An excerpt from Tod Maffin’s workshop on “It” — that little something, that thing on the end of your tongue that makes you know if you like an audio piece or personality or if you don’t. “It” applies to all content creation, to all storytelling and all audience engagement (audio, video and text).
2010.06.10
PAB2010 Speaker profile: Tod Maffin
First of all, we should point out that Tod Maffin is to blame for the existence of PAB. While he didn’t specifically pitch the idea for the event, he laid the tracks that set the train in motion. He created the need for destinations and helped encourage people create compelling content to fill the carrier signal (geeky radio history references). He’s also been amazingly supportive of the event and the people behind it. So, besides being a broadcaster and futurist, Tod’s a community builder and great friend.
Tod will be delivering the workshop What It Is: Awesomizing Your Podcast Using Secrets From Radio. The basics focus on what “it” is — you know, that little something, that thing on the end of your tongue, that makes you know if you like a radio piece or personality or if you don’t. We all know if a host has It, but I outline exactly what It is so one could duplicate it.
Don’t think of it as a session with applications in audio only. Tod’s session applies to all content creation, to all storytelling and all audience engagement (audio, video and text). It’s just that he is (like we are) partial to power of audio as the most visual medium.
We asked Tod to answer five very important questions.
What is your best memory of creating media for other people to enjoy?
I think my best memory of creating media was during the CBC lockout some years back. I ran one of the popular blogs covering events around the lockout, bringing people on the line together, and hopefully bridging the communications gap between management and labour.
Which media creator has been most inspiring to you and why?
Ira Glass has been my most inspirational model for storytelling. His show (This American Life) is one of the few shows I know of which both follows a formula AND makes each show sound new and unique.
What do you think is the most important consideration to media relevance?
[NOTE: There was some confusion over this question. We'll add the answer when we get it.]
If you could do it all over again, what would you do differently?
If I could do it all over again? Hmmm… tough one. I’ve been pretty happy with the way things have gone. I probably wish I’d have kept doing my podcast (The How To Do Stuff Podcast), but I got quite ill so I wasn’t able to keep doing it. I keep meaning to get back to it, but just never have found the time or same level of inspiration.
[NOTE: We remain fans of the long absent How To Do Stuff Podcast and will be campaigning for its return.]
How do you hope your PAB2010 session will change the way people think and/or act?
I hope my PAB session will help people find and tell stories better, and use their storytelling to make change in their communities.
2010.05.07
Tod Maffin’s Idea to Air workshop added to PAB2010
Tod Maffin will be returning to PAB to deliver his wildly popular Idea to Air workshop.
Idea to Air examines the qualities of compelling audio and storytelling using examples to illustrate what creates “driveway moments” and makes listeners part of the process. This workshop has been part of PABs past and inspires participants to think and act differently when it comes to planning, recording, editing and sharing their content.
Tod’s workshop will take place at 3pm Friday, June 18. A full program schedule will be published in the next few days.
2009.06.16
New Thought vs. Prevailing Thought – Tod Maffin
We called Tod Maffin, our closing speaker, to ask how his session Twenty Moments of Epic Awesomeness challenges prevailing thought. Tod’s reply? “Who the fuck is this?!” We forgot that Tod is in Vancouver and woke him up at 4:30 a.m. Later that day, his lawyer sent us an abrupt letter that started with “Dear chronologically challenged pinheads,” Luckily, the letter also contained a brief summary (poorly handwritten on construction paper) of how the finalé will challenge your thoughts:
Rarely have I seen a podcaster fail who has thoroughly followed this path. Those who do not succeed are those who can not or will not give themselves to these 20 simple and awesome things — usually men and women who are constitutionally incapable of being awesome. There are such unfortunates. They are not at fault; they seem to have been born that way.
If you have decided that you want to be awesome and are willing to go to any length to get it – then you are ready to take certain steps. The first of which is to stick around for Tod’s closing address. Remember that we deal with audio – cunning, baffling, powerful! Without help it is too much for us. But there is One who can get you on your own personal path to awesomeness. That One is Tod. May you find him now.
Yeah, we don’t really understand it either, but Tod always delivers.
Tod Maffin will be speaking at 11:40am on Sunday, June 21 as part of the PAB09 program.
2009.06.15
That’s community
Congratulations to Shelley Montreuil, winner of the CastRoller PAB09 registration giveaway — and thank you to Bill Deys and William Spaetzel for their community spirit in making this giveaway available.
Another giveaway will be selected and announced CPB-145 (recording tonight). That’s the giveaway of real maple syrup (not the crappy table kind) from the Kingston area. Francis Wooby has made that draw possible. Remember, you have to be at PAB to collect your prize if your name is drawn.
Finally, a very special thank you to Tod Maffin for his Friend of PAB sponsorship!!!
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