I received an email earlier today from Dr. Jim. He asked me to post a little something about the fact that Fr. Seraphim (of Catholic:Under the Hood fame) spoke to Dr. Jim’s podcasting class. What made this encounter a bit more special is the fact Doc Jim used a service I’d not encountered before - Ustream.TV.

I went to take a look at the Ustream.TV website to learn more about what it is. This is what they told me:

What is Ustream.TV?

The engine that powers LIVE streaming

With Ustream.TV you can:

• WATCH - LIVE Concerts, Shows
• MEET - Video and Speed Date
• CONNECT - Conferences, Meetings
• BROADCAST LIVE - Concerts, Shows, Around-the-town

I still don’t quite get it, but hey, I’m about as sharp as a bowling ball, so…

If you want to see the video, visit Doctor J’s (Dr. Jim’s) blog ‘How About This’ (one of many I suppose) and give the video a once over.

DJ Doctor J (that’s Dr. Jim’s rap handle) mentions the video “accidently” cuts off prematurely. I have it from good authority that he was forced to edit it due to the fact that Fr. Seraphim breaks out into some hardcore gangsta rap near the end of his presentation. This, of course, had to be edited out. This may just be a vicious rumor - but you decide.

I haven’t had the time to preview the video, so enter at your own risk.

Tags: Podcasting, Catholic Media, Video, Fr. Seraphim, Franciscan University of Steubenville, Jim Coyle | 3 Comments »

My wife sent me a link today from the Wall Street Journal Online. It deals specifically about Fora.tv but winds its way into the discussion of content.

I like the last paragraph of the article:

Great, gripping documentaries, such as the PBS “Nova” series or some of the latest BBC imports are expensive to produce, which is why we see them so infrequently on television and not at all online, at least not as original programming. But the Web is supposed to be all about boundless choice. For folks who get tired of short clips of dogs chasing their tale, their choices are beginning to multiply.

The podosphere does need to be about diversity. Not for its own sake, but to offer the listener choices. These choices not only mean a difference in subject, but a difference in quality of presentation.

I have been asked to be a “guest lecturer” at a class at Franciscan University of Steubenville. Dr. Jim Coyle has been doing a great job of teaching these students not only the technical aspects of podcasting, but the art of storytelling as well. I have been listening to their projects that are available online.

What I noticed is there is a lot of energy and ideas. Over time, the students have experimented with different techniques both in recording and editing. The projects are very interesting from a technical point of view. I have listened to about 2/3 of them at this point. What I have noticed, by-and-large, is the lack of reflection. There is a lot exposition - the telling of stories. There is not enough reflection on what the stories mean to them and how the event(s) changed them.

I remember listening to an interview with Julie Snyder who is the Senior Producer of the This American Life Radio Program and Executive Producer of the TV show. She mentioned how she received a great story. She just thought it was great. It was funny, poignant, and powerful. The only thing, she reflected, was there was no lasting impact on the person who told the story. It didn’t change them, or their life in any apprecable way. In effect, it was an anecdote one would tell at a party. While these can be fun or interesting, they are not the stuff of feature stories.

As Ira Glass has said, the pace of his stories are anecdote, anecdote, reflection. No more than two stories before a search for meaning. Next time you listen to This American Life, see if you can pick up this rhythm.

By-the-way, I had the chance to watch an episode of This American Life on Showtime while I was out of town last weekend. Wow, it almost makes me want to get cable, just so I can watch the show. It was awesome.

PS. If you got to the This American Life page on Showtime, you can watch the first episode of the TV version.

Kewl. Very, very kewl.

Tags: Video, Storytelling, This American Life, Franciscan University of Steubenville, Media Creation, Kewl, Jim Coyle | 1 Comment »

Well, I made it. I am here in Nashville, TN for the Catholic Media Convocation. Took a flight out of Akron/Canton flew to Detroit and then to Nashville. Everything worked like clockwork. It was an interesting journey since this was the first flight I’ve taken since my disability. For those of you who do not know, I am recovering from Lyme disease. The disease has messed with me quite a bit and makes it difficult to walk and sit.

Well, travel is made up of those two experiences quite a bit. I wanted to be able to come but was worried about having the endurance. My wife convinced me to ‘go gimp’. I contacted the airline to find out what kind of assistance was available to get to and from each flight. I was wheeled from place to place and so had the opportunity to speak with some delightful people. It was strange, however, to sit on a plane until everyone else had deplaned to wait for a wheel chair. It was awkward asking strangers for help with my luggage because I was not able to do it myself. The trip was made up of several new experiences that I will need to take some time to process and learn from.

Jim Coyle and I had dinner together and had a chance, once again, to get to know eachother better. We talked about DwM for quite some time. It was great to hear his take on where we are and where we are going. He presented me with some awesome insights. I am blessed to have him as a friend. We were both so tired from the trip, we called it an early nite. Since I am in Nashville, I’d love to make it to some club with live music, but I have no car, little stamina, and am on medication that does not allow me to drink. I am not sure that this wish will become a reality this time out.

Know that the discomfort and pain I do feel during this trip, I am offering up for all of the members of Disciples with Microphones. You are all a blessing to me and I look forward to discovering, with you, what God has in store for our little corner of the universe.

In the mean-time, I ask for your prayers. I especially ask that you pray that my heart and mind stay open to His purpose of my being here. I believe God has brought me here, to this place and this time, for a reason. I pray that I recognize it when God sends it my way.

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Tags: Catholic Media, Expo/Conference, Personal, Jim Coyle | 1 Comment »