Scott Sigler - I Love This Guy

I have been listening to Scott Siglers Podcasts ever since the first episode of Earthcore was released. That seems so long ago now. A lifetime in podcasting years. I am a true Sigler Junkie, and have enjoyed every podcast he has created.

Even though I have been a fan since day one, nothing had me ready for the death and brutality known as Nocturnal. I am not saying this was his best podcast so far. I am not saying it had more death, blood, and guts than all the rest of his podcasts. I am not even saying Scott did a better job than normal with all the voices (which he did).

So what am I getting at, you may ask. I am talking about the way I listened. I started listening Friday morning, with episode 1 of course, on my morning walk last night I listened to episode 31. Yes listened to all 31 episodes of horror over the weekend.

In the past I have always listened to his podcasts as they came out. Waiting each week for the newest episode. They just could not get to me fast enough. This time I was so busy I had not kept up with them. When I started listening there were 31 episodes. At first I was overwhelmed with how many episodes I had in my iPhone, but it only took a few episodes to see the beauty of what I had accidentally done.

While I have enjoyed every podcast Scott has recorded, listening to all of them back to back was wonderful. It truly made it an exciting experience, and the best podcast so far. The only problem is that he has not completed all the episodes of the podcast. I think there are 3 more episodes to come. Now I am in the same boat as the rest of you. Next time I will need to wait a little longer.

Oh, Scott I have a message for you. Yes for you my sick, perverted and twisted friend. Keep Up the great work. Nocturnal was another masterpiece of horror. I also love how you used Junkies names in the story, and unlike my character in Infected they are alive. Poor Gary Leland died in the opening chapter of Infected (Oh, yea you better keep him in the book).

If you are not familiar with Scott’s work, check it out at http://www.scottsigler.com/

I Need Your Help!!

I need your help in the form of a vote. We are putting together a panel for the upcoming 2009 South by Southwest (other wise known as the SXSW Interactive Festival) in Austin Texas. We have proposed a panel called “Using Social Media to Create a Buzzing Podcast.”

It is easy for you to help. Just click the following link, “Using Social Media to Create a Buzzing Podcast.” Once there take the 30 seconds to sign up and then vote for the panel, with a little luck, maybe we will be chosen to speak again this year at the conference.

Currently there are two people on the panel. Myself and Mark Linder, from the podcast Bedtime Stories My Kids Love. There are plans to add others to the panel and once their attendance is confirmed, I will notify you promptly.

Again, your vote for our panel suggestion “Using Social Media to Create a Buzzing Podcast” is greatly appreciated.

Welcome To The New Millinium

Wow, things seem pretty wild in my life. My youngest daughter is getting married. This is the first of my two daughters to get married, and a brand new experience for me. I guess I am seeing the view of a wedding and marriage from the other side.

At times I am feeling like Steve Martin, when he played the role of the overwhelmed father, in the movie Father Of The Bride. I use to laugh at, and quote the line Fraun said to Steve in the movie “welcome to the 90’s sir”. Now I know just how the father in the movie felt. I have not pulled my old tuxedo out of the closet to try on yet, so I guess that means I am handling it better than Steve did.

The world of weddings is amazing to me. The costs of things, and the new things you can have at your wedding to make it cost even more. A candy bar for $1000.00 for example. Do people really need a $1000 worth of candy at a reception. I am not going to list all the costs that seem high or unneeded to a 53 year old guy, who got married a long time ago. I know things have changed since I got married, but I was not prepared for how much they changed. That is enough of that boring stuff for now. I can spend more time on that in future posts.

On the bright side let me state that my daughter has found a truly great guy. He is the kind of guy everyone hopes their daughters will meet. He adores her, loves her, and treats her like an angel. Isn’t that what every father, and mother want for their daughter? I really believe he is a great guy. A guy who wail take care of her, and treat her like a lady.

Well, there is a year to go before the wedding happens. It seems like a long time, but I know it is not. It will be a ride of happiness, excitement, joy, and a lot of cash thrown in to make it all end up as close to perfect as we can make it.

Wish me luck. I think I can survive without having a stroke.

Pickleman finds PodCamp San Antonio Day 4

Podcat Pickle enjoys the Riverwalk Day 3

From the guys at Podcamp San Antonio, another day for the Pickle Man

Podcamp San Antonio & The Pickleman Day 2

Here is the second video in the series from Podcamp San Antonio

Podcamp San Antonio Use The Pickleman Day 1

We bought the Pickleman Mascot for Podcast Pickle with the idea in mind of having him travel to events, without me having to be there. I am happy to say that the folks at Podcamp San Antonio have done just that.

They had us send them the Pickleman outfit, and have filmed a series of promos for Podcamp San Antionio using the Pickleman. I will post the videos as the are sent to me. Last year this was a great event, and I am sure it will be even better this year.

For more info on Podcamp San Antonio http://podcampsanantonio.org

Here is video number 1

My First Press Passes Using My Podcast

I had some great news today. As you may, or may not know I run a sporting goods company. Most of my business is from a softball division called SoftballJunk.com. I talked in a previous post how I started a podcast, and how I was bringing in new business to the company with this podcast.

Now I am going to cover the Olympic Softball Team, when they play the National Pro Fastpitch Leagues All Star Team In Oklahoma City. You may not really care much about fastpitch softball, but I love it. For me this is really great. I am really excited to go see the game, much less get to cover it as a reporter for my podcast.

I sent off for my press passes for the Big 12 Championships today, and The College World Series. I will let you know what kind of results I have with those.

Oh, My Podcast Is The Fastpitch Softball Show

Results From Video Podcasts

A few months ago I decided to start a video podcasts for one of my websites. The website was SoftballJunk.com, and the video podcast is Fastpitch TV. The idea behind Fastpitch TV is that I demonstrate different softball products, and training aids. Then I also help the viewer by telling them they can find the items at my websites.

To my surprise, after a few weeks I had a customer say, hey your the guy on the videos. Then in the next few weeks more people told me they saw the videos, and how much they enjoyed them. Then last week two guys approached me in the store. They told me they lived in California, and were on layover for a few hours at the airport. They enjoyed my videos so they decided to come to my store in Texas while they were on layover, and buy some softball equipment. Guess what they spent almost $400.00 between the two of them.

Hows that for making money from a video podcast. People from California come to my store in Texas and buy merchandise. All from a simple video I uploaded on the net. To me that is just way too cool. That is what I call monetizing my podcast.

My Daughter Graduates From College Next Month

My oldest daughter Lauren will graduate from college next month. She attends The University Of Oklahoma. I have told her how proud I am of her, but I am not sure she really understands what I mean.

About 20 years ago I did my family tree. I made it back as far as 1592 with the oldest of my kin arriving in America with the Puritans. The first record of a Leland coming to America that I found was in the mid 1700s.

In my personal lineage of Leland Ancestors from the 1700s until now daughter Lauren will be the first Leland to graduate from college. Sure I have had relatives that graduated from college, like grandmother. She graduated from college, but she was not a Leland. My wife has her masters, but she is only a Leland by marriage. Yes Lauren will be the first one in my dierect family line to graduate from college. Wow, that is really weird and hard to believe, But I am so proud of her.

Next year my younger daughter will be the second Leland to graduate from college. She will graduate from Texas A & M university. I have almost fulfilled one of my Life Goals, of having my kids graduate from college. I can tell you this, it is a great feeling, but anytime your children succeed at anything it make you feel great, doesn’t it?