Podcasting Goes Mainstream

I have written before about our interest in developing podcasts, short interviews with travel writers to reflect and add depth to stories they have published on GoNOMAD. I envision a wonderfully synchronous new feature, that you could load on your little Ipod and listen to while on the airplane headed to your destination. When would be a better time than that to have the author reading you their story, that one to one connection is golden and would be valuable.

Clear Channel Communications is jumping on the podcast wagon, announcing that it will begin offering clips from its radio shows and hosting exclusive live online concerts to draw more traffic to its radio web sites. Of course the media conglomerate wil "monetize' these podcasts with ads....but then, that would really cut down on the appeal wouldn't it?

I mean I would think a one on one moment such as you get listening to your ear buds with an Ipod would not be as much fun if you have to listen to crappy radio ads.

I feel the same way about the deluge of ads you get at movie theaters...and for this reason I love the renting the DVDs from Blockbuster since they don't fill them with previews or stupid ads. Give me the damn movie!