Gaudiya Podcast - Brainstorming -

The news entry on GodCasting was interesting. In this vein, I wonder whether we should work on something like this ourselves. Nay, I know we should -- but in which manner, that is the question.

As far as education is concerned, I personally rather like the approach of The Teaching Company and their systematic, yet easily digestable courses. Aside that, there would perhaps also be a call for a more free-formed narration; perhaps classes on topics of interest, or discussions, even.

Any thoughts from our good audience? Has anyone looked into what these people podcast?

Now that the thread has somewhat grown, I've added in a poll to get a feel of what the assembly of devotees thinks of the matter.

You can podcast anything, audio or video. Video podcasts tend to be shorter, since the files are larger, but I think long videos are also possible.

I haven't had the patience to go through too much of what's podcasted. There are lots of radio type programs, including talk radio on a large variety of topics - news, politics, sports, technology and that type of thing. There are also many video podcasts, many of which are just short commercials. One thing thats nice is that you can subscribe to a podcast, and your computer will automatically check for and download updates as they become available. So like the preacher discussed in the article, people can easily listen to new material as you offer it.

There are certainly plenty of religious/spiritual type podcasts. The Narayana Maharaja group has announced their own podcasting here. Maybe that's the Hare Krishna podcast refered to in the article. I think podcasting would be a good medium on which to publish video or audio classes, kirtans, and that type of thing.

You can download iTunes, see what they offer as podcasts, and download to your hearts content. Anyone can publish a podcast. It looks like you can even submit a request to Apple to be included on the listings of podcasts on the iTunes site, although thats not necessary for people to be able to access your podcast.

As far as Teaching Company style classes, yeah, wow, can't wait... Sounds like a huge project to get together, but I'll be thrilled to be listening to Professors Jagat, Madhava and company once you do! I think it would be great if the Gaudiya Discussions people had their own flock to whom they podcasted regularly with classes and so on.

Until then, if you just want to keep things simple, you may want to consider podcasting Lake of Flowers or Jaya Sri Radhe type content. Of course, if this new medium inspires new material, I think many people would appreciate that very much.

Kovidara, thanks for the valuable notes! I checked out the iTunes listing some months back, there were some Prabhupada-oriented channels there. I never got around to downloading anything. I'll have to have another look once I get back to Snowland and hit the internet highway.

While writing my post, I was thinking primarily along the lines of producing original content, classes on texts of interest and so forth. I should be able to put out a new entry on a weekly basis, I think. Would there be interest? I would rather enjoy doing that amidst all the writing. However, I wouldn't want to produce something for which there is no interest, as time is precious.

I just found a podcast put out by ISKCON Alachua. They podcast their daily scripture classes, which I think is a nice model.

If you podcasted regular classes on sastra, I would subscribe in a heartbeat. I'm sure you'll find an interested audience.

Let's see what comes.

B.A. Paramadvaiti Swami also has a podcast site:

http://www.bapcast.org/

I'm thinking I might get to a good conservative start with a series on the Gita. I got a Bengali copy of the text a few weeks back and read some sections of it again, since a long-ish break, and was stunned at how relevant much of it is for a life of bhajan.

Shlokas of choice explained in conjunction with a life of bhajan, featuring a gloss over the gist of what the acharyas have commented -- would that be of interest? Many devotees I meet don't show that great an interest in "elementary" topics despite the fact that they are among those who would need it most badly!

Radhe Radhe!
Yes please. Possibly also a set on the Theology of Krishna from the Gita-
Who Krishna Says He is, Krishna as the source of Vishnu, Chap 9:11/ etc.
Radhe Radhe!

The Gita studies, coupled with classes on Upadeshamrita, should make for some interesting listening. I'll be doing one Gita and one Upadeshamrita per week.

I'll be starting in a week or so, once I get everything organized again after the recent surprise return to Radha-kunda. There are a couple of devotees here who are interested in attending the said classes in person. I was initially prepared to talk to the walls and the microphone, but since there is interest, why not have others there in person, too.

For all of you rasiks who cringe at the sound of "Bhagavad Gita" -- what'll come isn't like anything you've heard on the Gita before. We'll be picking shlokas of particular importance on bhajan and fluffing out the essence of the teaching, watching the text with an eye for bhajan. And for the record, a good many of the rasiks who cringe at the thought of listening to Bhagavad Gita and other "elementary" topics are those who need it the most! We'll be touching on the theme of "creating a platform" in our introductory class where we set the scene for the study.

Since I'm now in Vraja and don't really have all that superb facility for exploring the cyberspace, could some of you be kind enough to help me out and fill me in with the different avenues of podcasting? We'll have a site at Wisewisdoms.Com with files for download, but I'd like to make these available through a number of channels.

Yes, this would be very nice!
Last sunday I watched Narayna Maharaj lecture online at real time and it was very nice cause I didn´t see any video of him before.

The Gita idea is good. I will listen. I sugest to create a podcast to the videos and lectures of Ananta Das Babaji Maharaj and others too.

I was at a sat-sang in Hollywood Florida and was able to watch that same live webcast. The wonders of modern technology,eh?
Also, it seems that my Nitai-Chand has become aware of my desire and is arranging for me to go to Maharaja's Vyasa Puja festval in Hilo Hawai on the last week of this month. Aloha and Mahalo to my merciful Ishtadevas.

Giving further thought to the matter, I'd like to start with Upadeshamrita. I will be recording twice a week, allowing me to finish the series before my departure at the beginning of March (unless it turns out I am made to stay here for good). They will initially be made available once a week, I'll stock some material before making the podcasts more frequent to avoid unnecessary stress.

We have successfully tested the system. It works.

A tentative broadcasting schedule will include one 45 to 60 minute class once a week, a compilation of kirtan of an equal length once a week, and possible bonus entries on random intervals as pleasant surprises.

We will be starting in about two weeks, god willing, electricity and internet access giving, in this sacred little village.