Exercising Podcasts

Bottom Line: If you want me to listen to or watch your podcast, make it short. I’ve seen some podcasts over an hour. Get a clue!

By Dr. Stephen S. Kelley

CTO, hawthorne direct inc

My iPod spends most of the time sitting unused. I’ve launched several initiatives to stay up to date on the latest technology and marketing podcasts, but these initiatives (along with yours truly) quickly went to sleep. I review posts from over 30 websites and blogs on a daily basis, using an RSS aggregator. . This takes around 15 to 30minutes a day. Taking the same amount of time to listen to a podcast summarizing just one site simply doesn’t fit into my information-rich, fast-paced schedule. I’m looking for lots of information, quickly. To date, podcasts haven’t delivered for me.

I may have found my podcast-listening niche. My exercise routine includes an hour on an elliptical machine. Exercising is great, but I can’t justify it unless I’m doing something else at the same time. In the past I’ve listened to music and read science fiction. Recently I tried loading up my iPod and listening to it instead. I really enjoyed it! Short technical/marketing newscasts, under 5 minutes, were OK. I particularly liked some more creative pieces within these newscasts as well as an NBC podcast about aspects of intimate relationships.

Bottom Line: If you want me to listen to or watch your podcast, make it short. I’ve seen some podcasts over an hour. Get a clue!

Since I’ve been able to justify fun reading while exercising, I’ve lightened up on my work ethic and have subscribed to Rocketboom and Tiki TV videocasts. I expect my next exercise session will be very enjoyable.

Dr. Stephen S. Kelley is CTO of hawthorne direct inc, a full service DRTV ad agency founded in 1986. Stephen has a PhD in high-energy theoretical physics and over 25 years of experience in almost every aspect of information technology.