I figured it was past time to issue a progress report on the latest Hardcore History episode (#41)...especially since we are currently two weeks past our self-imposed deadline.

This is not only not unusual for us, it has become the norm. We consider this to be a bad thing, but we really don't know what to do to alter the state of affairs. With this current episode we instituted three or four major elements to help us get the show out sooner, and none of them worked. Today in a discussion with “Ben” (if there is a Ben... ;) ) I just blurted out “Maybe we can't do one of these shows in two months.”. And maybe we can't.

Now, most people have been extremely understanding of our situation. It's somewhat rare (but not abnormal) to get somebody warning us that this will affect our business and personally being a bit frustrated with us. More common is the increase in subscription cancellations and the like as the show gets increasingly overdue. I can't blame people though. We say “A buck a show” not “Three bucks a month...auto deducted from your PayPal account”. I stick by that though. We don't expect to be paid when shows aren't out...only when they come out. The incentive is huge (in more ways than just that) to get them out as soon as possible. But, they seem to have a life of their own.

In fact, if I weren't always so stressed and worried about it, I think I would be fascinated watching the process from a third person vantage point. The creativity is popping all the time, and stuff gets added to the show as we go (and then we sometimes go back and insert thoughts that occurred to us only after the part they fit into had been recorded). The composition of the theater of the mind elements is a true art form, and “Ben” doesn't get the credit he's due (for obvious reasons. The Man is sick...). I will laugh regularly as he takes some element from pop culture and twists and warps it in ways to form background elements to go under (and enhance) my audio. It's a blast...theoretically.

In truth, we are stressed out about it all the time. We know we should be able to get these things out faster, and we know people aren't too pleased that we haven't done so. It's just a task that takes more time than you might think (the reading and note taking alone is a mammoth task...). It's like writing a song...a REALLY long song. And it just can't be forced...no matter how hard I try (and I try too hard sometimes...).

Here's where we are as I type this (Dec 26^th). We have an hour and forty or so minutes of audio recorded and currently in the process of being scored (theater of the mind elements being added). I see at least another forty-five minutes to an hour of audio before we are done with the story. If that sounds long, know that we are as shocked as anyone. I specifically tried to pick a topic and everything that lended itself to a shorter show. We ended up covering 1,500 or more years of history instead. Once again I proved that I am terrible at this element of the show creation process.

I love some of the stuff in the current show. It's a topic that can easily get a podcast host in trouble, but I think so far, so good on that score. If you can handle how long it is, you may like it. Remember...if you get in trouble, there's always the pause button. ;)

Thanks for your patience...we are, and have been working hard. In fact, I've never worked as hard in my life as I do as a podcaster. That's because my boss is a slave driver.