Donna Papacosta has just released an episode of her Trafcom News Podcast about “trimming the fat in your podcast.”

It’s an issue that’s been on my mind recently. Here’s the introduction to my podcast, New Comm Road:

 
icon for podpress  New Comm Road music/voice intro [1:00m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The intro has served the show well since my former co-host Mike Bellina produced it last summer, but the time has definitely come to cut it down.

Here’s why:

  • The 60-second intro is simply too long, particularly when you consider that there are a full 20 seconds of music before voice man Lee Hopkins — if I were still working in radio, he’d be referred to as the “God” voice — checks in with a description of the podcast and a thunderous delivery of “Bryyyyyan Person.”
  • Much as I like what Lee has to say in the intro — I wrote the script for him, after all — I wind up restating both what the podcast is about and my own name as soon as I start talking. So, either his description or mine should go. Sorry, Lee, but you’re about to be “made redundant.”
  • Similarly, at the end of the podcast, I find myself giving out all forms of contacting me with comments and questions — only to have Lee recite them again in the musical outro. More unnecessary duplication of content.

So long, Lee Hopkins

So what is my proposed solution?

  • Kill the voice guy
  • Play a brief musical transition (read: 10 seconds) into and out from my voice.

That will give my listeners at least another 90 seconds to put to better use — unless, of course, they’re already fast-forwarding past my bloated intro and outro. I’ll confess to doing the same for many of my favorite shows.

Now, how will you trim the fat on your podcast?

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