I have always enjoyed having a platform to discuss magical topics on. There is something pleasing to me about being able to think and talk through a subject in a bit of depth, an opportunity that otherwise is normally unavailable.
For some people, social media provides an outlet, but I have never really liked it because everything is designed to be short and more of a sound bite than a carefully argued discussion. It’s hard to formulate considered thoughts when you are dashing off a quick post while riding on a train!
So for me, this blog post, which I have been writing every month since September 1992 (when the word ‘blog’ did not actually exist as it was basically in pre-online days) is a wonderful opportunity to get stuck into subjects in a bit more depth, and the range of topics that I have covered in the almost 30 years of writing is immense!
But there is another forum that encourages more in depth content too, and that is the audio/video podcast. I started my monthly audio podcast back in 2013, and at the time there were very few other magic related offerings out there.
Today it’s interesting to note that there are lots to choose from. Although I haven’t listened regularly to a huge number of them, one thing that does seem apparent is that virtually all of them consist of interviews with well known magical celebrities.
Offerings such as The Magicians’ Podcast and Talking Schtick, are typical of these sort of interview led programmes, while The Magicians’ Advice Podcast and my own monthly podcast offer different content in that they look at a broader range of issues.
I think the two distinct approaches possibly satisfy different listener needs. The interview model is usually a passive experience. You get to learn about someone who you will probably have heard of but possibly not know too much about, and if they are good at talking in a coherent and interesting way (which unfortunately is not always the case!) you will probably enjoy the experience. But unless the interviewee offers specific advice, it’s unlikely to affect your own personal magical approach.
My personal preference is to use the podcast time to explore magic themes that are relevant to listeners who want to improve their magic and who are interested in thinking in more depth about what they do and how they do it. To my way of thinking this will appeal to those who take a thoughtful approach to their magic and who are open to learning about ideas that may be new to them.
And which is best – an audio podcast or a video one? I actually provide both, because members of my online magic resource E-Club Pro receive a video podcast on a different topic each month, which I certainly hope is of use and value.
But I think the audio podcast has the potential for being a better thought provoking medium as there is no visual distraction to take the listener’s attention away. It’s a bit like the advantage a book has over a DVD or online video presentation; the reader is forced to use their imagination a bit more. And I think the audio podcast is similar and therefore creates am excellent learning platform.