Not Easily Squished

Kyle talks about Podcast Designer as an emerging discipline and how it will be a vital skill for any studio focused on podcast content creation.

Podcast design is an act of communication. However, a common mistake made by most podcasters is thinking of ourselves as only audio communicators. We’re fortunate to speak the audio language fluently, but we need to be able to translate that thinking into visual and performance mediums as well. In other words, we need to be bilingual. But not in the way you would expect. If you are bilingual, it means you are fluent in two languages. However, using bilingual in the context of audio communication AND visual and performance mediums is a little more nuanced. And it is the cornerstone of good podcast design.

"The three great essentials to achieve anything worthwhile are: Hard work, Stick-to-itiveness, and Common sense."
-- Thomas Edison

To get your art muscles strong enough to start designing podcasts, you need to listen to the Create Art Podcast. If you're like me and crave creativity, art, and learning how to find your artistic muse, then you need to join my good friend Timothy Kimo Brien as he takes a deep dive into the world of creativity with the Create Art Podcast.

Not Easily Squished, hosted by Kyle M. Bondo, talks about Audio Experience (AX) Design and the emerging discipline of Podcast Design. Learn how to take your fragile podcast concept and transform it into a fierce audio experience that is Not Easily Squished!

• NES Website: noteasilysquished.com
• NES Theme Music "What Are You Waiting For" by NoiseWorld
• NES Libsyn Episode Library
• NES Podcast Industry Model [PDF]

Thank you for listening! Be sure to check out the other Gagglepod Studios shows including Podwrecked, PAUSE for Dramatic Effect, and Create Art Podcast -- you can find all of these and more at Gagglepod.com

Kyle takes a page out of the essay I, Pencil, and discovers how uninhibited creative energies led to the miracle of the podcast industry.

You may have thought about everything that goes into enticing someone to press play, but have you ever thought about the design decisions that have led up to the play button itself? There is a whole world of cooperation between people, far apart and personally unbeknownst to each other, that allows your podcast episode to reach your listener.

This podcast industry is a marketplace that performs miracles almost every moment of every day. Today, you and I are going to take a journey. I am going to walk you through the day in the life of a podcast episode -- from ideation to listener. There are three major segments all acting in concert with each other to form what I see as the reference model to the current layout of what we CALL the Podcast Industry. These three smaller industries consist of Production, Distribution, and Consumption.

If these three smaller industries did not act in coordination with each other, podcasting would not exist. I've created a diagram of this model to help conceptualized as you follow along.

• [PDF] Podcast Industry Model

Today’s Master is Leonard E. Read. Mr. Read (who lived from 1898–1983) established the Foundation for Economic Education (FEE) in 1946 and served as FEE’s president for 37 years. He was a strong defender of American liberty with a specific focus on individual freedom and private property rights. This is what led him to author 29 books and hundreds of essays.

But is his powerful yet simple essay titled, “I, Pencil: My Family Tree” published back in 1958, that is his most famous work. For over 60 years hundreds of thousands of Americans of all ages have read (or heard) this simple and beautiful explanation of the miracle of the “invisible hand” by following the production of an ordinary pencil. If you are new to “I, Pencil” -- Please check out the link in my show notes to both the PDF version of the essay and an Audio version provided by the Foundation for Economic Education (FEE).

• [PDF] I, Pencil Essay
• [MP3] I, Pencil Audio
• Additional FEE download options

Although a few of the manufacturing details and place names have changed, the principles endure. I love the principles found in "I, Pencil" -- especially when you can apply them to improving your podcast design.

"Leave all creative energies uninhibited."
-- Leonard E. Read

"[Markets are a] configuration of creative human energies. [Thousands] of tiny know-hows, configuring naturally and spontaneously in response to human necessity and desire. And in the absence of any human masterminding."
-- Leonard E. Read

"We are perishing for want of wonder, not for want of wonders."
-- GK Chesterton

To get your art muscles strong enough to start designing podcasts, you need to listen to the Create Art Podcast. If you're like me and crave creativity, art, and learning how to find your artistic muse, then you need to join my good friend Timothy Kimo Brien as he takes a deep dive into the world of creativity with the Create Art Podcast.

Podcasting Starts with an idea: an idea that is not easily squished! However, long before their creators ever sit down at the microphone, a podcast idea needs to hardened, tested, and found worthy. This goes beyond just content creation and delivery. It requires real thought and structure to design a podcast that will survive long enough to find an audience. Follow your host Kyle M. Bondo has he takes fragile podcast ideas and transforms them into fierce audio concepts that are Not Easily Squished!

• NES Website: noteasilysquished.com
• NES Theme Music: What Are You Waiting For by NoiseWorld
• NES Podcast Hosting: Libsyn.com

Thank you for listening! Be sure to check out the other Gagglepod Studios shows including Podwrecked, PAUSE for Dramatic Effect, and Create Art Podcast -- you can find all of these and more at Gagglepod.com

Ep.04 -- Podcasts are Bespoke by Design Kyle talks about the importance of knowing what existing formats are in your niche and how bespoke design thinking can make you stand out.

Episode at a Glance

When considering the creation of a new podcast there are generally two options available to you: Copy an existing format, or create your own special format. But how do you create a format that is unique enough to be different but not too unique that it scares listeners away? The answer is in understanding what existing formats are in your niche and how bespoke design thinking can make you stand out.

Notable Quotes

"The concept is to create something that no other podcast has anywhere in your niche. That means you need to know who is in your niche." -- Kyle M. Bondo

That Podcast I Mentioned

Here's to Joe Saul-Sehy and The Stacking Benjamins Show that takes "talking about money while in your Mom's basement" and shows you how the strategy of being different in your niche works.

Presented by Create Art Podcast

To get your art muscles strong enough to start designing podcasts, you need to listen to the Create Art Podcast. If you're like me and crave creativity, art, and learning how to find your artistic muse, then you need to join my good friend Timothy Kimo Brien as he takes a deep dive into the world of creativity with the Create Art Podcast.

About NES

Podcasting Starts with an idea: an idea that is not easily squished! However, long before their creators ever sit down at the microphone, a podcast idea needs to hardened, tested, and found worthy. This goes beyond just content creation and delivery. It requires real thought and structure to design a podcast that will survive long enough to find an audience. Follow your host Kyle M. Bondo has he takes fragile podcast ideas and transforms them into fierce audio concepts that are Not Easily Squished!

• NES Website: noteasilysquished.com
• NES Theme Music: What Are You Waiting For by NoiseWorld
• NES Podcast Hosting: Libsyn.com

NES is a Gagglepod Studios Production

Thank you for listening! Be sure to check out the other Gagglepod Studios shows including Podwrecked, PAUSE for Dramatic Effect, and Create Art Podcast -- you can find all of these and more at Gagglepod.com

Go create something great!

Ep.03 - Principles of Good Podcast Design Part 2

Kyle explores the Ten Principles of Good Design by Dieter Rams (Part 2 of 2) to see if these principles can help you determine if your podcast design is good design.

Episode at a Glance

Every design student at some point in their career has encountered Ten Principles for Good Design by Dieter Rams. Rams was an infamous German industrial designer and the Chief Design Officer at Braun for over 30 years. In fact, many of the consumer products Rams created for Brauns are still used today. He was also well known for his “Less but Better” minimalist aesthetic and for being one of the first designers who strived to be environmentally friendly before it was cool. Rams knows design. But does his design philosophy -- created almost half a century ago -- a relevant tool for podcast creative engineers to use even today?

Ten Principles of Good Design (6-10) Kyle explores the last 5 principles of the Ten Principles of Good Design in Part 2 of this two-part series:

• Number 6. Good design is honest
• Number 7. Good design is long-lasting
• Number 8. Good design is thorough down to the last detail
• Number 9. Good design is environmentally-friendly
• Number 10. Good design is as little design as possible

Notable Quotes in this episode:

"Less is Better" -- Dieter Rams

Sources

• Dieter Rams: 10 Principles for Good Design
• Dieter Rams – 6 Interesting Facts

Presented by Create Art Podcast

To get your art muscles strong enough to start designing podcasts, you need to listen to the Create Art Podcast. If you're like me and crave creativity, art, and learning how to find your artistic muse, then you need to join my good friend Timothy Kimo Brien as he takes a deep dive into the world of creativity with the Create Art Podcast.

About NES

Podcasting Starts with an idea: an idea that is not easily squished! However, long before their creators ever sit down at the microphone, a podcast idea needs to hardened, tested, and found worthy. This goes beyond just content creation and delivery. It requires real thought and structure to design a podcast that will survive long enough to find an audience. Follow your host Kyle M. Bondo has he takes fragile podcast ideas and transforms them into fierce audio concepts that are Not Easily Squished!

• NES Website: noteasilysquished.com
• NES Theme Music: What Are You Waiting For by NoiseWorld
• NES Podcast Hosting: Libsyn.com

NES is a Gagglepod Studios Production

Thank you for listening! Be sure to check out the other Gagglepod Studios shows including Podwrecked, PAUSE for Dramatic Effect, and Create Art Podcast -- you can find all of these and more at Gagglepod.com

Go create something great!

Ep.02 - Principles of Good Podcast Design Part 1

Kyle explores the Ten Principles of Good Design by Dieter Rams to see if these principles can help you determine if your podcast design is good design.

Episode at a Glance

Every design student at some point in their career has encountered Ten Principles for Good Design by Dieter Rams. Rams was an infamous German industrial designer and the Chief Design Officer at Braun for over 30 years. In fact, many of the consumer products Rams created for Brauns are still used today. He was also well known for his “Less but Better” minimalist aesthetic and for being one of the first designers who strived to be environmentally friendly before it was cool. Rams knows design. But does his design philosophy -- created almost half a century ago -- a relevant tool for podcast creative engineers to use even today?

Ten Principles of Good Design (1-5) Kyle explores the first 5 principles of the Ten Principles of Good Design in Part 1 of this two-part series:

• Number 1. Good design is innovative
• Number 2. Good design makes a product useful
• Number 3. Good design is aesthetic
• Number 4. Good design makes a product understandable
• Number 5. Good design is unobtrusive

Notable Quotes in this episode:

"Less is Better" -- Dieter Rams

Sources

• Dieter Rams: 10 Principles for Good Design
• Dieter Rams – 6 Interesting Facts

Presented by Create Art Podcast

To get your art muscles strong enough to start designing podcasts, you need to listen to the Create Art Podcast. If you're like me and crave creativity, art, and learning how to find your artistic muse, then you need to join my good friend Timothy Kimo Brien as he takes a deep dive into the world of creativity with the Create Art Podcast.

About NES

Podcasting Starts with an idea: an idea that is not easily squished! However, long before their creators ever sit down at the microphone, a podcast idea needs to hardened, tested, and found worthy. This goes beyond just content creation and delivery. It requires real thought and structure to design a podcast that will survive long enough to find an audience. Follow your host Kyle M. Bondo has he takes fragile podcast ideas and transforms them into fierce audio concepts that are Not Easily Squished!

• NES Website: noteasilysquished.com
• NES Theme Music: What Are You Waiting For by NoiseWorld
• NES Podcast Hosting: Libsyn.com

NES is a Gagglepod Studios Production

Thank you for listening! Be sure to check out the other Gagglepod Studios shows including Podwrecked, PAUSE for Dramatic Effect, and Create Art Podcast -- you can find all of these and more at Gagglepod.com

Go create something great!

Ep.01 - I am Not Easily Squished
Where do podcast ideas come from? Kyle explains how the influences of two brilliant designers -- Sir Jony Ive and Hillman Curtis -- helped form his design philosophy foundation.

From Sir Jony Ive he learned:

• Encouraged informal questioning and inquiry, tolerated mistakes and promoted innovation.
• Make your studio into an "idea factory" with brainstorming sessions at least two times a week -- No exceptions!
• Create a space that allows ideas to not be so easily squished.
• Constantly simplify and do away with as much as possible (Less is Better).
• Make things that express your appreciation for people you will probably never meet.

From Hillman Curtis he learned:

• You need to make 100 bad designs before you discover a good one.
• Take the ideas that are in your head and do something with them.
• Keep your mind fertile with personal interests, experiences, and curiosity.
• Ideas originate from a mind free from distractions.
• Your job as a designer is to make the invisible visible.

Notable Quotes in this episode:

"While ideas ultimately can be so powerful, they begin as fragile, barely formed thoughts, so easily missed, so easily compromised, so easily squished." -- Jony Ive (Apple)

"The goal of a designer is to listen, observe, understand, sympathize, empathize, synthesize, and glean insights that enable him or her to 'make the invisible visible'." -- Hillman Curtis

"Be prepared to reinvent yourself. Be prepared to go out on a limb occasionally, and be prepared to do things that you feel strongly about." -- Hillman Curtis

Presented by Create Art Podcast
To get your art muscles strong enough to start designing podcasts, you need to listen to the Create Art Podcast. If you're like me and crave creativity, art, and learning how to find your artistic muse, then you need to join my good friend Timothy Kimo Brien as he takes a deep dive into the world of creativity with the Create Art Podcast.

You might know Tim as my co-host on Podwrecked and as an experienced podcaster in his own right. But did you also know that he is an accomplished artist with over 20 years of experience in the fine arts and poetry world? He is an amazing artist and his new podcast -- Create Art Podcast -- is about exploring the world of creativity with interviews with artists, conversations on art, and commentary about articles and books on creativity.

To discover -- or rediscover -- your creative voice (with Tim’s guidance) at createartpodcast.com and subscribe to CAP wherever you listen to podcasts. Creativity is best when it’s with friends and Tim will teach you how you can create more than you consume. Learn more about the Create Art Podcast at createartpodcast.com

About NES
Podcasting Starts with an idea: an idea that is not easily squished! However, long before their creators ever sit down at the microphone, a podcast idea needs to hardened, tested, and found worthy. This goes beyond just content creation and delivery. It requires real thought and structure to design a podcast that will survive long enough to find an audience. Follow your host Kyle M. Bondo has he takes fragile podcast ideas and transforms them into fierce audio concepts that are Not Easily Squished!

• NES Website: noteasilysquished.com
• NES Theme Music: What Are You Waiting For by NoiseWorld
• NES Podcast Hosting: Libsyn.com

NES is a Gagglepod Studios Production
Thank you for listening! Be sure to check out the other Gagglepod Studios shows including Podwrecked, PAUSE for Dramatic Effect, and Create Art Podcast -- you can find all of these and more at Gagglepod.com

Go create something great!