--Welcome to Social Media and the Blockchain. I am your host, Jennifer Navarrete and this episode is the twenty-third in a 30 part series.
The goal of this show is to demystify the blockchain as a content creation destination, simplify the onboarding process, and encourage you to learn more about Web 3.0.
In this series, we are digging into podcasting on the blockchain and what that means to both podcasters and podcast listeners.
Let’s begin with a story, Adam Curry, one of the co-founders of podcasting had been watching the podcasting landscape grow and change. And something he saw that didn’t set right with him was the privatization of podcasting and the fact much of the podcast industry was reliant solely on Apple and it’s directory of podcasts. You remember the walled gardens I was talking about in the last episode? Spotify was one and based on recent developments it looks like Apple Podcasts could become another. These are the two major players in the entire podcast industry and it looks like privatization is the direction the podcast industry is headed. Which leaves independent podcasters in a challenging spot.
To make this more of a concern was that many third party podcast directories, apps, service providers had been utilizing the Apple Podcast directory as well . Which meant that if Apple ever decided to completely privatize or close off access to their directory, then all of these third party companies would be left in the dark as would the podcasters and listeners who used those apps and websites.
So, in the summer of 2020 Adam and longtime friend and developer, Dave Jones created the Podcast Index with a mission to ensure that podcasting remained open and free for independent podcasters everywhere.
The full story can be heard on episode one “We are upgrading podcasting” of the Podcasting 2.0 show. Link with time code where Adam and Dave talk more in-depth on the topic can be found in the show notes.
https://blubrry.com/1425793/67974452/episode-1-we-are-upgrading-podcasting
Time Code: 38:28
Podcasting 2.0 is called the future of podcasting for a good reason some of which will be discussed here as well as upcoming episodes.
So what is Podcasting 2.0? Well it’s many things, but one of the foundations has to do with the open source podcast directory called Podcast Index.
Which can be found at www.podcastindex.org
At the time of this recording the Podcast Index has close to 4.5 million RSS feeds indexed. Why is this important? Well I think the Podcast Index Mission Statement says it all:
"The Podcast Index is here to preserve, protect and extend the open, independent podcasting ecosystem."
This goes back to RSS = freedom.
You know how Apple, Spotify, and other podcast providers can remove your podcast from their directory anytime they want. It’s their directory so they make the rules. Imagine putting years of effort growing your podcast and developing a fanbase to one day wakeup to find your podcast is no longer available. That doesn’t have to be anyone’s reality anymore. Because of the Podcast Index, your feed is available to your listeners no matter what happens on other directories.
As if that isn’t already enough, when it comes to the future of podcasting, the Podcast Index is not the only thing happening. Adam, Dave, and a whole host of developers have been working on extending the namespace to allow RSS feeds to become more robust and useful to both podcasters and podcast listeners. There is so much going on that I like to think of these enhanced feeds like RSS with muscles.
Thank you for joining me for another episode of Social Media and the Blockchain. In the next episode, we’ll look at how efforts to expand the namespace has also expanded the opportunity for podcasters to connect more meaningfully with their listeners and monetize their show. Which interestingly enough involves blockchain technology.
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