E793 - This Podcast Episode Is About Pickles, Sort Of - How A Pickle Could Settle the Debate Over What a Podcast Is

Episode 793 - This Podcast Episode Is About Pickles, Sort Of - How A Pickle Could Settle the Debate Over What a Podcast Is

Podcasting Is Like Pickling

Podcasting starts with an idea, much like a cucumber starts as the raw material for a pickle. The recording, production, hosting, and distribution process transforms that raw material into something people can consume.

That comparison offers a useful way to think about the ongoing debate over what actually defines a podcast. Some people focus on the content. Others focus on delivery through RSS. Others focus on the way audiences consume the finished product.

Dave argues that each perspective captures part of the picture.

Define Podcasting for Your Purpose

The definition matters most when someone needs to measure podcasting for a specific purpose, especially advertising and sponsorship. Advertisers need clear definitions so they can measure audiences and evaluate their investment.

For podcasters focused on creating content and connecting with listeners, the debate carries less weight. Your audience cares about what you create and how the experience connects with them.

Podcasting combines the content with the process that turns an idea and recording into something people can access and consume. The process creates the result.

Stop Fighting Over the Definition

Different people approach podcasting from different perspectives. A podcaster may focus on content. A hosting company may focus on distribution. An advertiser may focus on measurement.

Understanding those perspectives can help creators avoid unnecessary arguments. Podcasting offers plenty of room for different formats and approaches, much like the many varieties of pickles available to consumers.

Think about podcasting as a process and a result. Your idea becomes a recording, the recording moves through production and distribution, and the finished podcast reaches an audience. The definition you choose should serve your purpose and your audience.

Dave also recommends The Audience Is Listening by Tom Webster as a starting point for people exploring podcasting or preparing to work with him.

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