Over at ITConversations I speak with Tod Maffin, host of a National Technology Column on CBC Radio (Canadian Broadcast Corporation). Tod also hosts a technology series on CBC Television called “Canada Now”.

Tod is also creator of the weblog “ILoveRadio.org‘>ILoveRadio.org” and is also a Podcaster. Tod is considered “one of Canada’s most influential futurists”. He discusses the present Podcasting landscape and about the future of Podcasting in Public Radio.

Read more and Listen (49 min)

Every month PodcastAlley.com clears all the prior month votes and starts over. I you like WebTalk then please consider casting a vote for us.

We have gotten some very nice comments about the show at PodcastAlley.com. Thank you to all who support us by listening every week and voting for us.

Click here to vote and comment

WebTalk Radio for June 12, 2005 with hosts Rob and Dana Greenlee with guest host TDavid, blogger of MakeYouGoHmm.com.

Other topics:
- Apple Going To The Dark Side with Intel
- Podcasting in iTunes 4.9
- Tabbed Browsing in New MSN Tool Bar
- Streaming TV on Mobiles
- Analog TV to be dead in 2008
- Seattle Most Unwired
- WiMax from Space Needle.

Listen 54min: mp3 (19MB) and Windows (Stream)

I am a firm believer of freedom of speech and do not under any circumstances endorsing that we censor speech or podcasts. I just feel that we have a responsibility to treat our freedom of speech with respect. We need to be aware of other people’s sensitivities in the area of language usage. We really don’t need to use vulgar and offensive language in our podcasts to communicate with our audience.

Those that do use swear words are only really doing it for the shock factor or cannot control themselves. Please don’t give me the line that it is anything else than that. People keep climbing on this freedom of speech thing as an excuse for being able to shock listeners with language. That is all it is plain and simple. You know it and I know it.

I have had first hand experience with this issue on my WebTalk radio show over the years. I have had guests on my show that have used swear words on my program and while it stirs up listener feedback and interest, it is always negative about the use of swear words.

My issue around this is one of personal choice and a good percentage of any podcasters audience will be offended by swear words in a podcast. I tend to agree that if people must use swear words in a podcast that it should not be a surprise to the listener as that is when the problem comes into play.

This freedom demands responsibility and that demands at least some sort of self-rating system. I am hoping that a standard system will be developed by some podcast standards group.

It could be something simple like G = General Audience (Children Safe), MA = Mature Audiences (Includes Coarse & Crude Language).

We just need to let people know what content is being sent to them and that they don’t get an unpleasant surprise.

From this week forward I will be putting a rating on my podcasts, but we usually beep over any swear words.

See debate going on over at Corante about “Profanity In Podcasting”