GRAND Spring 2021 Vol. IV Ed. I

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Media & Technology Rock the Podcast How to create—and launch—an engaging and entertaining podcast Like other grandmothers everywhere, I grieved not being able to be with my grandchildren over this last holiday season. I needed a project to distract me, so I took the plunge into podcasting—with not one podcast, but two. I figured if I was going to take on such a daunting project, I might as well make it worthwhile. And it has been worthwhile, providing me with a limitless outlet for my creativity. I am my own producer and publisher, and my stories and ideas can now travel the world. If you’re interested in podcasting yourself, be warned: the learning curve is steep. But don’t be overwhelmed; if you take it one step at a time and access the right resources, it is doable. And it gets significantly easier with practice. Rachel Dunstan Muller is a children’s author, storyteller, podcaster, and grandmother. You can find her two podcasts Hintertales: Stories from the Margins of History and Sticks and Stones and Stories through her website at racheldunstanmuller.com, or wherever you normally get your podcasts. 1. Choose a theme. What will your podcast be about? Who is your target audience? My first podcast, Hintertales: Stories from the Margins of History, tells true stories of ordinary people caught up in extraordinary events, and is aimed at adults who love good storytelling. Sticks and Stones and Stories is more personal, consisting of fun, original tales told initially to my three young grandchildren. Your podcast might be about cooking, or poetry, or the interesting places you’ve travelled. If you aren’t already listening to podcasts in your chosen genre, start listening now for ideas and inspiration. 2. Give it a name. A good title should capture the theme of your podcast, be simple to remember, and be easily searchable. The word Hintertales was my own invention and is therefore easy to find via Google. In contrast, the combination of words in my children’s title proved to be too generic for good search results. 3. Create podcast artwork. You will need a square image to accompany your podcast when it’s uploaded to sites like Apple Podcasts. I used the tools at Canva.com to create my own artwork, but if that feels daunting, you can hire someone affordably at Fiverr.com or 99Designs. com. The finished image should be 3000 x 3000 pixels, 72 dpi, and saved as a PNG. 4. Decide on a format. My episodes are scripted stories (non-fiction and fiction respectively), 8 GRAND grandmag.ca
Perfect Podcasts from local to far-flung but you may choose to go with an interview format or solo commentary. As your own producer, you also get to choose the length of your podcasts, and how frequently you upload new episodes. Having a consistent publishing schedule is ideal, whether it’s daily, weekly, bi-weekly, or even monthly. 5. Choose a microphone. You could start by recording with your smartphone, but for the best audio quality you’ll want to invest in a microphone that plugs directly into your laptop or recording device. Search online for reviews of the most popular podcast mics. This will likely be your biggest initial investment, with a good mic costing between $60 and $180. 6. Download editing software. This is a must for podcasters. GarageBand is free for Mac users, while Audacity is free for Mac, PC and Linux users. Learning to use this software was my biggest hurdle, but I found helpful tutorials on YouTube and other sites. I highly recommend the indepth video tutorials on Lynda.com, which are accessible for free for both VIRL and GVLP library users. 7. Record your first episode. Prepare either a bulleted outline or a full script, practice until the material flows easily, then choose a quiet place to record. A basement storage room has been an ideal space for me, but for you it may be a walk-in closet, or even your car parked somewhere quiet. It should have few reflective Hintertales: Stories from the Margins of History. Author and storyteller Rachel Dunstan Muller combs the dusty corners of history in pursuit of some of the world’s most fascinating true stories. Check back every second Friday for stories of ordinary people caught up in extraordinary circumstances. hintertales.buzzsprout.com Sticks and Stones and Stories. Add a little wonder to bed time, car time, or anytime with these fun original stories. Sticks and Stones and Stories features engaging tales written and narrated by children’s author Rachel Dunstan Muller. sticksandstonesandstories.buzzsprout.com grandmag.ca Vol. IV, Ed. I 9
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Page 3 and 4: KEEPING YOU AT HOME SAFELY & COMFOR
Page 5 and 6: Having Fun & Staying Silly CONTENTS
Page 7: Tools to Connect Online Grandma/ Gr
Page 11 and 12: This podcast entertains, educates,
Page 13 and 14: uins, and (in a nod to the original
Page 15 and 16: program, some things to consider ar
Page 17 and 18: Open a door… to a brighter future
Page 19 and 20: Stuffed Quesadillas Quesadillas are
Page 21 and 22: Food and Beverage Producers and the
Page 23 and 24: A national literacy organization is
Page 25 and 26: ily expert and author of Things to
Page 27 and 28: history, and that’s a loss for ev
Page 29: greatest. You can give now or give

GRAND Spring 2021 Vol. IV Ed. I

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