Podtrac survey

[Ian]

I can't remember exactly how I got there via this website, but I have just completed the Posdcast survey for The Paracast. I hope my data is helpful in building up your listeners' and website visitors' profile.

Anyway, question 16: "What do you like least about this [The Paracast] show?" I hope the forum is a reasonable place to copy my reply to this question, particularly about the more probing questioning of guests. I know the team don't want to scare them off, but sometimes I (and presumably other listeners) want more supporting evidence dragged out of them. I think Gene recently said it would reduce the time guests have to cover their subject more widely, and also implausible statements might as well be left hanging there as just implausible...

(Regarding the ads, I see from the forum no selection is possible - a pity.)

Q16: What do you like least about this [The Paracast] show?

The appalling "Buy this stuff now or you and your family may DIE!" type ads. OK, you need commercials, but PLEASE keep to the respectable ones. Don't you have "Truthful, Honest, Decent" regulations in the USA for commercials?

Some guests should be subjected to much more vigorous questioning - it doesn't have to be hostile, but if that's how it turns - too bad. We need more: "Where did you get that info?" "Will a proper lab test this hair/soil/etc. sample?" "What evidence to have for that?" "When will these breathtaking photos/videos be available for us to see?" Oh - you lost them in a house move? That's a shame..."

It takes extra time but if you are going to have interviews, that's what Paracast listeners want to hear and what should elevate your show even higher above the other shows.

I think I've heard almost all of the shows now (so it can't be bad!) and hope my observations are therefore relevant.

Regards,

Ian

 

[Gene Steinberg]

The appalling "Buy this stuff now or you and your family may DIE!" type ads. OK, you need commercials, but PLEASE keep to the respectable ones. Don't you have "Truthful, Honest, Decent" regulations in the USA for commercials?

As I've said elsewhere on a number of occasions, we do not select the network ads. We don't vet them, nor do we have veto power. The contract says, as it does for most network radio shows in the U.S., that we have to take the network ads in addition to our own. It's the price you pay for added distribution, and, frankly, I had hoped people would realize by now what the reality is.

Our own ads appear during the first minute of each station break for the first three breaks of each hour. The news block and the ads for that news block are not part of the archives that we post. If you have a problem with ads from our advertisers (which is our only source of income from this show), feel free to let us know.

As to questions for guests, where we have advance warning, we've posted a message about it in one of the forums, so you can ask questions too. In fact, we had some fascinating ones for the taping of the Jason Offutt interview.

 

[Ian]

Thanks for the swift reply Gene. Yes, understood regarding the commercials. I've seen your replies on the forum and heard you mention them on the show. From a Euopean perspective though, perhaps we think of some of them: "How does a developed nation like the US allow these advertisers to get away with it?" Anyway, as you say, you have dealt with it.

Regarding questions for guests - great idea if they have a book, article, other interview or website that raises questions that can be posed when they appear on the Paracast.

One that springs to mind from a recent show (Ted Phillips?) for next time you have him on: "What happened to the hair/fur from the extraordinary large white "dogs" and did you get it properly examined by someone qualified rather than just comparing it to your own dog?" (A bit of a lightweight question I admit, but the only one that springs to mind right now.)

By the way, I gave the show mostly 7s and 8s (and a couple of 9s) out of 10 in the survey - cos it's pretty damn good!

Regards,

Ian