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!