Mike Dell’s World Blog and Podcast

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The Word Podcast was coined just over 20 years ago, and in April 2025 it will be the 20th anniversary of my first podcast episode.  I really wish I could find that file.  They say once something is on the internet, it is there forever.  Well, not in the case of my first 35 episodes. 🙁   I’ve looked high and low and even on the wayback machine. I can’t find it.  Benzoid Report #001. I will offer a bounty for anyone that can find it and send it to me. 

As you might know already, this podcast was called the Benzoid Report for the first few years.  Also, the 400 is just the episodes that I numbered. I had a lot of other mini episodes, and experimental episodes the the number is likely 500 or so.  But for this purpose, 400 works!

AI Shownotes: In this special 400th episode of “Mike Dell’s World,” host Mike Dell celebrates his podcasting journey and reflects on the evolution of his show and the medium. Recorded on the day before International Podcast Day, Mike reminisces about starting his podcast back in April 2005, initially under the name “The Benzoid Report,” which was later changed to “Mike Dell’s World” in 2008.

Mike shares his early fascination with talk radio which later transitioned into exploring podcasts as a new form of broadcasting. He recounts the technical challenges of the early days, like hand-rolling RSS feeds and filling his iPod with downloaded MP3s for entertainment during night shifts at a printing plant. Mike’s interest was sparked by pioneering podcasters and the desire to create his own show, despite his assertion that it was about ‘nothing in particular.’

Throughout the episode, Mike elaborates on the numerous other podcasts he has started (and sometimes stopped), covering topics from ham radio and strange news to aviation history and fast food. He highlights some enjoyable moments, like podcasting on the go and creating episodes about topics he loves. Mike also discusses his full-time role at Blueberry, grounding his career in the podcasting industry even further.

He candidly shares the challenge of maintaining a consistent podcasting schedule and advocates for keeping episodes as long or as short as the content requires, rather than stretching them to fit a time slot. Mike prefers the intimacy of audio podcasts over video, noting the unique one-on-one connection they offer with listeners.

Finally, Mike touches on broader topics, reflecting on the changing landscape of media and podcasting, sharing a desire for civility and unity amid political turmoil, and expressing optimism for the future of podcasting as a diverse and evolving field. He concludes by welcoming another 400 episodes and inviting listeners to contact him for podcasting advice, celebrating the communal and evolving nature of the medium.

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Human Shownotes and links

We went to the Opening game for Michigan football last weekend. We camped in Ypsilanti Michigan. We also went to the Michigan Flight Museum https://miflightmuseum.org/ (formerly known as the Yankee air museum).

New hardware –
Audiosigma Podmoble DSP – https://bswusa.com/audiosigma-podmobile-dsp/

Rodecaster Pro II – Nice, but quirky

Value 4 Value – https://podcastindex.org/apps?appTypes=app
Podcasting 2.0 Webinar – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Gi53y2uMc8

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In the last episode, I talked about dumbing down the phone. A friend (Zack) gave me his old Light Phone II to play with. So far, I like it. It’s a bit too small to read comfortably but other than that, it’s great to not have something distracting. https://www.thelightphone.com/shop/products/light-phone-ii-black

I’m really thinking about buying the Light Phone III when it comes out. https://www.thelightphone.com/shop/products/light-phone-iii

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Having a lot of fun flying the RV-12is at Giving Wings in Traverse City – https://flygwa.com

RV-12iS

I’m thinking a lot about maybe building an airplane. Not sure which one yet. Likely a Kolb or a Challenger. Something 2 place with a 60-100hp engine.

AI Shownotes:

In Episode 399 of “Mike Dell’s World,” host Mike Dell discusses a range of topics spanning personal updates, podcasting technology insights, and his experiences with new gadgets and flying. Starting with a personal update, Mike shares stories about his recent camping trip during the Labor Day weekend, his visit to the Michigan Flight Museum, and his recent sickness which he humorously calls “the plague.” He reflects on the local security concerns he observed during a visit to Ypsilanti and the inconvenience of parking nightmares in Ann Arbor.

Transitioning to podcast-related content, Mike introduces the new podcasting device he encountered at Podcast Movement in DC—the Audio Sigma PodMobile DSP. This device simplifies podcast recording with features like a noise gate and portability, working seamlessly with mobile platforms. He explains its advantages over other equipment such as the Rodecaster Pro, emphasizing its ease of use.

Mike then delves into advanced podcast technologies and services, such as various podcast apps that support new features like live streaming notifications and interactive elements like “boostograms” linked to cryptocurrency. He praises the efforts of the Podcast Index for fostering innovation and moving podcasting away from being dominated by big companies.

The conversation shifts to Mike’s experiments with reducing smartphone dependency. He discusses using a Light Phone, a device designed to minimize distractions by stripping down smartphone functionalities to essentials like calls, texts, and basic apps. Mike evaluates its benefits in helping users focus more on real-life interactions.

Lastly, Mike shares his enthusiasm for aviation, particularly his experiences flying an RV-12 IS sport plane, and contemplates building his own aircraft. He wraps up the episode by encouraging the audience to explore new podcasting technologies and reminisces about his past episodes and plans for future content.

Throughout the episode, Mike maintains a casual tone, mixing technical discussions with personal anecdotes and reflections on life’s simplicity and technological advancements in podcasting.

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In this episode of “Mike Dell’s World,” number 398, titled “The Nothingness of Overconnected Lives,” Mike Dell explores the themes of technological simplicity and privacy. The episode was recorded on February 22nd, 2024.

Mike begins by updating his listeners on his personal life, mentioning his recent shoulder surgery recovery and his return to flying. He also notes a change in his recording setup due to technical issues, leading to a lack of sound effects and music in this episode.

Mike shares that he’s started a new podcast with Mike Wilkerson, which will be available in video, audio, and on a YouTube channel. He talks about his experience with different podcast apps, praising features like smart playlists and privacy-focused platforms like Cast o Matic, Podverse, Fountain, and Podcast Guru.

The main topic of the episode revolves around smartphones, privacy, and the idea of ‘de-Googling’ one’s life. Mike discusses the consequences of using free apps, his intolerance for advertisements, and the consideration of using a ‘dumb’ phone. He mentions his decision to reduce Google’s presence in his personal life, although he still uses YouTube and Facebook for work and occasional personal posts.

Mike critically evaluates the necessity of always being connected, mentioning his preferences for minimal social media usage and the privacy implications of technologies like face ID. He expresses concerns about the habit-forming nature of smartphones, describing efforts to simplify his phone usage by removing unnecessary apps and switching to the Brave browser for privacy.

He references an article by the BBC about the resurgence of ‘dumb phones’ among younger generations, highlighting a particular model called the Nokia 3310. Mike then details his interest in a minimalist phone called the Light Phone, which aside from basic features, has limited apps to minimize distractions.

Mike also discusses an article that explains how to turn an iPhone into a ‘dumb phone’ and suggests getting rid of applications that track users or serve ads. He talks about living without the constant bombardment of news and entertainment, advocating for a more straightforward lifestyle.

He further discusses his experience in de-cluttering his media consumption, from podcasts to news and television, advocating for RSS feeds as an alternative to mainstream news sources. Mike also adds that he has been exploring off-grid living through various YouTube channels.

The episode wraps up with Mike mentioning his initiatives at Blueberry, including testing AI for generating chapter files and adding transcripts to make podcasts more accessible. He remarks on the resilience of RSS feeds in maintaining a decentralized platform for podcast content, independent of larger corporations like Apple or Spotify.

Mike concludes by encouraging listeners to tune into his more regular appearances on the Auto History Podcast and Podcast Insider for content related to automobiles and podcasting insights. Additionally, he promises to provide links in the show notes related to topics discussed in the episode, such as the BBC article, the Light Phone details, and the guide to dumbing down an iPhone.

– Mike updates on his shoulder surgery recovery and return to flying
– Discusses changes in recording setup resulting in no sound effects or music
– Announces a new podcast with Mike Wilkerson, including video and audio formats Auto History Podcast
– Discusses podcast apps, favoring smart playlists and privacy-focused options like Castamatic, Podverse, Fountain, and Podcast Guru
– Main topic on the downsides of smartphones and privacy concerns
– Speaks on ‘de-Googling’ his life while still using YouTube and Facebook for essential work purposes
– Advocates for reduced social media usage and is wary of technologies like face ID
– Efforts to simplify phone use, including removing apps and using Brave browser
– References BBC’s article on the popularity of ‘dumb phones’, mentions Nokia 3310 https://www.bbc.com/news/business-60763168
– Interest in a minimalist phone called the Light Phone to minimize distractions https://www.thelightphone.com/
– Details on making an iPhone a ‘dumb phone’ and removing tracking apps https://whatifididnt.com/blog/iphone-dumb-phone/
– Suggests living without constant news and entertainment, promoting a simpler lifestyle
– Discusses decluttering media consumption and using RSS feeds over mainstream news
– Explores off-grid living through YouTube channels
– Talks about new initiatives at Blubrry, like testing AI for chapter files and adding transcripts
– Remarks on the strength of RSS feeds for content decentralization away from big corporations https://netnewswire.com/
– Encourages listeners to check out his appearances on the Auto History Podcast and Podcast Insider

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 3:27 — 3.2MB) | Embed

Yup, Failed again.  NaPodPoMo has come and gone with me doing a total of 14 episodes.  9 here and 5 on PodcastInsider.com

On another note, I would like to find someone who wants to be a weekly co-host of the Auto History Podcast I want to start.  If you would be interested, please contact me mike@mikedell.com

• 00:00:00 – Beginning
• 00:01:00 – 1 Minute in
• 00:10:00 – Ten Minutes in

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Summary:
In this episode (#396) of Mike Dell’s World, aired on November 9th, 2023, Mike Dell reflects on his previous podcast episode, which he dubs as potentially the world’s worst, entirely created with AI tools. He walks through the process of using ChatGPT for scripting, Descript for voice training, and AI for generating episode artwork. Mike shares his experiences with podcast apps, switching from Overcast to Castamatic, and recommends others for users to try. He updates listeners on his shoulder surgery recovery, the convenience of passive exercises, and the adjustments he’s had to make during his recovery, including hiring help for yard work. Mike also talks about dealing with a planned power outage during his wife’s birthday celebration and plans for the next podcast episode during this disruption.

Key Points:

– Mike Dell’s experiment with a fully AI-produced podcast episode.
– Tools used for the episode: ChatGPT for scripting, Descript for voice training, AI for artwork.
– Discussion about various podcast apps and a personal switch to Castamatic.
– Updates on shoulder surgery recovery and adjustments in daily life.
– Upcoming birthday party for Mike’s wife and coping with a planned power outage.

Mentioned Podcast Apps:

– Podcast Guru
– Castamatic (recommended by Mike, possibly iOS only)
– Podverse (for live shows)
– Podcast Addict (for Android users)

Resources:
– For new podcast apps, visit: podcastapps.com, newpodcastapps.com, or podcastindex.org/apps.

Closing:
Continue tuning into Mike Dell’s World and hints at a potentially pre-recorded episode due to the power outage and birthday celebrations.