CELEBRATING ONE YEAR OF THE EXTREME HOLIDAYS PODCAST!

HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY TO THE EXTREME HOLIDAYS PODCAST!

TO CELEBRATE, TUNE IN TO THIS SHORT, FIVE-MINUTE EPISODE WHERE MY PREVIOUS GUESTS DISCUSS HOW THEY WOULD CHANGE TRAVEL!

ALSO LEARN ABOUT SETTING UP A PODCAST AND WHAT IT TOOK TO CREATE THE EXTREME HOLIDAYS PODCAST.

The name of the podcast episode is: EPISODE 24: HOW WOULD YOU CHANGE TRAVEL? and you can listen to the full episode here:

🎧 https://ruthmillingtonsextremeholidayspodcast.buzzsprout.com

I can’t believe it’s been a year since I broadcast my first podcast. And what a year it has been! To celebrate, I’ve created a short, five-minute podcast in which my previous guests discuss how they would change travel to make it more enjoyable and sustainable. It was fun creating it and it’s a light-hearted look at what even the most experienced and extreme travellers can sometimes get frustrated about!

This is also the last episode of the current series.  For updates on when the podcast will be returning, don’t forget to follow me on Twitter @ruthmillington1 or Instagram @ruthmillingtonauthor. 

A special thanks to the following guests for contributing to this episode:

Hannah Scott
Justin Barker
Gail Aldwin
Elicia Miller
Clive Marsden
Ellis Charlesworth
Peter H. Fogtdal
Sarah Tinsley
Clementine Smith
Claudia Stachelhaus
David T. Garrison
Suzanne Buchanan
Graydon Hazenberg
Ian Pilbeam
Dr. Kimberley Brown
Juana Flores Vegas
Ryan Biddulph
Greta Williams
Sophie Capito
Kyle Henning
James Stevenson

Before setting up the Extreme Holidays Podcast, I had only listened to two podcasts in my entire life! When my friend (and now co-producer), Don Robbie, suggested I should set up one because I had gone on “so many extreme travels over the years”, I couldn’t resist. Little did I know it would be the start of a huge learning curve. So what does it entail to set up a podcast?

Creating A Podcast

If you are wondering how to set up a podcast, here’s a list of things I had to do in order to create the Extreme Holidays Podcast. I have broken the list down into 3 sections: (1) Pre-Production; (2) Production; (3) Post-Production. It isn’t an exhaustive list and I will write about all these elements in much greater detail in future blog posts.

Creating a podcast can be very time consuming so be prepared! For example, the pre-production for the Extreme Holidays Podcast took me several months to put together, whereas the production and post-production of each episode can take me up to 35 hours depending on the length, complexity and the extent of the edits required. Saying that, I learnt many new valuable skills which I can add to my CV, and became fascinated with sound engineering and production. Unless you are deaf or visually impaired, I think many of us take for granted what sound is and how it is created, and don’t appreciate the nuances, technicalities behind it and the impact it has upon us and everything around:

(1) Pre-Production

• Finding a suitable name which would encapsulate the essence of the show
• Developing the concept and writing a short synopsis of what the show is about
• Scripting the jingles and testing out potential theme tunes; finding a company to record the voice-over for the jingles (plus listening to many recording artists to see if their voice sounded appropriate)
• Checking licences
• Creating the artwork and graphics for the podcast
• Finding a suitable platform to host the podcast on (and learning how to publish the podcast, monitor the website and publish on multiple directories such as Spotify, Apple etc)
• Choosing a provider that would allow me to record broadcast quality podcasts
• Learning how to record podcasts on the provider site
• Sample testing my voice and learning how to adapt my tone (this is a never ending learning curve! I have no training either as an actress or in broadcast journalism)
• Choosing the correct equipment (headphones/microphone etc) to record with
• Learning how to edit on GarageBand
• Creating templates for scripts, marketing and questions to ask guests
• Applying for and securing a sponsor; scripting and recording a pre-roll and end-roll of details of the sponsor to be included in the podcast
• Creating a YouTube channel
• Learning how to create soundbites and develop them into short videos to upload to YouTube (requires learning new technology and systems!)

(2) Production

• Sourcing guests, pre-interviewing them and researching their stories; teaching them how to use the recording system
• Researching and scripting the podcast
• Recording the podcast with the guest
• Creating sound effects (check out Episode 8. I created the earthquake sound effect using 15 different sound recordings sourced from various means)
• Sourcing music specific to each podcast
• Editing on GarageBand and uploading to the webpage
• Sound checks and numerous listen throughs to check editing and quality
• Writing show notes
• Scheduling publication of podcast; informing guests

(3) Post-Production

• Marketing over several weeks over multiple social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, my blog). As with editing, this is extremely time consuming

And finally……

If you are enjoying the podcast, tell your friends and family. There is a huge amount of work which goes into this podcast and I really would appreciate it if you could spread the word and also leave a rating and review on your podcast app. There’s lots to listen to from extreme travels on motorbikes, cycling journeys, adventures at sea, overland journeys on double-decker buses, extreme detoxes, tales of survival, travelling with babies and children, and extreme travellers forced to live in exile!

Share your Story  

If you have a story to tell about your travels, get in touch HERE.

Yours,

Ruthie x

P.S Don’t forget to like, share and subscribe to my blog, and to follow me on social media!