podcasting for bahá’ís a remote presentation by greg kintz dili, timor leste
TRANSCRIPT
Podcasting for Bahá’ís
A Remote Presentationby Greg Kintz
Dili, Timor Leste
Where in the world is he?
Dili, Timor Leste
Evolution and Revolution
• The world of information and communication has changed and is continuing to change, rapidly
• Affordable communications technologies
• Podcasting for $100
Video Podcasting for $500
What is a podcast?
• Simply put, it is a radio program, but
• Listened to at listeners convenience
• Portable - mp3 player
• Worldwide audience (access to Internet)
Can be subscribed to - automatic updating
Target Audience
• Who are you trying to reach?
• Know your audience - target a population that you know well
• Focus your program on their interests and needs, not your own
Get feedback from your audience
How many people?
• Talk to one person only!
• Picture someone from the target population
Podcasts are almost always listened to privately
• What is the primary purpose of your message?
• You need to be clear about what you want to say.
Why are you telling your listener about this? Ask this for every new thought.
Primary Purpose
Objective
• What is your objective?
• Examples:
• The listener will feel inspired.
The listener will come to a devotional meeting
• Keep objectives simple and direct.
• Keep your message simple.
Too much information will overload the listener and they will forget or be confused about what you are trying to say.
Guidance from the Writings
• “Words and utterances should be impressive and penetrating.”
• “Human utterance is an essence which aspirith to exert its influence...”
“Every word is endowed with a spirit...”
No man of wisdom can demonstrate his
knowledge save by means of words. This
showeth the significance of the Word as is
affirmed in all the Scriptures, whether of
former times or more recently. For it is
through its potency and animating spirit that
the people of the world have attained so
eminent a position. Moreover words and
utterances should be both impressive and
penetrating. However, no word will be infused
with these two qualities unless it be uttered
wholly for the sake of God and with due regard
unto the exigencies of the occasion and the
people. TB, p. 172
• Some Definitions
• Infuse - fill; pervade
Exigency - an urgent need or demand
No man of wisdom can demonstrate his
knowledge save by means of words. This
showeth the significance of the Word as is
affirmed in all the Scriptures, whether of
former times or more recently. For it is
through its potency and animating spirit that
the people of the world have attained so
eminent a position. Moreover words and
utterances should be both impressive and
penetrating. However, no word will be infused
with these two qualities unless it be uttered
wholly for the sake of God and with due regard
unto the exigencies of the occasion and the
people. TB, p. 172
Moreover words and utterances
should be both impressive and
penetrating.
However, no word will be infused
with these two qualities unless it be
uttered wholly for the sake of God
and with due regard unto the
exigencies of the occasion and
the people.
The Great Being saith: Human utterance is an
essence which aspireth to exert its influence
and needeth moderation. As to its influence,
this is conditional upon refinement which in
turn is dependent upon hearts which are
detached and pure. As to its moderation, this
hath to be combined with tact and wisdom as
prescribed in the Holy Scriptures and Tablets. TB, p. 172
• Some definitions
• Refinement - the process of removing impurities or unwanted elements from a substance
• Tact - adroitness and sensitivity in dealing with others or with difficult issues
Wisdom - the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment; the quality of being wise
The Great Being saith: Human utterance is an
essence which aspireth to exert its influence
and needeth moderation. As to its influence,
this is conditional upon refinement which in
turn is dependent upon hearts which are
detached and pure.
The Great Being saith: Human utterance is an
essence which aspireth to exert its influence
and needeth moderation... As to its
moderation, this hath to be combined with tact
and wisdom as prescribed in the Holy
Scriptures and Tablets. TB, p. 172
Guidance = Effective
• Study about the power of the word and the Word.
• Learn how to make your words impressive and penetrating, and to exert influence.
Pray, and strive for detachment and purity.
Other Sources of Guidance
• Compilation of quotes from the Writings (available via email or website)
• Bahá’í Internet Agency documents
22 July 2005 letter from the ITC
Communication
• Effective programming is about communication
• Communication only happens when the listener is ready to listen, and is interested in the subject
Not just because it interests you
“...uttered wholly for the sake of God and with due regard to the exigencies of the occasion and the people.”
“...dependent upon hearts which are detached and pure.”
Nothing in there about you, the speaker.
“Advancing the process of entry by troops”
• Teaching
• Deepening
Core Activities
Main Focus
Teaching and Podcasting
• Teaching is heart to heart, face to face
• Love of the teacher for the seeker
• Teaching is difficult on podcasts/radio
Podcasts are very good for teaching support
• Target audience?
• Bahá’ís and seekers
• Sample objective:
Increase the listener’s understanding of the power of prayer.
Teaching Support with Podcasts
• Examples of subjects
• In depth discussion of principles
• Stories from the history of the Faith
• Bahá’í administration
• Spiritual growth
Marriage
• Devotional programs
• Children’s Class support
• Junior Youth service
Study Circle reinforcement
Support of Core Activities
Devotional Programs
• Prayers, writings, music
• Easy program to produce
• Think of the portable radio program
• Listen on the way to work
• Listen coming home
Listen before going to sleep
• Stories, songs, games
Voices of children
Children’s Class Support
Junior Youth
• Podcasts as a junior youth activity
• Talk to their peers
Service
Study Circle Reinforcement
• Memorization
• repetition, songs
• Story telling and dramatic skits
Review of main sections
Community Life
• Calendar of Events - Interviews with people about past events
• What happens at a devotional meeting?
• What are the Study Circles really like?
What goes on at a Holy Day program?
Types of Podcasts
• Single voice reading a script or talking
• Two voices, or a panel discussion
• Interview - careful its not canned
• Feature - tell a story
Magazine - multiple elements from above, and more
Not Limited by Geography
• Voice over IP - recorded
• Independent recordings sent to common producer
Anywhere in the world!
Music
• DANGER
• Be very careful of copyright issues
• Get agreements to use someone’s music in writing - including Bahá’í artists
Use custom music, GarageBand
Technical Issues
• Ambient sound
• Acoustics
• Microphone technique
• Voice technique
Recording level
Equipment and Costs
• Assumption - you have a computer and Internet access
• Other needs
• Microphone
• Good sound card or A-D converter
• Headphones
Editing program
Equipment Options
• Reasonable quality - read reviews
• Many vendors now sell podcasting packages
• Simplest setup
• USB Microphone
Headphones
USB MicrophoneBlue Snowball
$99
Use your existing headphones, mp3 player ear buds
Behringer Podcastudio Package Firewire $180 (USB version $100)
Complete Starter Package from BSW $249
Sound Editing Programs
• Audacity - both Mac and Windows - free, used by many podcasters
• Mac - GarageBand - free with current OS X, or part of the iLife package
Many other free, shareware, and commercial programs
More Info
• Lots and lots of resources on the Internet
• Lots of how-to sites
• podcasting.twende.net (coming soon)
• Site dedicated to podcasting for Bahá’ís
• Interactive - input from you
• Network of Baha’is doing podcasts
Happy Podcasting!!
Thank you for your interest and patience!