Daily Breakfast #184
In today’s Daily Breakfast: monday fatigue, workout, broadcasting formats and a new idea; a visit by Castblaster Mike; Video podcasting, YouTube and viral distribution; happy to be a catholic and a priest; Jehovah witnesses and the truth; Aristotle about greatness and habits.
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An alternative to the format you mentioned would be a one hour show with DB running each day until you want to stop, then plug in segments from Rosary Army, SaintCast a homily from the TechnoPriest, a sound-seeing tour from Catholic Insider, etc.
I understand the desire to reach a huge audience with your work and your message, but as I mentioned in another post, I’d hate to see you lose the podcast experience, part of which is informality and the sense that the caster is simply talking to the listener, hanging out (in a virtual way) with them. If there is a hard and fast form of “30 minutes this, 30 minutes that”, then you start drifting from podcasting form.
Smooth production adds a psychological layer between ‘caster and listener, turning them into “producer” and “consumer”. I think that reaction to the latter form is one of the reasons that DB and some other podcasts are so popular. They are obviously labours of love, hand-crafted by and to the vision of the podcaster; you can see the hand of the man who created them. They aren’t tied to the clock, tied to format, tied to a schedule of “it’s Tuesday so today we’re discussing……” In a podcast there’s no such thing as “running long” if you’re interesting.
Also, and this is long topic that I mention just in passing, you have no idea how much Americans like the idea of a priest who’s “one of us”. Adding that “production” layer is just another thing in the way between geeky listeners and a geeky priest.
Understand, I’m not saying “Give up your idea of global distrubution!!!” (Wouldn’t matter if I did.) I just want to point out what I (a confirmed talk radio /old time radio/ podcasting addict) sees as some of the attraction, the charm of your current work that needs to be carried over to your future work. There are things inherent in the podcasting format and method that have helped make SQPN ‘casts wonderful. I don’t know that they will translate to the commercial radio format, but I think the attitude should be to take SQPN to them, not change SQPN.
There. Rant over. All done. Keep up the good work.
Terry, thanks for the thoughts, you make some important points. The reason that I’m experimenting with the format is to see if it is possible to maintain the same informal, geeky atmosphere in the podcast, while at the same time allowing a broader use of the audio.
Of course it could be possible to edit breaks etc. in postproduction, but one of the huge leaps forward for me was the elimination of postproduction altogether, and I prefer to keep it that way. It allows me to produce more, and faster.
I think the personal atmosphere of the podcast does not depend on the presence or absence of a clock ticking. When I preach in Church, I can be very free-form, very informal, and at the same time I have to keep an eye on the clock to make sure the homily stays within the 8-10 minutes.
I hope and expect that with a bit of training and experimentation, the show can stay the way it is, even though it plays within a couple of fixed boundaries.
Fr. Roderick,
I’d like to comment in response to your “Agent 777″ segment in episode #183 and to the audio feedback at the end of today’s episode. I don’t have any problem with content that highlights doctrinal differences between Catholicism and other faiths, but I still question the appropriateness of the way you are approaching your discussion of the Jehovah’s Witnesses.
There is no question but that much of the dogma of the Jehovah’s Witnesses is antithetical to Christians, but so is much of the doctrine of Buddhists, Scientologists, Hindus, Taoists, and every other non-Christian faith. It is perfectly legitimate to point out these differences, and in particular to highlight how the potentially seductive elements of other faiths might confuse well-meaning Christians.
I would argue, however, that it is even more important to point out and to warn against the manipulative or deceptive recruitment practices employed by groups that might be characterized as “cults” (although the use of the term “cult” is itself problematic insofar as the term is typically employed as a pejorative).
Respect for other faith communities is not mere “political correctness.” Just as we Catholics would be offended to have our beliefs disrespected, so should we be respectful of the beliefs of others. Showing respect doesn’t imply that we agree with their beliefs or encourage their beliefs. Neither does it mean that we can’t point out differences between our beliefs and theirs, and why we believe that ours is the True Way (a position, by the way, that is supported by centuries of philosophical discourse that continues to this day).
All this is to say that I think the focus of your new segment should be upon the way some other faith communities disseminate their doctrine, attract new adherents and maintain the loyalty of their congregations through methods which include elements of psychological manipulation, intimidation and deception. While it might often be difficult to separate the doctrine from the methodology used to disseminate it, I think it would be beneficial if you would try to make the distinction more clearly. Your new intro to the segment is, in this regard, a marked improvement over the segment’s original intro.
As a final point, I have to say that I am not overwhelmed by the “Agent 777” theatrical approach you introduced in episode #183. I personally find that this overly whimsical approach detracts from the seriousness of the message.
Hi, I’m keeping my comment rather short
But you asked about views on the short format - I agree a show between 20 - 30 min in length is perfect.
One more thing - continue the critical analysis of different sects and cults out there. I agree they focus on people that are uncertain of themselves and vulnerable….
Even though I’m usually open for feedback of any sort, I’m getting a bit tired from all the criticism on my Jehovah witness segment. Too much negative feedback gets depressing.
The show is the way it is, it’s my take on things, and you are free to disagree. But I want to do things my way for a while.
Hi Father.
I agree with you that we should defend our own faith, and help those who are lured into sects, it is our duty to preach about what is true.
I also think that it is right of you to experiment with different formats, but i also feel that some of the personal experience dissepars when you say “hey 30 minutes, ill have to finsh this tomorrow”
Fr. Roderick -
I just finished listening to the latest podcast and had a couple of thoughts regarding format issues. When you started talking about your plans for syndicating the Daily Breakfast, I was concerned about the amount of work that would entail for you. An hour-long program is (well, a 40-minute one leaving room for commercials) is a huge undertaking, especially when the production staff and talent consists of - you. CastBlaster makes is easier, I’m sure, but it is still at least a doubling of what you are used to and the stress of trying to work it all out has got to be even higher. Your idea of splitting the program into two and having the daily breakfast and one of your other shows is similar to something that I’ve been mulling over in my head since you mentioned your new plans. I’m still concerned that this might be a case of spreading yourself too thin. I think sometimes that you have this vision of what SQPN can be and you don’t always consider the cost to you in very real terms of your own health and well-being.
What I was thinking was that this could be an opportunity to extend the SQPN franchise across its entirety. The Daily Breakfast would be the framework for the hour with the bulk of the programming up front in the first twenty minutes of programming - pretty much what you were planning. Then, instead of having to produce another hour and 40 minutes of original programming a week yourself, why not see if you could get material from Rosary Army, Technopriest, Saintcast, Catholic Rockers, and Hands and Feet. If they could send you, from the podcasts they already produce, excerpts - “clips” - of a specific length, you could feature each program one day a week. That would leave you with the need to produce only 40 minutes of additional programming each week - a much less daunting task. You could do This Week in the Catholic Church - possibly on Monday, recapping events of the previous week and highlighting upcoming events. Friday, just before the weekend would be a great day for your “Secrets” of popular culture podcasts. I think that this would do a number of things - it would broaden the exposure of the entire stable of SQPN podcasts and help you avoid the whole - “SQPN - that’s Fr. Roderick and oh, yeah, some other people” syndrome that would be easy for the larger media to pin on you. It would allow you to spread out your additional production deadlines - Monday and Friday, not every day. When you need to take a break you would have the option of having the stations play re-runs, or you could rotate hosting duties among various, already recognized and familiar hosts - and by familiar, I mean familiar to your broadcast, not your podcast audience.
In any case, these are just some thoughts about what looks like a grand adventure.
Oh, yes…just one more thing… I hope that you’re able to get Br. Patrick back on. Your correspondent from Rome would be a great section for This Week in the Catholic Church.
Thanks again for all you do.
Dear Maureen, such a thing will only be possible if SQPN has grown big enough to have some editors who could put a mix like that together. But we’re not there yet (funding!), and believe me: talking for another half hour for me is a lot easier than having to patch together a show with segments from other podcasts. Plus, it would mean extra work for the other SQPN podcasters as well.
So perhaps in the future, but right now, I will have to find other ways. And I have time available for this! Don’t forget that my bishop allows me to spend 50% of my time on mediaproduction.
Dear Fr. Roderick,
I personally don’t have any problem with long podcasts. However, shortening Daily Breakfast somewhat will allow a wider variety of contents in a given time slot. I think this will make SQPN more attractive to a wider audience. I agree with you, father, that this is a good way to revive other podcasts of SQPN that are dormant for a while. I can’t wait to check out the latest episode of TWICC! 
By the way, please don’t be discouraged by the negative comments, we all support you, father. I want you to know that I am actively praying for you and SQPN (by the way, could you give us an up-date of how eucharistic adoration go in your parishes?)
I think your new idea is BRILLIANT! This is definitely an idea worth losing your sleep for.
Jack
I like the 20 minute format, because I travel about 15-20 minutes to university or to my work. So I can listen to just one episode during my commute.
About editors and stuf. I thought about a link with what I’m doing for linux. I’m a linux translator. As you might know, the linux OSS is made by volunteers who work together online on a project basis. I can imagine that something similar can work for SQPN: a online virtual community like rosetta with each member having rights to do things. Everyone is able to download from a central downloadpoint.
So for example, Fr. Roderick can upload raw data + notes and an editor can download it, edit it, and upload it. After someone has checked it, it can be put in the feed.
The people of the Linux community are doing it already, so why can’t we?
I like the ‘Agent 777′ segment and don’t find the attack on Jehovah Witnesses offensive. Here in the States this group attacks Catholics relentlessly. By not answering back we only embold them to continue. We see this happening with the radical Muslims. They kill and/or surpress Christians and feel free to continue because our governments/religions remain silent on this issue because they don’t want to offend Islam.
Just one comment on wanting to take the podcasts to radio audiences. If that does happen here in the States you’ll find that most stations would only pick up a weekly show, not a daily one.
Keep up the good work and keep fighting the good fight.
PS. Father Roderick,
I liked whatever song you played in the outro in today’s pocast—the one with the harmonica in the background. Keep that one!
also father Roderick, would you care to answer one of the many emails i sendt you, soon
i know you are bussy, but you are the one that told me to remind you of it 
Dear Fr. Roderick,
Regarding the feedback on your “Cults” segment. Here in NYC, I can sit on a bus or a train any day of the week and hear JWs bashing the Catholic faith - speaking derisively about Christ’s crucifixion, asking how any sensible person can believe in a man rising from the dead, etc. Yet when you as a priest speak with great kindness and patience about the realities of the sect, the response is that you’re too heavy handed or critical. We Catholics (at least here in the US) are so afraid to speak the truth about the reality of Christ and the Church that it’s the one faith that others feel they can bash anytime, anywhere, without consequence. (For those of you who doubt my word, check out the latest episode of PBS’s Secrets of the Dead – Death in Jamestown, aired here in NY last Thursday).
Placing our trust in Christ, we owe it to our brothers and sisters to speak the truth in love, always. If anyone feels uncomfortable about that, then it’s something they need to work out with God, not us, because in Christ we become only a mouthpiece, not the source.
Re: DB 184. 20 min was too short for me. It seemed you didn’t have much time to really address your topics.
God Bless and keep up the great work.
P.S. So you’re already using BibleReader. I’ve yet to upload it to my own Palm, but I did get to talk to a company rep about a problem. He has been very friendly and helpful.
FR,
I’m just now listening to episode 181, but I don’t know how to get to that page on the blog.
I’m thrilled to hear Tintin is coming to the big screen. I’ve long been a HUGE Tintin fan. I owned a few comic books in college. After I graduated I visited a large bookstore in Atlanta and bought the rest, maybe 15 or 16 of them at once.
Do you know if the movie will be in English? I could handle French (it’d be hard, but I think I could manage) but a French language film probably wouldn’t show over here in the States.
Okay, I’m up to #183 now.
Sorry all for posting about previous shows. I cannot figure out how to navigate to those episodes’ blog pages.
I thought your comments about the Jehovah’s Witnesses were appropriate and accurate. I generally do not like speaking negatively about anyone’s religion. And I don’t know at what point a religion becomes a cult. I have personally known JW’s and while they try to put on a happy face, they just seem hollow and sad and empty. I do want to know more about these groups.
I once had a roommate who belonged to a strange church. I cannot tell you the name because I don’t remember it. They had only 3 or 4 churches in the world. They held the same belief as the JW’s in that Jesus was merely a man and not worthy of worship, only God was to be worshipped. I found that to be a little odd. It didn’t sound “Christian” to me, but I knew very little about the faith, so I took his word though remained quite puzzled over it.
While we’re on the topic, FR, I’d be interested in hearing about the various English translations. I have this software on my computer: http://www.crosswire.org/ and have several English translations. I’m interested in learning what English translation you like and dislike and why. Also I keep hearing reference to “Catholic Bibles” and “Protestant Bibles”. I’ve never heard this. Aren’t they the same?
Dear Father,
What’s the story with the very short Daily Breakfast today?
I hardly had time to get the cup of tea and the breakfast cereal before it was over. What am I to do? Talk to my wife and children?? I was looking forward to it (esp. since I am on holidays and have some time to listen!)
SO, please, a little longer tomorrow!!!
Marco
Australia
Fr. Roderick - I’d forgotten about the fact that you now have more time to make these programs for us. I’m a listener from the beginning and I remember when you were fitting these podcasts in among your many other duties and exhausting yourself in the process. I’m looking forward to all of the new material.
The reason I love podcasts is that the podcaster has the freedom to talk about a topic as long as he/she wants to. There are no limits. There are no boundaries. And this is a very positive thing about podcasting. And I sort of missed that in your last shows: sometimes, I would have preferred to be able to listen more about a topic. What I absolutely dislike is the rigid frame of radio shows. To my mind, it takes away the life and the spontaneity of a podcast. I don’t listen to the radio any more. Several months ago, you (Fr. Roderick) did mention the DSC of Adam Curry and that he liked how he does his podcast: his wife steps in, he is walking around and - you know - stuff like that - the charm of podcasting.
Well, at the same time I do understand, why it is interesting for you to create shows for a bigger audience. So, I can live with the bumpers signalizing a commercial. But of course, I would prefer to have the “old” Daily Breakfast back. It’s not very easy to say what is right or wrong… Do what you think as being the right way! I think, this is most important.
This only one of several possibilites. 
Ok, about the show’s length: it was a bit too short for my taste.
@ John:
One quick way to navigate in this blog is to use the search function in the right column: just enter 181 and hit the search button
Father, you are sacrificeing so much of the DB, only in order to go commercial in the future. That’s very clear to me. But podcast is not radio and radio is not podcast. It’s either the one or the other. DB is a very good podcast and it’s a pleasure to enjoy it. But now, it’s a pain in my ears with those extended bumpers and hurried topics, in order to fit them into the time scheme.
But you’re very decisive about it , and will see for yourself where this leads to. So who am I?
But wait, does this mean that also other SQPN casts will follow this method in order to fit for radio? Or is it only the DB?
Still, the content is well worth listening to, but in my opinion the overall quality is decreasing in this new format.
I have been a listener to the DB since last October. Have really enjoyed the podcast…but please bring it back, the new direction is the wrong direction for me! If I wanted another radio show I would not be using my IPOD. Also I think a majority of listeners are doing something while listening, i.e., walking, running, biking, driving so the video is just not the right fit. I will miss the personal, intimacy of the orginal podcast format!
I wonder whether you could just include two 10-minute self-contained modules in the Daily Breakfast (presumably at the beginning and the end) to be used in the radio programme, then the rest of the show could be as long or as short and as free as you wished? I imagine that, e.g., the geek segment wouldn’t be suitable for radio anyway.
I thought the cults segment was really interesting, either way you did it, and I don’t see how anyone could have found what you said offensive. I loved the Bond music and ‘You only live once, think twice’. But I do think that you have to be careful not to demonise these cults, because it will only entrench their adherents more firmly (assuming any listen to the Daily Breakfast!), and it might be that the first part of the bumper was a bit too sinister-sounding??
What will happen to all your plans if you become a bishop?
Fr. Roderick,
I’m catching up and haven’t listened to shows 185 - 187 yet, but I just wanted to say I really enjoyed the 20 minute show. It was short, sharp and to the point.
It reminds me of back when DB first started, and it’s a much easier to process show than the 30-40 minute shows you’ve turned it into. I struggle to fit it + the DSC into my daily listening and am constantly falling behind.
I’ve been meaning to send you a message about this for a while, actually - your average show length seems to get longer every week!
Andy