Cherokee woman teaches this new high-tech craze around the world

Wednesday, July 20, 2005 4:01 AM EDT
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By Tara O'Shea

Cherokee Tribune Staff Writer

A new wave of radio listening is hitting computers and iPods in Cherokee County and across the country.

Penny Haynes of Woodstock has been teaching podcasting since June 2004. She recently finished teaching a class that will help others put their two cents in over the airways.

Podcasting is a way to make your own audio show, much like a radio broadcast. You can talk about whatever you feel like, record it and broadcast it over the Internet. The files also are stored online so they can be downloaded to iPod or mp3 player digital music players.

"It is a 'grassroots' movement, meaning anyone can record their thoughts or ideas, and interviews," Mrs. Haynes, 41, said. "They can just ramble on if they want, with no FCC regulations."

She said podcasters start shows for many reasons.

"People can have their own radio show they can download and express their talents with, but what I use it for is to promote myself in my business," she said. "Some people use it for entertainment, and share their expertise, and others are doing it in the hopes of selling items, or products that they have. Some casts are like infomercials."

Internet junkies aren't the only ones getting involved with the new phenomenon.

"It's bleeding edge," Mrs. Haynes said. "iTunes added podcasting this month. In the first two days, they added 1 million subscribers. It's growing rapidly. In April, there were supposedly 22 million iPod owners, and 6 million downloading podcasts. People can take it with them in their car and soon it will be deliverable to your cell phone."

A reported 60 million people will have their own podcasts by 2010 and Mrs. Haynes hopes to help as many as she can.

"Most of my business is virtual, my clients are from all over the world," she said. "I have taught people in Hawaii, New Zealand and Marietta and Atlanta."

The technology is not limited to audio, video and e-books, any attachment the user wants can be added to the podcast. All of it is streaming live, and people can download the shows that want to their iPods so they're always connected.

Mrs. Haynes creates five regular podcasts herself.

"They're not strictly audio. One has a comedy clip of the week, videos, free e-book, a link to a movie, so sometimes I put video and ebooks, but audio is the main attachment. I have one that is business related called 'Brainstorm', and then I have one that is faith-based, plus an inspirational section," she said.

Mrs. Haynes keeps all of her podcasts family-friendly.

"I started a podcasting directory, called 'familyfriendlypodcasts.com.' A lot of podcasts don't warn you that there is explicit stuff on there. Mine is solely family-friendly, with no positive drug promotion," she said.

Mrs. Haynes said she has been successful in teaching podcasting, and hopes to expand her business. Her podcasting course costs $249, which includes a free mp3 player and more than eight hours of audio and video lessons. Her business Web site is www.virtualbiz4u.com.

She lives in Woodstock with her husband, Ronnie, and two children, Shayna, 14, and Joshua, 16, who attend Woodstock High.

Laura Gonzales of New Jersey, who works in virtual business solutions, took the course and found it very helpful.

"This has given my business an edge that maybe another business owner doesn't have. It's the ability to leave the office and still be at work," said Ms. Gonzales, a business advisor in software training.

"I make quick books for software training; I have been involved with podcasting since I finished taking the class about a month ago," she said.

Paige Effinger of St. James, Mo., works at a locally broadcasted radio show and took the class to offer the show via the Internet.

"We sit there and listen for people to ask us computer questions," she said of the show. "It's for people who are new to computers and don't have anyone to go to."

Because of podcasting, the show has expanded.

"So far, we occasionally get to interview software and hardware manufactures and are able to share interviews on the PC Primer blog. It has enhanced show," she said. "We've done about four shows now with the podcasting, and our audience is growing every week."

Although it may sound complicated, Mrs. Effinger said podcasting isn't too hard to grasp.

"The details of actually creating the podcast was pretty easy, but the audio recording about killed me," she said. "Penny provided an audio recording that was worth the entire cost of the class."

toshea@cherokeetribune.com