Filene and podcasting / Trey and Johnny Law
By Brent Dixon on August 06, 2007
The Filene podcast
Trey and I spent last week in Madison, Wisconsin with The Filene Research Institute.
We were visiting because in the very near future, Filene is going to kick off a podcast (Update: The first podcast episode is live here). We were fortunate enough to help them get it going.
Filene is an idea factory and one of the major innovation catalysts in the credit union industry (for example: later this week they’re hosting a colloquium on ‘large-scale credit union collaboration’). Their podcast will make for a fascinating listen for anyone in the financial industry.
Also, George Hofheimer, Filene’s Chief Research Officer and the show’s host, has a first-rate radio voice.
Podcasting tools
In setting up the podcast, we integrated several tools that came together to make a nice little podcasting system. If you’re looking to get into podcasting yourself, here are a few tools/services we used in their setup:
Evoca -
Filene’s podcast will be interview-driven, and Evoca is the perfect tool for recording conversations and managing audio files on the web. Evoca integrates with both Skype and your standard phone line, and allows you to record conversations straight to the web.
You can manage the audio files with albums and control if a file is public or private. Evoca also generates an RSS feed of your public audio files.
Also, it’s really cheap – $5/month for a bucket of 200 minutes of collective recording time, which renews each month.
PrettyMay is a Skype plugin, also for recording conversations. We chose this as the primary recording tool and Evoca as the file management tool because PrettyMay kept the audio quality a little better.
The interface is very easy to use. You click “record call,” and go. It saves the calls as mp3s on your computer. It also manages recorded conversations by timestamping and labeling who you were talking to.
Audacity -
Audacity is very awesome open source (read: “free”) audio-editing software. It’s great for adding music, editing out any unwanted dialogue, splicing together text to make interviewees say things they didn’t really say, and generallypolishing up your show.
This site has tutorials of some of the most fundamental things you’ll need to know to use it.
Trey is a convict, or how the story ends
Also, Trey should have gone to jail this weekend.
Friday, on our way to the airport to go home, Trey was pulled over by a police officer for speeding. As Trey cursed and I snapped pictures with my Macbook’s built-in camera, the officer ran his information in the cop-car. We braced for the ticket. We were pleasantly surprised when he returned and said “I’m going to let you off without a citation.”
“Thank you so much,” said Trey.
“Well, the reason is – because of how fast you were going, I’m legally obligated to arrest you, and I’d rather not right now. Now get out of here before I change my mind.”
I’d bet that’s the first time anyone has ever gotten out of a ticket by going way too fast.
Charlie Trotter on August 06
I’ve been going about avoiding tickets all wrong. This helps me. Thank you.
Murem Sharpe on August 06
Thanks for selecting and talking about Evoca! Our recording quality is superb so go ahead and use Evoca for all of your Skype recording and online hosting. We’re a web service – no download required. We auto-generate HTML code for each recording so you can copy/paste the recording into your website or blog. We also auto-generate RSS code for your podcast and provide a friendly URL for your Evoca member profile and any groups you form. We’re so convenient to use with Skype, recording your voice or a conference call right within the Skype client – the only web services recording partner with Skype. You can order a transcription or translation right online. We send you a Skype chat to listen, download right after you record. You can also record with Evoca using any phone and our in-browser flash recorder, the EvocaMic. Yes, we are very affordable, too. Everyone’s voice counts, Murem (CEO & Founder)
Mark Meyer on August 07
Thanks gentleman for your help and talent! Filene is looking forward to using podcast to help further share key research and innovation findings…
Trey – We at Filene are glad you avoided a few nights in jail…however, Lois B would have brought you some of her infamous culinary treats…
Cheers and best, Mark
Dave Jackson on August 07
I can never get out of a ticket. Ever. The only thing I got out of was I wanted to pleade “Not Guilty” and that made me get in a completely different line (shorter) and with enough nerver, the judge finally let me off with court costs.
While I’m here, I also have tutorials, resources, and weekly webinars on podcasting at my site. www.schoolofpodcasting.com or if you’re looking for free stuff, go to www.planningyourpodcast.com
Dave Jackson Personal Podcast Coach www.personalpodcastcoach.com www.schoolofpodcasitng.com
GeorgeH on August 07
And we are live!
The first podcast is a bit different format. Future podcasts will feature researchers talking about the projects they’ve done for Filene, i3’ers discusing their innovation projects or interviews with interesting convicts, like Trey. Have a listen and thanks all around to Trabian, Evoca, Skype, PrettyMay, Audacity and the “Internets”.
A final word to Trey, don’t come to my town and break the law again. I have connections!
Robbie Wright on August 07
Um Trey, I think I’ll have Brent pick me up from the airport…
Rob Rutkowski on August 13
ITunes link?
Brent on August 14
Rob -
We had to wait until the first episode was launched to get the iTunes set up. We’ll update with it soon.
Brent on August 23
You can subscribe to Filene’s podcast in iTune’s by clicking this link.
Get’r.
Brent on August 23
I don’t know why I made “iTunes” possessive.
benry on September 14
Nice job on the first podcast. Audio quality was top-notch and a pretty interesting overview on Mr. Filene. Look forward to seeing more.
Brent on September 17
Scott (benry) – Thanks so much man. The Fileners have done an awesome job of picking up the ball and running with it.
Their next podcast (I think) is about ethnographic research they did with Design Concepts on why consumers actually choose financial institutions. I found it eye-opening.