}

Friday, October 19, 2007

AmeriNZ #45 – Carcast

Episode 45 is now available, and it's free no matter where you get it from. You can listen to it or download it through the player at the bottom of the post here, or subscribe for free through iTunes here (you must have the free iTunes player installed). You can also listen to it for free through the player on my MySpace page.

I don't normally have podcast shownotes as consecutive blog posts, but I've been busy this week.

Anyway, it's a mixed bag today, starting with my second “carcast” (the first was AmeriNZ #25, if you want to know). I give you some updates to Tuesday's episode, then it's a bit of a rant about bad customer service, and then I share some of my recent thinking about the podcast. From there it's back in the “studio” as I share five things you don't know about me (and challenge other podcasters to do the same—about them, of course) and then I go over comments.

Mentioned in this episode (thanks to Nancy):
Brockovich forces NZ firm to drop 'sexist' ad

NZ brewery offers beer for laptop



Get AmeriNZ Podcast for free on iTunes

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ok, so I voted for winter. Winter is currently my favorite, but that will change with, well... the seasons. You see, I am currently looking forward to some skiing trips with my brother and VJ of vjnetcast.com. But of corse my favorite time will change is a few months, guess I'm just fickle.

As far as the ending of your podcast, I for one will miss you if you do. But what makes the medium of podcasting unique is that we do it for ourselves, not for the purpose of getting a large audience, or to entertain. I don't listen to many of the entrainment podcasts. I thoroughly enjoy the slices of your life you are willing to share with us and will continue to listen as long as you wish to share.



I do not ware glasses or contacts.

I'm left handed

I'm afraid of heights

I'm dyslexic

I've met more famous people then I care to count.

Anonymous said...

I a also forgetful, that would be David b who posted the above

Anonymous said...

The Erin Brok. ad was odd to me also. There seem to be a class of TV ads here featuring American celebs speaking directly to Kiwis and they always stand out. I'm thinking also of the Harvey Keitel beer commercial where he heaps heaps of praise on Kiwi culture.

Glad to hear you're not stopping with the podcast. I enjoy the blog but the podcast is more fun -- including hearing about you all dealing with tradesfolks.

When I started writing in earnest on my blog I had a lot of mixed feelings about whether to care if anyone read it or not. You always hope for more. My count has stayed steady at about 7 people and that takes the pressure off for sure. It really comes back to whether it brings you happiness or not. Sometimes it's a challenge to get motivated but I'm always glad when I've added another posting.

Catching up on your podcast has become a weekend ritual that I look forward to and I almost always learn something new. I'd miss it if you stopped (no pressure).


-spikey

Nik said...

Thanks for the plug on the cast, much appreciated. For some reason tho the one I downloaded from itunes cut off right in the middle of you talking about how great I am which was rather a blow to the ego. Not sure what happened there, it just ends at 28:33? Maybe that was intentional, leave 'em hanging...

Arthur Schenck said...

DavidBAnd so far you're the only fan of winter, but nothing wrong with fickle--or is it just adaptable?

You're so right about the uniqueness of podcasts as a medium, though I suppose blogging is similar. But I'm glad people do listen (or read, as the case may be), and I'm certainly glad you do. Thanks for taking up the podcaster challenge!

Spikey: You know, that Harvey Keitel ad is really pretty condscending, but at least he's an actor. You expect him to be paid to deliver words, so I guess that's why I find the Erin ads so jarring.

Thanks for the kind words about my podcast! What you said about your blog is exactly how I feel about blogging and podcasting and, like you, I'm always glad when I've posted something. I guess that for all of us, that's the real point of these things.

Nik: This episode was supposed to be 30:57, including the outtro, and it definitely shouldn't just stop. Sometimes iTunes messes up, and sometimes Podomatic files get messed up. If you ever have trouble with a file in iTunes, you can download directly from Podomatic (the "here" link in each episode's shownotes). Or, you can listen to it on the player on the right side of my blog (I checked it's the full length version). How funny that it should stop when I was talking about you!

Jason in DC said...

I think you should continue podcasting. Maybe go down to once a week.

Now as for your other point:

Good customer service. What planet are you on?

When I was going to enclose my back porches I set up three appointments on one day for people to come and give me estimates. Not one of them showed up and not one of them called to reschedule.

I will say that the contractor I went with was fantastic. They started early, came in on budget, didn't make a mess and it took exactly as long as they said it would.

Now that's customer service.

Arthur Schenck said...

I'll definitely continue, and the frequency will be as is--some weeks twice, others only once. Who knows? Some weeks might even be more, and I suppose there may be the odd week I miss altogether. But in any case, I'm going to keep going.

As for customer service, I guess my point is that the last example you cited is what should be typical, not the exception. Small business has it tough--it's not easy to find new business. So, when someone approaches them about doing business with them, you'd think they'd be keen to grab it. Apparently not. I guess that, as with the contractor you used, when I find someone good I go back to them again and again.

Nik said...

Hey Arthur, is there a way I can download directly to my MacBook from one of those avenues? Or can you shoot me an mp3 of the podcast? (I wanted to save it on my itunes.)

As for the longevity of the podcast, I say do it as long as it isn't a burden for you. That's kind of been the guiding light in my blogging nearly 4 (!) years - when it feels like work, I'll give it up, 'cause it's supposed to be fun.
Cheers!

Arthur Schenck said...

I talk about this a bit in Episode 46, but you can always go to my page on Podomatic (http://amerinz.podomatic.com/), go to the episode you want and click "download". You can re-download it in iTunes, but that's a little more complicated. Email me when you get the chance because I'd like to ask you some questions about your book.

I completely agree with you about fun being the necessary ingredient!

Unknown said...

I love listening to your podcast, and I wanted to say I'm also glad you are going on with it. It gets frustrating at times, but it's worth it in the end.

Five things nobody else knows about me:

I wear contacts and glasses.

I was nearly a Caesarian birth.

I have met many celebrities.

I started kindergarten late because of a tonsillectomy.

I have a cousin I've never met, due to his being given up for adoption at birth.

Arthur Schenck said...

Thanks for the feedback--I really do appreciate it! Thanks, too for taking part in the challenge!