Podcasts and the Technological Revolution

Never before in the history of mankind has there ever been a more exciting and interactive time to live in.  We are in the midst of a Technological revolution.  Never before have we ever been able to connect with others in the way we are able to now and the future only promises more!  We has human beings have finally come to the conclusion that we are only limited to our imaginations and no better example of this is the internet.  Who would of thought even 10 years ago we could carry a device small enough to fit into our pockets that could connect us to ANYONE in the entire world in real time.  The development of this lifestyle is very new and god damn am I ever excited for the future!  Social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook now allow us to connect with friends and family and even strangers, in incredible ways.  If it's just sharing funny videos, passing along pictures of grandchildren or keeping up with your favourite celebrities, we are now able to do it in mere seconds.  Gone are the days of having to go to libraries and looking at encyclopedias for new and interesting  information, now it is all at our finger tips.  But even now, this technology and social networking are old news.  This is just my opinion, maybe you agree/disagree, but the future of communication and entertainment are podcasts.  Simply put, for the uninformed, podcasts are usually an audio file (sometimes video) of talk shows, that allow the artists to communicate with their listeners in an uncensored manner that is free from restraints of the FCC or television execs that tend to manipulate the artists work.  I recently in the past year have become a fan of podcasts and cannot be more happy I discovered this medium.  I first got hooked on podcasts by discovering the Joe Rogan Experience, a usually two time a week show featuring comic and UFC commentator Joe Rogan and his friend Brian 'Redban' Reichle.  The Joe Rogan experience is a fascinating show because it explores a plethora of topics from comedy, mma, world events, technology, pornstars, psychedelic experiences and more in an open environment free from execs who feel they need to have the artists act in a certain way because they provide the cash in order to make the show happen.  It's a refreshing feeling to finally see media like this being presented to the world where people can broadcast to potentially millions of listeners/viewers in an honest open minded format that allows the listener to take what they will from the artists projections and allow our brains to process the information in a way we feel pleasing and will help us grow.  In my opinion there is no greater medium that allows people to express their opinions, hear others and discuss and learn from each other, because no two people are alike and we can all learn from one another and grow in a positive way.  One terrific example of debate and open discussion and difference of opinions, which inspired this writing, came on today's Joe Rogan Experience, which featured guest, comedian Bill Burr.  After a solid two and a half hour discussion of various topics the topic of Stitcher and podcast sharing and advertising came up and did contrasting opinions ever start to fly!  Comedian Bill Burr clearly stated his opinion of Stitcher stealing his podcast and attaching advertising to make money for themselves and showing Bill no compensation until he pressed legal action.  To sum it up in a short manner, Burr was displeased with Stitcher for placing his podcast on their application without his permission and attaching advertising to it which in turn made them money and they offered him no compensation, until he came after them with legal action.  I totally agree with Burr and his beef with Stitcher, his work is making them money and they are using it without his permission, kind of reminds me of concert ticket scalpers, which I consider pretty much the scum of the earth.  However, Redban (Brian Reichle) had a different opinion of the matter, which I tend to agree with more.  One must realize the nature of the beast that they are getting involved with.  Basically the internet is the largest form of media, which also intern is the most manipulated by people that are looking to make money in any way that they can.  When you post something on the internet, you have to realize once it is released, in whatever format it may be, it is up for manipulation, re-editing and stealing and if it is popular for sure there are going to be people wanting to attach themselves to it to make a buck, simply and sadly put, that's human nature.  Perhaps also that is the beauty of the internet, it's whatever you make it out to be, almost a wild west cyberworld of no rules, which can manipulate your work and make others money from it, but also gives you the forum to do whatever you please also.  Fighting these "cyber scalpers' as I will call them, in my opinion, seems pointless.  The fight has been done before, anyone remember Napster 10 years ago?  Sure it was shut down eventually; however, and I'll admit it I usually get my music from other free download sources that have come along since then.  It reminds me of this so called 'war on drugs.'  Sure you can bust a trafficker at a border but everyone knows there is just going to be another that will take their place instantly, as long as money is to be made.  This discussion on The Joe Rogan experience was absolutely fascinating in my opinion because it addressed an issue that is new, one that is our generations and one that will grow into the future.  That is the beauty of podcasts and open discussion right there, two or more people can have different opinions of issues, state them in an uncensored environment and allow the listener to process each side, pull from the good and bad of each, become more educated and develop their own opinion on a topic that they perhaps would never look into.  Well enough of me rambling, but today's events were so incredibly inspiring I felt I needed to spew some thoughts.  Below are a couple of links to some of the podcasts I frequently watch/listen to: The Joe Rogan Experience and The Deathsquad family; check them out, open your mind and grow, but also keep exploring what's out there in this computer universe and share what you find with others!  We can all grow in a positive manner from this unlimited ability to share information with others!

The Joe Rogan Experience (hosts Joe Rogan and Brian 'Redban' Reichle)
http://www.ustream.tv/joerogan

Deathsquad Podcasts (home of: The Naughty Show, Potcast, Little Esther's Piecast, Blackoutcast, UFC Drunkcast and others with hosts Brian 'Redban' Reichle and others)
http://www.ustream.tv/redban