Looking for your input.

[G.A. Heath]

Hey folks. I am working on a project with a friend of mine and I would like to get your input for it. The project is a Podcast. The subject will be anything gun related ranging from guns we own and purchase, CHL, Hunting, Politics, Guns and Children, ect. Basically anything that is gun related. My friends son (A teen who is involved in 4H shooting) will probably join us for a few podcasts or even be a regular co-host. Now we are going to produce a completely independent podcast with no ties, sponsorships, or other restrictions on what we can or can't do, and we do plan for the content to be family friendly. We already have a large number of subjects we want to discuss, but I am looking for is what do you want to hear about? Essentially what do you guys want to hear about in a gun podcast and what do you want to not hear about? And with dove season coming up you can bet we want to talk about that.

[Purplehood]

Hey folks. I am working on a project with a friend of mine and I would like to get your input for it. The project is a Podcast. The subject will be anything gun related ranging from guns we own and purchase, CHL, Hunting, Politics, Guns and Children, ect. Basically anything that is gun related. My friends son (A teen who is involved in 4H shooting) will probably join us for a few podcasts or even be a regular co-host. Now we are going to produce a completely independent podcast with no ties, sponsorships, or other restrictions on what we can or can't do, and we do plan for the content to be family friendly. We already have a large number of subjects we want to discuss, but I am looking for is what do you want to hear about? Essentially what do you guys want to hear about in a gun podcast and what do you want to not hear about? And with dove season coming up you can bet we want to talk about that.

I have heard the phrase "podcast" but am not sure what it actually is. I guess I could Google it.

[G.A. Heath]

A podcast is an audio recording, that varies in length where any number of people (from 1 on up) talk about a particular subject. Some can be done live in a fashion similar to talk radio.

[UpTheIrons]

I'd take a look at the Gun Rights Radio Network (http://gunrightsradio.com/) for one and see what they've got going on. They have a pretty good roster of podcasts, and I even subscribe to a few. There may be a few ideas there that we'd forget about.

[G.A. Heath]

I know of them, and we want to avoid duplicating their efforts. In fact my favorite podcast just happens to be Rob's Personal Armament podcast.

One thing we want to do is to target what people want to hear about instead of what we think they want to hear. Gun reviews and comparisons are one thing we are most assuredly going to look at. Hunting is going to be a big topic for us as well as concealed carry in general, but as it relates to Texas specifically. We plan to touch on anything gun related but its critical to see what people are interested in.

[UpTheIrons]

I know of them, and we want to avoid duplicating their efforts.

That's partly why I brought them up - what do they have, and what don't they have. I think it is a great idea to get the youth perspective on shooting and the shooting sports. Having spent my entire 4-H career behind a rifle, I know there were times I wished I had some commiseration with others who weren't on my team.

I'll see what else I can come up with - I know there are subjects I'd love to know more about, but my mind is blank right now.

Thanks for taking up the challenge!

[Hoi Polloi]

Hmmm... what would get me to listen?

1) Q&A (a segment per episode, maybe?) of troubleshooting social and practical (not technical) issues. Carrying at a friend's house, having children over to your house, navigating criticism, all those practical issues that come with carrying.

2) History. Really understanding where something comes from and the whole picture.

3) No name calling, putting others down, or similar. Talk positively about your topic, not negatively about those who disagree with you. Just pretend like they don't exist for the most part. This would be the biggest and most insurmountable issue for me as a listener.

4) Opportunities, seminars, classes especially for specific groups like children, teens, beginners, women, experts, etc.

5) Technical issues. It would be great if you had something for beginners and for experts and treated both with the same seriousness and respect. Grip, guns, holsters, stance, attachments, etc.

6) Stories. Not like talk radio where you listen to them drone to fill dead air, but more like sitting around on the front porch on a warm summer evening. Maybe someone's account of his first time at IDPA, someone else's retelling of a legendary story, someone else telling about a problem he faced, etc.

7) Legislative updates. Especially interesting info would be the ins and outs of the political process--not commentary on it. More like sportscasting for politics. "And Rep. A is fighting to get Bill 1 out of committee while Rep. B is stalling so Rep. C is trying to get Bill 2 to pass Committee 2 to get it on the floor where Rep. A could then add the contents of Bill 1 as an amendment to Bill 2, which is expected to pass as long as they can get it to the floor." That sort of thing.

Reviews wouldn't interest me. Too easily available online, too technical, too boring, and requires too much active listening--I'd rather read it. If there was one short segment, I might listen to hear the rest of the podcast or I would listen if it was something unique and interesting, but every day guns' pros and cons and specifications... nah. And I wouldn't listen to much about hunting, especially if it involved describing the death, cleaning, taxidermy, or eating of the animals. I know I'm probably a minority there, but I'm only speaking for myself.

I hope you find a good balance and large following!

[G.A. Heath]

We plan to record the first episode tomorrow. As it is the first episode we are going to introduce ourselves, look at a specific gun, maybe hit a few news items, and see where it goes from there. In the future we are looking at recording on Wednesdays and releasing on Thursday. One thing we don't plan on doing is trying to fill up dead air as we really don't have a specific amount of time to fill and no sponsors to plug. One thing we are considering is copying Rob Robideau's (Personal Armament Podcast http://personalarmament.com) live show concept and bringing on people to be interviewed. Another concept we are exploring is recording immediately after a hunt or range session. We are also pranksters who have been known to run a few gun related pranks (Nothing dangerous and no firearms involved) so don't be surprised if we discuss those as well.

Our idea of a review will hopefully be different than anyone else's. We want to review the gun for a specific application (hunting, concealed carry, nightstand gun, ect). We will also look at availability of gear for that gun (holsters, slings, stocks/grips, replacement parts, ect). In addition to that will talk about why it will not be suitable for this application or that. We also plan to look at how suitable a particular firearm is for youth.

However I have every intention of assimilating the topics presented to us. So far the ones I like more than the others are:
Q&A of troubleshooting social and practical (not technical) issues (Maybe call it a "Social Tip"?)
History (Of firearms, techniques, ect.)
Technical issues are an idea that we plan to blend into most discussions.
Legislative updates will be pretty much regurgitated info, but it will happen.

Ones I am unsure of are
Seminars: Do you suggest we announce them, or try to hold them? If the latter I doubt that we ourselves will make it happen, but we may bring a guest on to do something.
Ignoring those we disagree with: We will limit the name calling and bad behavior, but we can't ignore everything and everyone we disagree with, otherwise we will be ignoring each other and serious issues. Voiced Disagreements will happen, but will hopefully be done in a tasteful manner (unlike my reference to an idea mentioned on west coast podcast).

[lowonair]

The truth.

[Hoi Polloi]

Seminars: Do you suggest we announce them, or try to hold them? If the latter I doubt that we ourselves will make it happen, but we may bring a guest on to do something.

I meant announcing them. Sorry!

[G.A. Heath]

The truth.

Always, even if it hurts.