be able to unplug now and again (as scary as it sounds), and I really need to get away from the wibbly wobbly web more often.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
“Something to do with computers”. Back when I was a kid the whole computery thing was still very new, so it was systems analyst or nothing. I suppose on that score I’ve done pretty well and stayed true to form. Had computers not been invented, I’d probably be a plumber or sparky – a proper job.

What does the future hold for you and your show(s)?
I want to do more Emma and Pete Show – cos we love doing it, and it’s fun, and people seem to like it. Bleepshow continues to play a big part in my life and it’s gathering momentum very nicely – eating through bandwidth like it’s a yummy block of cheese – so that will continue. New shows for 2008 are planned, but they’re secret at the moment, so don’t tell anyone. See Emma and Pete’s show sponsors and get rental car coupons from Budget.com and a discount membership at eHarmony

Paul Parkinson has been around in the UK podcaster community for some time, and found his ideal niche subject when he created This Week in London, a subject about which he is very passionate. Today we find out all about Paul and his podcasting.

When & why did you begin podcasting?

I must confess (if that is truly the right word) that young Mr Curry and the even younger Mr Nicholls inspired me to start podcasting. I thought Adams style was very Radio and Paul’s was so totally not Radio that I could do something good in that space too. As I listened to more and more podcasts it dawned on me that I could do as well, if not better than some of them. I just wish I had started doing This Week In London sooner. It’s such a rich pool of material that I never struggle to find something to witter on about.

What is the most significant thing to happen to you personally as a direct result of producing your podcast?

Getting sponsorship from a hotel chain – getting paid to do something you love ROCKS!

What podcasts, if any, do you regularly listen to or watch?

I really like conversational podcasts so I still listen to many shows in that space. Specifically DSC is still an important part of my life as is Digital Flotsam (more pls) and PodcastPaul. I have been enjoying a number of great audiobooks available as podcasts –Mark Yoshimoto Nemkoff’s Number One With A Bullet, Shadowfalls and Shadowfalls Badlands. More recently Tablerappers by Neil Dixon has become a must listen. Tech podcasts such as TWIT, Windows Weekly and Security Now are on the play list too. I steer away from political discussion shows (mostly too American or overtly party biased) but do subscribe to the Downing Street Podcast, from where I get the Prime Minister Questions “show”. I listen to a lot of Radio4 derivative podcasts as well such as In Our Time. Long and short of it is that I like a personal feel, not “corporate”. I am a sucker for a well recorded podcast but of the 60 or shows (audio and video) I listen to I’d say the quality on some of them could be improved. Stop Press: Tartanpodcast is back – so that’s on the must listen list too.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

I initially wanted to be a Fleet Air Arm pilot (i still want my private pilots licence) but having passed the pilot/navigator course and test at Biggin Hill I didn’t pass the officer aptitude tests. I guess there is too much rebel in me.

What does the future hold for you and your show(s)?

Pretty much loving what I am doing, podcast-wise. I have found my niche and the downloads from Podshow and Libsyn pretty much prove that. For a (very) niche show like TWiL, I think ~2000+ downloads per show is pretty respectable. Would I like more listeners? Sure. Do I have time to actively go out and get them? I wish….

Amy McIntyre has created some of the world’s most recognisable fitness podcasts, including Fitness Attack, Assercize, and Fit Life. Here is Amy’s 5-Question MiniInterview…

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When & why did you begin podcasting?

I started “Fitness Attack” in July 2006 and Assercize and Fit Life followed. My husband created Podcast Alley in November of 2004. He was such a part of the podcasting community that the more I learned, the more I wanted to be a part of it. I was a personal trainer at the time and thought that podcasting would really allow me to teach and answer health and fitness questions on a bigger scale.

What is the most significant thing to happen to you personally as a direct result of producing your podcast?

Personally the whole experience has been rewarding for me. I love the feedback from my audience and also the questions and topic ideas that come from their interaction. Professionally, I’m grateful at how many people value the advice and the information given in each of the shows. I’m also excited that the first 100 shows of Fitness Attack are now in print! On February 29th, the book ‘Fitness Attack’ will be available at Amazon.com!

What podcasts, if any, do you regularly listen to or watch?

I think one of the great things about podcasting is the ‘on demand’ aspect. Depending on my mood, I can have the shows I want at the time that I want. I generally stick to news, health/fitness, fashion, music and food shows!

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

Growing up I wanted to be so many things! I have a short attention span (note that my shows are always short!) but I think I usually bounced back and forth from being a lawyer to being a musical theater star on Broadway. I held pretty true to these goals through college and I’m actually still up for either of those opportunities. After I graduated from Purdue University, I spent a year in banking and then moved to Chicago to pursue dance and choreography. I spent nearly 2 years there on a dance scholarship and then other opportunities moved my husband and I to Tennessee. It was then that I really had to choose whether to continue dancing or to give law school a try. I decided that I wasn’t ready for the dedication needed to sit in class all day everyday and I really enjoyed having an active lifestyle. I then realized that personal training would allow me to keep in dancer shape, provide a decent income and ultimately help others to find enjoyment in working out and staying fit. I’ve now been training for a few years and added the shows almost 2 years ago. I just couldn’t be happier with all the challenges that both present me.

What does the future hold for you and your show(s)?

I don’t think any of us know where our shows are going to end up. What would I like to see happen? I want to build an entire health and fitness empire! I want to have people take some of the information that I’ve given them and make a change in their lives. I want to have books and shows that are everywhere and make a difference in how people see health and fitness. It is already surreal to have Fit Life on so many mobile devices and also Tivo, so I’m looking forward to what the future holds. If nothing else, I have learned so much and have enjoyed being a part of ‘new media.’

Rowley Cutler produces the long running British show Darkcompass, and more recently Darkcompass Metal Show. Here is Rowley’s 5-Question MiniInterview…

When & why did you begin podcasting?

Back in December 2004 – I was sitting in a bedsit in Birkenhead, spending too much time doing nothing other than work. I was watching The Culture Show on the BBC when an article came up about podcasting. Adam Curry was being interviewed, and at the end of the snippet the
reporter said. Only time will tell if this is a fad or the future of media. I thought – I have the kit, why not. So I made my first podcast on the 14th of December 2004 I made my first show, introducing myself and what I plan to do with this new medium. Of course that never happened – it has become the show it has become today, dedicated to the only other love to my family – music, and comment. I suppose Adam Curry is my inspiration – I thought if he could do it so could I. I was called two weeks later after starting my show from Paul Nichols – Podcast Paul, asking me how to do it, I was still learning, but I explained it all and how to do it, and that knowledge was pushed onto Richard Vobes, who’s now probably one of the most prolific UK podcasters.

What is the most significant thing to happen to you personally as a direct result of producing your podcast?

I have spilled my heart out on podcasts in the past, all through my diagnosis or MS and into my depression. Podcasting became an obsession, even though I took almost 2 months off in 2006, it’s a good feeling that my thoughts on music and UK current affairs has enlightened others.

One of the best things is listeners experiencing music from other countries. One instance was I played a band called Julia’s Window from Finland. Who in fact is still one of my favourites. A listener in California contacted me and asked how to contact the band. He wanted to play a track on a DVD he was making of EXTREME QUADBIKING. I gave him the info, and about a month later a DVD came through the post of the biking. Sure enough half way through Julia’s Window was in it. Now, that would not have happened if I had not played their music on my podcast. It made me feel good inside, it still does.

What podcasts, if any, do you regularly listen to or watch?

Too many, I have around 50 in iTunes. Podcasting my preferred method of listening to music, tech news, to relax (with a good audio book, like Table Rappers) life, the universe and everything. Faves are PCPodcast, Ourobouros, This Week in Tech (as well as MacBreak and
Windows Weekly), Geek Brief TV, PodfinderUK, really too man to mention here.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

I wanted to be a teacher, strangely enough. It’s not panned out that way, well not really. I work in IT, the web at the moment, but I’ve done things all over – right down to plugging in network cables right up to Project Management for multi million pound installations all over the world. Every time, teaching people the do’s and don’ts of IT, so in an indirect way I’m teaching. I suppose in podcasting I’m teaching people about new music and how the world works. Thinking of it that way – hell I am a teacher!

What does the future hold for you and your show(s)?

I am going to continue enlightening or teaching people the ways of new music not just through DarkCompass, but also now through my METAL show. I am sure there is more development to come – the wonders of this medium of audio/video is that it is constantly evolving, and I’m
sure DarkCompass will develop along with it. I’ve not done a Video Podcast yet – so maybe that’s something I need to start looking at. All this is still new, 3 years of podcasting for me is early days.