About
I discovered podcasting in 2005 while browsing a new section of the iTunes store called “podcasts.” My life would never be the same. I was instantly enamored with the ability for anyone to suddenly have a global voice. No more pitching your idea to of the very few companies that owned the airwaves. Instead you “simply” learned a little bit about the technology and soon you were on the Internet with your very own show. Powerful.
I started my first podcast/show in late 2006. The Produce Picker Podcast is a video show dedicated to the knowledge, gleaned while working in grocery stores throughout high school and college, of how to choose fresh fruits and vegetables.
Because I never like to say, “I don’t know”, I researched each and every question I had about produce so I could answer the questions I was receiving on a daily basis by customers. When I discovered podcasting, I quickly decided I wanted to produce (pun;)) my own show. I once heard an author say, write about what you know. I soon realized I had a lot of stored knowledge about picking produce that I could share with the world. Now I was able to help people all across the globe instead of just the people who happened to walk into whatever store I was working in at the time. It was also my vehicle for learning the technology of podcasting.
The show has seen excellent growth worldwide with one episode just recently going viral on YouTube! Episode 7 – How to Cut a Pomegranate, has seen over a quarter of a million views on YouTube alone. That’s a lot more people than I would have ever reached in person and is just one example of the power of new media.
Following more than two years of podcast production, I was hired by a non-profit to help produce their already successful podcasting efforts. A dream had been realized. I was getting paid to do something I absoultely loved.
During the summer of 2008 I was featured on an episode of Emeril Lagasse’s newest show, Emeril Green. I auditioned for the show on the premise that I could pick out the best fresh fruits and vegetables in the produce department however when it came to cooking them, I had no idea what I was doing.
They liked my story and the episode (“Vegging Out” now available on iTunes) was released in Septemeber 2008. Emeril taught me how to cook five separate dishes all based on fruits and/or veggies. The experience was amazing and Emeril is a fun and very unique personality.
Transistioning into a podcast production career meant the focus of my knowledge had shifted and so to did my own personal podcasting efforts. I launched my second show The Podcasters Studio in April of 2009. An audio podcast that teaches people how to produce, promote and profit from their own podcasting efforts.
After about a year of producing a show about how to podcast, I began offering my knowledge in the form of one-on-one consulting. I’m currently available to help you get your own podcast started or improve the show you already have be it gear upgrades, show promotion, production techniques or a whole host of other assistance to help you make your podcast as successful as possible.
Ray behind the mic
I’ve given several talks on podcasting at conferences and meetup groups and I continue to be very active in the community in addition to producing shows as my full time job. It truly is a passion and as it turns out if you’re driven enough and a little lucky (although I think you create your own luck) you can get paid to do what you love.
If you’re interested in learning more about how to podcast please check out my shows or schedule a consulting session or hit me up on twitter (@PodcastHelper) and ask me a question. I’m here to help.
