Author Topic: Meta discussion from EP187 (Read 28203 times)

Russell Nash · **on:** February 08, 2009, 08:33:17 PM

Post whatever comments you have about Steve's announcements from EP187.

Raving_Lunatic · **Reply #1 on:** February 08, 2009, 08:44:26 PM

I trust Ben Phillips to do well.

alllie · **Reply #2 on:** February 08, 2009, 09:48:07 PM

Quote from: Raving_Lunatic on February 08, 2009, 08:44:26 PM

I trust Ben Phillips to do well.

Who is Ben Phillips and is he any relation to Steve Ballmer?

Poppydragon · **Reply #3 on:** February 08, 2009, 09:50:38 PM

I'm working on the basis that EP is Steve's baby and if he feels Ben is the right person to look after it then who am I to question it.

Schreiber · **Reply #4 on:** February 08, 2009, 11:31:46 PM

As for Steve's other announcement, I'm not sure how I feel about an episode specifically devoted to feedback. It's not that I'm not interested in hearing what people have to say, but I don't think I'd ever get around to listening to that kind of podcast. Much as I love StarshipSofa, I never seem to end up playing the Engine Room episodes.

Plus, I have to say it's kind of nice wondering if you'll be one of the two or three quoted posters at the end of an episode. It really made my day the couple times I was quoted on Escape Pod and I can see how a long, blow-by-blow breakdown of the forum could take away from some of the magic. But I guess I should probably withhold judgment until I hear what's already been recorded.

Raving_Lunatic · **Reply #5 on:** February 09, 2009, 12:01:45 AM

me getting quoted in EP186 was the best moment of my life.

no, not really.

MacArthurBug · **Reply #6 on:** February 09, 2009, 12:54:13 AM

I trust all will be well. If handing over some of the power will take some of the strain off Steve, and I keep getting me my sweet sweet sci-fi crack then I'm a happy girl. As to a feedback show? I'll wait and see how I feel about it when/if it happens. Getting quoted or referenced is always an insanely huge happy geek girl moment for me. So- on one hand more chances to have my "name" dropped? Cool. On the other hand I don't listen to feedback shows on any of the other things I've been into- but I always got into them late so was never either involved in the making of or knew anyone who was..

godzilla8nj · **Reply #7 on:** February 09, 2009, 02:22:42 AM

Quote from: Schreiber on February 08, 2009, 11:31:46 PM

I'm not sure how I feel about an episode specifically devoted to feedback. It's not that I'm not interested in hearing what people have to say, but I don't think I'd ever get around to listening to that kind of podcast.

I feel the same. The feedback gave the episodes a community feel I liked (the ones Steve read not the phone message ones, those I can live without.) Honestly I probably wouldn't have signed up for the forum if it wasn't for the feedback. That said, in the beginning I wouldn't have listened to a separate feedback cast because it was the stories which brought me to EP. However I'm not going to pass judgment until I hear one.

(Oh, and no offense to any callers on the boards. It wasn't the reviews or the feedback themselves, the format just didn't work for me.)

Talia · **Reply #8 on:** February 09, 2009, 04:40:12 AM

In regards to feedback: If its a matter of sheer volume, just catch up as needed than resume as normal. I think one episode just for feed back would be swell, but ultimately I prefer feedback the way it always has been done.

Swamp · **Reply #9 on:** February 09, 2009, 01:39:46 PM

Steve will still be buying the stories, hosting the podcast, and occasionally narrating stories. He will also not be getting bogged down or burned out by the business of it. I'm Good!

Guest hosts? as long as they are rare, I suppose it might work, but it will be like tuning in to watch Carson, but getting Joan Rivers instead.

separate feedback? I'm down with that, as long as it does not become Winging It.

eytanz · **Reply #10 on:** February 09, 2009, 01:57:05 PM

As for the structural changes in EA - if Steve (and Ben) think this is for the best, I certainly have no reason to think otherwise. I'm glad that Steve is still going to be the one selecting/narrating stories for EP - the business side only matters to me insofar as it facilitates the podcasts (though this reminds me, I should make another donation soon, once my own financial chaos stabilizes a bit).

As for feedback episodes - I share some of the initial concerns that were brought up - specifically, that this will be less conductive to community-building - but I think we should wait until we actually hear such an episode before making any judgments. We shouldn't fear experimentation, and I trust Steve to make the proper decisions based on the actual success or failure of the new format.

Rain · **Reply #11 on:** February 09, 2009, 03:29:49 PM

I was afraid for a moment that Steve would stop completely, but luckily he isnt, i cant imagine the change will mean much for me as a listener so anything that gives Steve some more time is fine by me

DKT · **Reply #12 on:** February 09, 2009, 05:19:18 PM

Quote from: Raving_Lunatic on February 08, 2009, 08:44:26 PM

I trust Ben Phillips to do well.

Yeah, this.

I think it will be really good for someone like Ben to do some of the more business-oriented work, allowing Steve to be able to focus on his labor of love (picking stories, intros/outros, and occassionally narrating Escape Pod). Hopefully, Ben will still do heaps of narration at Pseudopod, though.

I'm on the fence on the feedback. I'm willing to give it a shot. Maybe there's a way to work in blog posts/forum discussion with the feedback episodes?

Guest Hosts I'm down with, as long as Steve is still the host. I'm sure those episodes will have a different flavor, but it's happened on the other EA podcasts before. So I don't see why it wouldn't work here.

Zathras · **Reply #13 on:** February 09, 2009, 05:26:47 PM

I'm excited about the changes. Steve obviously had too much on his plate. There already was 1 guest host, so I'm ok with that. Add me to the list of fence sitters about the feedback shows. I'm not a huge fan of Skype shows. I trust EA more than others to get the sound quality right.

Raving_Lunatic · **Reply #14 on:** February 09, 2009, 05:30:57 PM

mmm. TBH as long as it means that we'll get regular escape pod and steve and the others don't have to sacrafice... that thing they have... I think it's called a life... in order to get the pods to us hungry addicts.

Swamp · **Reply #15 on:** February 09, 2009, 05:52:10 PM

Quote from: DKT on February 09, 2009, 05:19:18 PM

Guest Hosts... it's happened on the other EA podcasts before. So I don't see why it wouldn't work here.

I think it works for PodCastle because that's how they started, but a huge component of EscapePod enjoyment for me comes from Steve as host. The rare appearance of a guest host is cool, though.

Zathras · **Reply #16 on:** February 09, 2009, 05:54:20 PM

Quote from: Swamp on February 09, 2009, 05:52:10 PM

Quote from: DKT on February 09, 2009, 05:19:18 PM
Guest Hosts... it's happened on the other EA podcasts before. So I don't see why it wouldn't work here.

I think it works for PodCastle because that's how they started, but a huge component of EscapePod enjoyment for me comes from Steve as host. The rare appearance of a guest host is cool, though.

But there has been a guest host on Escapepod before.

Talia · **Reply #17 on:** February 09, 2009, 06:39:59 PM

I'm all in favor of the occassional guest host. Why not?

I am too a bit leery of an episode of just feedback, but we'll see.

Aside from that I am sure Mr. Phillips will do a splendiferous job. I was relieved that the changes were far less dramatic (at least from a listener perspective) than I had feared.

Swamp · **Reply #18 on:** February 09, 2009, 06:50:35 PM

Do we need another ZARGA to find out which episode and who the guest host was?

Russell Nash · **Reply #19 on:** February 09, 2009, 07:53:17 PM

Quote from: alllie on February 08, 2009, 09:48:07 PM

Quote from: Raving_Lunatic on February 08, 2009, 08:44:26 PM
I trust Ben Phillips to do well.

Who is Ben Phillips and is he any relation to Steve Ballmer?

In case Allie isn't joking, I'll answer this. Ben is the editor of Pseudopod. Alistair is the host at PP. From what Al has said about Ben's management style I think EA is in great hands.

Guest hosts – I prefer a set feel to a podcast. I liked when Al took over PP. I like Steve at EP. I think the comment about Carson sums up my feelings, too.

Feedback eps – I have always deleted every feedback episode that has come onto my computer. This started back when I was still listened to Sigler. He'd have the last 15 minutes of his show be guys saying, "this is f***ing great!" If was F***ing boring. I'll give this one a go, but I have so many podcast as it is. I really don't know if it will make the cut. Also the only "roundtable podcast" I listen to is the Slate political gabfest. All of the others just annoy the hell out of me

Talia · **Reply #20 on:** February 09, 2009, 07:54:40 PM

Quote from: Swamp on February 09, 2009, 06:50:35 PM

Do we need another ZARGA to find out which episode and who the guest host was?

Nope.

http://escapepod.org/index.php?s=guest+host

http://escapepod.org/2006/01/25/ep038-lalchimista/

jrderego · **Reply #21 on:** February 09, 2009, 08:10:29 PM

Quote from: Russell Nash on February 08, 2009, 08:33:17 PM

Post whatever comments you have about Steve's announcements from EP187.

I tell you what, whoever they get to guest host better not suck!

Zathras · **Reply #22 on:** February 09, 2009, 08:12:34 PM

How about the kids from CP?

::runs::

Russell Nash · **Reply #23 on:** February 09, 2009, 08:26:16 PM

::Wipes R_L's brains off of the baseball bat and runs after Zathras::

Raving_Lunatic · **Reply #24 on:** February 09, 2009, 08:34:41 PM

*eats own brains*

mmm, brains...