Episode 30 is now available, and it's free no matter where you get it from. You can listen to it or download it through the player at the bottom of the post here, or subscribe for free through iTunes here (you must have the free iTunes player installed). You can also listen to it for free through the player on my MySpace page.
I begin this episode with a brief look at comments, then it’s on to today’s main segment, a conversation with a listener, Yorky, who is neither a podcaster nor a blogger. He was back in New Zealand briefly so we took advantage of the chance to meet up. We talk about a lot of things, including how he and his partner, who’s an American, tried to live in the US but had to come up with a creative solution to be together. Yorky also offers a listener’s perspective on podcasts. Special mentions go to Matt Blender’s Okay So Radio and to another podcaster. Will Yorky and his partner return to New Zealand some day? Being new to recording using my digital recorder, I neglected to put in fresh batteries, so quite a bit was lost. Sorry. Are you a listener who’s always wanted to be on a podcast? Send me an email! We can work something out. Leave me a comment at or send an email to me at amerinz{at)yahoo.com.
Hi Arthur, excellent job on your first guest spot show. I enjoyed it very much. Always love to hear about people from other countries and how they see the world; and the fact that you're an American expat who is partnered to a kiwi, interviewing a kiwi that is partnered to an American ex-pat (sort of) was a really cool twist.
Almost everybody has heard my story since I've been on so many podcasts, but I would love to do one with you if you think your listeners would appreciate it! Hit me up when you're hard up for a guest next time around!
I agree with Mike Hipp...excellent first guest show. I loved hearing from Yorky. I enjoyed hearing his perspective on things...especially podcasting. You should definitely have Mike Hipp on your show. Thanks so much for the special shoutouts. I appreciate it!
Why is it that I feel so nonplussed when I see Archerr and Mike talking about this being your first guest spot? This was a particularly enjoyable episode for me. It made me feel as if all of those downloads are from actual listeners and not mistakes. It's strange how I just imagine that there are several podcasters who listen and maybe a listener or two, but there does seem to be this great mystery surrounding those who choose to remain out of contact.
God you really know how to make me feel like America is pretty shitty now don't you Arthur, ;) Well, that's horrible regarding the immigration difficulties. Hopefully Yorky and his partner's transition to the UK will go smoothly.
I'll be curious to see what Matt thinks of your observations. Hmm...
This was great. I don't think I've heard from Yorkie before and I really appreciate his compliments.
I see my listeners the same way that Kalvin sees his. I know people are listening to my podcast but I never hear from most of them. I have this theory that a lot of my subscribers forget to take me off their iTunes.
Mike: The symmetry of it is exactly why I wanted Yorky to be one of my first guests who I didn't interact with before becoming a podcaster. It turned out to be a great idea, I think.
I would very much like to have you on the 'cast. In fact, I've been checking out some of the other ones you've been on in preparation for exactly that.
Archerr: You've had some great pointers for me (as have others) about having guests on, and I've tried to take all that on board. I'm sure practice makes things better, so I expect to improve over time--AND remember fresh batteries!
Kalvin: Welcome back! I've missed your comments--AND your podcast!
I was exactly the same about wondering about who was listening, apart from some people I knew about. I figured that if I was curious about a listener's perspectives, other podcasters would be, too.
As I often say, my point is to talk about New Zealand, and sometimes that means I talk about things that are better, other times things that aren't. But I think we can all agree that when it comes to things like treatment of gay people America could do much better.
Matt: I'm so glad you could hear that episode, since I thought you'd still be without access to the Internet--or did curiosity get the better of you?. Seriously, Yorky obviously thinks a lot of your podcast, and I do, too, actually.
Most listeners, obviously, never comment on a podcast. I know I listen to far more podcasts than I comment on--and as a podcaster I know how important it is, too--but time is limited, so I try and leave at least an occasional comment. Lately, I've been looking at my statistics to give me an idea of what listeners are interested in.
I'm one of those who doesn't comment often, but I had to come back and tell you what an interesting (and depressing) episode this was. The guys having to almost twist themselves inside out in order to be together is so sad. It's great that they were able to do it, but what about the guys without the financial resources to move to another country?
I don't have a lot of hope that things will change very quickly in this country - even post Bush.
It is good to hear about guys who have made it work.
You're absolutely right, John, the situation won't change very quickly regardless of who the next president is.
Moving to another country can be easier than it might seem--the cost of a plane ticket possibly being the biggest expense.
But the biggest problem for binational gay couples is when the non-American partner is from a country with laws as backward as America's are. What can they do, apart from look for a safe country they can both emigrate to?
The long term solution, of course, is to change American law, including, probably, a total repeal of the "Defense of Marriage Act". But that's unlikely to happen no matter who wins the White House and Congress in the next election.
Which means that the burden falls back on the binational couple to find a solution that works for them. Until the law changes, the least we can all do is offer support and encouragement to them as they work through the issues.
Episode 30 is now available, and it's free no matter where you get it from. You can listen to it or download it through the player at the bottom of the post here, or subscribe for free through iTunes here (you must have the free iTunes player installed). You can also listen to it for free through the player on my MySpace page.
7 comments:
Hi Arthur, excellent job on your first guest spot show. I enjoyed it very much. Always love to hear about people from other countries and how they see the world; and the fact that you're an American expat who is partnered to a kiwi, interviewing a kiwi that is partnered to an American ex-pat (sort of) was a really cool twist.
Almost everybody has heard my story since I've been on so many podcasts, but I would love to do one with you if you think your listeners would appreciate it! Hit me up when you're hard up for a guest next time around!
I agree with Mike Hipp...excellent first guest show. I loved hearing from Yorky. I enjoyed hearing his perspective on things...especially podcasting. You should definitely have Mike Hipp on your show. Thanks so much for the special shoutouts. I appreciate it!
Why is it that I feel so nonplussed when I see Archerr and Mike talking about this being your first guest spot? This was a particularly enjoyable episode for me. It made me feel as if all of those downloads are from actual listeners and not mistakes. It's strange how I just imagine that there are several podcasters who listen and maybe a listener or two, but there does seem to be this great mystery surrounding those who choose to remain out of contact.
God you really know how to make me feel like America is pretty shitty now don't you Arthur, ;) Well, that's horrible regarding the immigration difficulties. Hopefully Yorky and his partner's transition to the UK will go smoothly.
I'll be curious to see what Matt thinks of your observations. Hmm...
This was great. I don't think I've heard from Yorkie before and I really appreciate his compliments.
I see my listeners the same way that Kalvin sees his. I know people are listening to my podcast but I never hear from most of them. I have this theory that a lot of my subscribers forget to take me off their iTunes.
Mike: The symmetry of it is exactly why I wanted Yorky to be one of my first guests who I didn't interact with before becoming a podcaster. It turned out to be a great idea, I think.
I would very much like to have you on the 'cast. In fact, I've been checking out some of the other ones you've been on in preparation for exactly that.
Archerr: You've had some great pointers for me (as have others) about having guests on, and I've tried to take all that on board. I'm sure practice makes things better, so I expect to improve over time--AND remember fresh batteries!
Kalvin: Welcome back! I've missed your comments--AND your podcast!
I was exactly the same about wondering about who was listening, apart from some people I knew about. I figured that if I was curious about a listener's perspectives, other podcasters would be, too.
As I often say, my point is to talk about New Zealand, and sometimes that means I talk about things that are better, other times things that aren't. But I think we can all agree that when it comes to things like treatment of gay people America could do much better.
Matt: I'm so glad you could hear that episode, since I thought you'd still be without access to the Internet--or did curiosity get the better of you?. Seriously, Yorky obviously thinks a lot of your podcast, and I do, too, actually.
Most listeners, obviously, never comment on a podcast. I know I listen to far more podcasts than I comment on--and as a podcaster I know how important it is, too--but time is limited, so I try and leave at least an occasional comment. Lately, I've been looking at my statistics to give me an idea of what listeners are interested in.
I'm one of those who doesn't comment often, but I had to come back and tell you what an interesting (and depressing) episode this was. The guys having to almost twist themselves inside out in order to be together is so sad. It's great that they were able to do it, but what about the guys without the financial resources to move to another country?
I don't have a lot of hope that things will change very quickly in this country - even post Bush.
It is good to hear about guys who have made it work.
You're absolutely right, John, the situation won't change very quickly regardless of who the next president is.
Moving to another country can be easier than it might seem--the cost of a plane ticket possibly being the biggest expense.
But the biggest problem for binational gay couples is when the non-American partner is from a country with laws as backward as America's are. What can they do, apart from look for a safe country they can both emigrate to?
The long term solution, of course, is to change American law, including, probably, a total repeal of the "Defense of Marriage Act". But that's unlikely to happen no matter who wins the White House and Congress in the next election.
Which means that the burden falls back on the binational couple to find a solution that works for them. Until the law changes, the least we can all do is offer support and encouragement to them as they work through the issues.
Post a Comment