In this audio edition of CONTENTIOUS, I explain my reasoning behind why I think podcasting has the potential to become and incredibly important and powerful medium. That alone would be reason enough for women to play a key role in shaping the development of this medium.
However, there are deeper reasons rooted in the different ways that women and men converse. If more media reflects how women generally approach communication, I believe that media could work considerable good in parts of our society and world that have gone desperately awry.
It may sound grandiose and idealistic, but that’s my vision, for better or worse. I’d love to hear what others have to say about it.
LISTEN NOW! Right-click that link to download the show. It’s an MP3 audio file, about 4.7 MB. Running time is just over 20 minutes.
Here are some links mentioned in this show…
- To learn more about my services, see Gahran.com. E-mail me for a free consultation.
- Women in Podcasting: The List, updated periodically. More about this list. To suggest a female hosted/co-hosted podcast, e-mail me.
- You Just Don’t Understand: Women and Men in Conversation, by Deborah Tannen. Originally published in 1991, updated and re-released in 2001. NOTE: In this show I mistakenly identified Tannen as a psychologist. She is, in fact, a linguist.
- Yahoo Group: Podcasters. A great place for beginning or aspiring podcasters to ask questions and get to know their colleagues.
- Croncast: On Jan 6, Kris Smith had a conversation with me and my husband Tom Vilot about conversations, art, and more. That sprang out of Kris’ solo show on Jan. 4 where he really got into his thoughts on conversations. Way back on Dec. 21, Kris and I first discussed (well, on a recording, anyway) women and podcasting.
- Many thanks to Kris Smith, Tom Vilot, and also Michael Geohagen, who have all offered valuable assistance as I navigate the audio learning curve.
I’m reading your article right now, and I haven’t quite finished it yet, but I’d like to quickly offer a very simple reason I would like more women podcasters. The reason (and I do not jest): I want to hear women’s voices. The physical timbre and tone of their voices – the utterance that springs forth from their physical makeup.
Yes, I enjoy a women’s perspective – my mom raised me on Oprah, Cosmopolitan, Stevie Nicks, and Playboy. She wasn’t (and isn’t) a feminist, though she wouldn’t stand for anyone’s b.s., male or female, and she had the strongest and most vibrant personality of anyone I’ve ever known. I’ve lived with women most of my life, too, growing up and as a grownup.
So it comforts me to hear a woman’s perspective from time to time. Yet the perspective alone is not what satisfies; it’s the sound of the voice I long to hear, in all its feminine variety. That alone should be enough incentive for women to podcast – knowing that there are people out here who desire to hear their voice, no matter what their saying.
Excellent podcast Amy. I’ll be mentioning it as a “must listen” on my blog.
Amy, excellent podcast on an interesting subject. If it’s okay with you I’d love to use parts of your podcast in a future podcast of my own to discuss the subject of creating a more diverse podcasting universe.
I think that encouraging this conversation, even from my male point of view, will only be a good thing.
Thanks for the motivational explanation and podcasts to subscribe to. Below are some audios, not podcasts, by and for women. These might provide clips or subjects for blogs and podcasts. Good listening when you’re tired of male voices!
Audios of Women
HerStory
at WomeninScience.org
Women’s
Studies at historicalvoices.org
Voice
over narration of Gender Tutorials at Hunter College
The Gender Tutorials describe accumulating effects of gender
differences on academic and business careers. Suggests remedies
llike having a personal “board of advisors” and intervention to balance
lists of speakers (use Amy’s list).
How many times have you read an article that poses the question, “where are the women?” Though podcasting is still in its infancy, the number of podcasters, podcasts, groups, reviewers, press, etc. has grown exponentially since its introduction some…
Thanks Harold, Cindy, and Obi for your kind and supportive comments. Yes, brief excerpts are always OK with me for both my audio shows and my articles.
As I mentioned in this show, I do want women and men to be conversing more in this medium. Believe me, I’ve got nothing against the male perspective or the male approach to conversation. We do need to be listening to each other more. And in order for that to happen on a truly constructive scale, more women’s voices need to be available in this emerging medium. It’s time to set a new tone.
- Amy Gahran