Podcast Length

[overbooked]

I have a long commute, so the longer podcasts suit me, but I can definitely sympathise.

 

I think there are a few things...

 

Stop the "Let's have a really long show" thing, as it is starting to feel like a weird podcasting arms race.

 

Break up longer shows/recordings into shorter chunks. The amount of content would be the same, it would just be more digestible/easier to download. Perhaps even offer a download for the whole 3 hour show, and separate downloads for 1 hour chunks? Or stagger the release of a long show over a few weeks.

 

Ensure there is good "chairing" of a show. Both Will and Parv are excellent at moving the discussion forward and avoiding unnecessary tangents (I love a good tangent, but I'm no fan of the completely irrelevant one with added tapping away as people Google the answer).

 

None of the above is meant to sound ungrateful. I love there is this much content, the vast majority of it is great, but just a few minor changes could make it a little more accessible. I really appreciate the time and effort that goes into all these shows.

[Migs]

 

I get both sides of the discussion - but I'm curious for the people saying that the shows HAVE to be that long to properly cover the topic - why are wrestling podcasts unique in terms of needing to be long? Even really good conversations on something like the Bill Simmons Podcast tend to work best for me at 60-75 minutes, and I don't feel like anything is being underserved. Same is true of the Channel 33 podcasts (although many of them cover current issues, which is a bit different). Serial, Undisclosed, Celebration Rock... they always work at that length. Maybe it's just that those podcasts are being constrained and I'd like them just as much at an hour more, but I'm not convinced of that.

 

This comes down to pre & post production in most cases. The reason a lot of those other shows are able to keep the length down is the do a good amount of work before recording to prep for their topics and then they tend to edit down long form conversations into bite size pieces so they come across more exciting. A lot of this passion project podcasts just don't have the time or resources to do the same thus what you end up with is a much longer, raw product.

 

 

Good point.

[Matt D]

I just hate when soundcloud crashes when I'm 2:36:00 into a 4 hour podcast because I have to listen over the span of two weeks. It's better with the iPhone6. I wish that it could remember where i am on multiple podcasts at once. I had an MP3 Player that could do that with multiple audio files.

[Luchaundead]

I just hate when soundcloud crashes when I'm 2:36:00 into a 4 hour podcast because I have to listen over the span of two weeks. It's better with the iPhone6. I wish that it could remember where i am on multiple podcasts at once. I had an MP3 Player that could do that with multiple audio files.

What device are you using? And why aren't you using some form of offline storage integrated podcatcher?

[RCS1988]

You also have the podcasts that are short lived or on hiatus, like digging the crates didn't do a podcast for months, then an episode popped up recently.

[Judy Bagwell]

if its a good podcast the length doesnt concern me

and if its a great conversation 7-8 hours can feel shorter than 2 hrs of a bad Titans show

[bradhindsight]

Good thing there is no such thing as a bad Titans show!

[Ricky Jackson]

if its a good podcast the length doesnt concern me

and if its a great conversation 7-8 hours can feel shorter than 2 hrs of a bad Titans show

Funny, because my argument against long podcasts is the Lapsed Fan Starrcade death slog

[Judy Bagwell]

 

if its a good podcast the length doesnt concern me

and if its a great conversation 7-8 hours can feel shorter than 2 hrs of a bad Titans show

Funny, because my argument against long podcasts is the Lapsed Fan Starrcade death slog

 

given the numbers theyre doing your argument doesnt hold a lot of weight

[Migs]

 

 

if its a good podcast the length doesnt concern me

and if its a great conversation 7-8 hours can feel shorter than 2 hrs of a bad Titans show

Funny, because my argument against long podcasts is the Lapsed Fan Starrcade death slog

 

given the numbers theyre doing your argument doesnt hold a lot of weight

 

 

You get credits for clicks/downloads, even if someone taps out partway through.

[Judy Bagwell]

I would love for someone to roll out a half-hour podcast that runs regularly. Set a timer and everything.

why?

[Judy Bagwell]

I used to feel the same way... and I still do with my shows... work hard to keep the Place to Be Podcast right under two hours generally and Dangerous Alliance right around two hours as well (with a timer!)... but then I listen to shows like Exile, WTBBP and Sheets and I don't want them to end. Even if it takes me a week to listen to the whole thing, there is so much to learn it is worth the investment IMO.

 

I still think 90-120 minutes is the sweet spot but longer shows aren't auto deletes for me or anything... really depends on the show and/or hosts.

the timer drives me nuts

[Judy Bagwell]

It really depends. If I'm absolutely hooked on the subject -- top 100 matches, certain broad GWE ones, I'm game no matter how long and happy to split them up over X number of days to get through it. Easy to pick up where I left off on the ipod. On the other hand, if its a random podcast without a specific, captivating focus I won't even give it a chance if it multiple hours.

most of those GWE podcasts were interminable, some of the worst listening Ive encountered on PTBN

[PhilTLL]

 

 

if its a good podcast the length doesnt concern me

and if its a great conversation 7-8 hours can feel shorter than 2 hrs of a bad Titans show

Funny, because my argument against long podcasts is the Lapsed Fan Starrcade death slog

 

given the numbers theyre doing your argument doesnt hold a lot of weight

 

 

Now now, kids, don't worry. A lot of us have zero interest in hearing anyone do podcasts about wrestling (anything at all, maybe?) for any significant length of time. Although summer is coming, and that means long-drive season.

 

What I might go for--and I realize this is an absolutely unrealistic amount of editing--would be a magazine-style collection of the best segments from one series, or even a few combined.

[Mad Dog]

I would love to see Between the Sheets do some best of episodes where they splice together say an episode on the dysfunction of the GWF over the course of several episodes or something like that where you can see a real life story play out.

[KrisZ]

The more we do the shows something like that will happen

[Mad Dog]

The more we do the shows something like that will happen

 

Awesome!

[Ricky Jackson]

 

 

 

if its a good podcast the length doesnt concern me

and if its a great conversation 7-8 hours can feel shorter than 2 hrs of a bad Titans show

Funny, because my argument against long podcasts is the Lapsed Fan Starrcade death slog

 

given the numbers theyre doing your argument doesnt hold a lot of weight

 

 

Now now, kids, don't worry. A lot of us have zero interest in hearing anyone do podcasts about wrestling (anything at all, maybe?) for any significant length of time. Although summer is coming, and that means long-drive season.

 

What I might go for--and I realize this is an absolutely unrealistic amount of editing--would be a magazine-style collection of the best segments from one series, or even a few combined.

 

 

Come, give Titans a sample and let us win your cold, podcast hating heart

 

https://soundcloud.com/jerryvonkramer/sets/the-best-of-titans-of

[Mad Dog]

And to jump to the defense of the Titans show. The bad episodes are better than the good ones because of the hilarity that follows.

[Cap]

Sure, long shows can be a challenge, but that is the great thing about podcasts. I can come back to them as I want. Sometimes I like the longer podcasts cause it lets thoughts develop and mature more too.

[Loss]

 

I would love for someone to roll out a half-hour podcast that runs regularly. Set a timer and everything.

why?

 

 

Because I have never once had enough time to listen to a podcast from this board in one sitting. And while I enjoy the long shows much of time (and have even done some myself), it would be nice to have at least one show that lasts about the length of a work commute and then it's over.

[concrete1992]

 

 

I would love for someone to roll out a half-hour podcast that runs regularly. Set a timer and everything.

why?

 

 

Because I have never once had enough time to listen to a podcast from this board in one sitting. And while I enjoy the long shows much of time (and have even done some myself), it would be nice to have at least one show that lasts about the length of a work commute and then it's over.

 

Eventually I think something like this will happen and almost become a common occurance. Right now the gimmick is GO LONG or not to sacrifice detail.

 

I don't think many shows have tried narrowing the focus of individual episodes.

[InYourCase]

Long shows that have time stamps do a lot for me. I know I don't have time to listen to BTS every week, but I'm sure to hit the Japan portion of the show at the very least. I don't mind long podcasts. I listen to VOW every week, Exile, anything Dylan does, the DKP Show, etc. and rarely do I find it tiring.

 

Interviews that go over an hour kill me, though. Cabana hits the perfect length most weeks, because unless he's talking to Hero or Gargano or some I find really interesting, I can't do that for more than an hour. Comedy podcasts that go 2 hours kill me because if it's not CK or Kumail or someone that I love, I don't want to invest that time into the interview.

 

I do think there's a market for a short podcast covering hot topics in wrestling and I don't know if anyone is filling that void. Something along the lines of Observer Live, but, you know, with more quality than Observer Live.

[Ricky Jackson]

 

 

 

 

 

 

I would love for someone to roll out a half-hour podcast that runs regularly. Set a timer and everything.

why?

Because I have never once had enough time to listen to a podcast from this board in one sitting. And while I enjoy the long shows much of time (and have even done some myself), it would be nice to have at least one show that lasts about the length of a work commute and then it's over.

Eventually I think something like this will happen and almost become a common occurance. Right now the gimmick is GO LONG or not to sacrifice detail.

 

I don't think many shows have tried narrowing the focus of individual episodes.

I hear this show only goes about 45 minutes

 

http://prowrestlingonly.com/index.php?/topic/34221-at-the-garden-series-preview-wrestling-at-msg-1880-1938/&do=findComment&comment=5753212

[SomethingSavage]

I'm somewhere in between both sides of the argument.

 

Some of the longer podcasts are fucking fantastic. And I wouldn't change a thing about a deep dive into old territories, biographical tributes, obscure events, or whatever else. Those projects warrant a lot of free-form, wide open discussion.

 

Perhaps something could be done to break those up into smaller portions, but that's about it. With that being said, I think Kris has actually done a decent job of that recently - with both the SMW and the Continental series.

 

But then, yeah. There does seem to be a growing trend. Feels like some of these podcasts are practically transforming into self-conscious epics... for no real rhyme or reason, other than to get a standing ovation of some sort for releasing another four or five hour podcast.