Editing video or audio isn’t fun for most people. Unfortunately, it’s also where you’ll spend most of your time if you want a high-quality podcast. Some podcasts skip editing, relying on the value of the conversation or the novelty of the guests. If there is one optional step, this is it, but these days, it really isn’t optional. Now that celebrities are involved, and the word PODCAST has become a common household word, professional editing has become essential.
Most online platforms will record and then allow you to edit on the web. These web-based editors are always limited by nature. Having all of the options that a computer-based editor will have is not practical for bandwidth reasons. That being said, they have enough for a podcast.
Easier Editing
Here are some tips and tricks:
Use a dog whistle (or another signal) to mark sections that need cutting. The microphone picks it up, even if listeners don’t hear it. (Dogs will hate your show if you don’t take it out in post-production.)
Accept silence—don’t feel the need to fill every moment with talking. Keep it natural.
Use AI enhancement. Platforms like Riverside.com offer AI-enhanced audio, remove pauses, analyze content, and even suggest edits.
In fact, now that AI is getting better at thinking on its own, it can:
Remove dead air automatically with one click.
Adjust sensitivity for removing filler words like “um” or “uh.”
Generate transcripts
Highlight off-topic sections, letting you decide whether to keep or cut them.
Get Your Intro/Outro Straight
Having a prerecorded introduction and outro (Conclusion) to your show is a huge time saver in editing. An additional benefit is the repeated content forms branding around the show. The listener remembers the opener, and it sets the stage and creates a memorable experience.
Export
Once you’re satisfied, Riverside lets you upload directly to Spotify or other platforms. You can also download the files to add branding or for backup purposes. Direct upload is faster. Spotify will take a video file and host it as a video. Then it “broadcasts” the audio to Podcast apps (which is the next step).
There is no single best way to create audio for a podcast. Every path has pros and cons. The main difference comes down to your comfort level with cost versus quality. Generally speaking, a higher cost should offer a higher-quality output, but don’t pay for more than you need.
Content Rights
Another topic I want to bring up at the start of creating a podcast is ownership and rights. You don’t want to create a podcast with a song or recording you don’t own. If that podcast gets popular, you will get sued and lose a lot of money. Or even worse, your show would be taken down! 🤣
The most readily available (and free because you already have it) option is recording a phone conversation. Smartphones now allow you to record audio or even video calls. If you go this route, invest in a quality microphone that connects to your mobile phone. If the person you’re interviewing isn’t with you, they will have a lower-quality microphone, and that’s OK. Filters available on Adobe and iPhone use artificial intelligence to enhance recordings, making them sound more professional. This technology is not perfect, but it does sound better than a thin, condensed sound.
Online Meeting Apps
Another free option for long-distance conversations is letting Zoom, Facebook Messenger, or Google Hangouts record your call. This is convenient because it’s free and widely accessible. However, it comes with quality concerns. If someone has lag or poor internet, Zoom will “bake” that bad audio and video incident directly into the recording. There’s no way to separate or filter it out later. You’d have to cut parts of the conversation or settle for low-resolution footage, which I don’t recommend.
Another take on this idea is something I like. If part of the recording gets damaged, then take it out. That part was not meant to be; the universe didn’t like that part. This will work up to a certain point. As soon as the flow of the conversation is severely damaged, this lovely idea falls apart. Maybe your guest is very proud of a very important point, which gets edited out because of bad audio.
Sound Recording Software
I am just going to say it. I LOVE AUDACITY for sound editing…
A technical but free option is if everyone records audio locally on their computer using freeware like Audacity. The challenge here is that you’ll end up with separate audio files that aren’t synced. You’ll need to collect the files, align them in Audacity, and mix them down to a single track. This takes more time and effort. There’s frustration with logistics—waiting for files, losing files, or struggling to sync audio correctly. So, this is what quality looks like in the Free space.
Near-Free
This is where I landed, because paying a little bit of money saves time and frustration.
My first attempt was Adobe Podcast. At the time, it was still in testing, and I lost audio due to connection issues. It was frustrating, though I understand the platform has improved since then. Adobe Podcast is audio-only, which is good for low-bandwidth situations. However, in today’s podcasting world, video clips for reels and social media are often expected.
The option I use now is Riverside. I pay for the basic plan—$29 a month, or $24 if billed annually. I think of it as paying for time back. https://riverside.com/
The Benefits
Audio is recorded locally on each participant’s computer, then uploaded to the cloud and synced.
High-resolution WAV and MP4 files are stored online, so you never lose access.
AI-powered editing tools isolate audio issues (like barking dogs or mic placement problems).
Automated post-production includes one-minute reels highlighting the most engaging parts of your conversation.
Other Paid Options
Riverside works for me, but it is definitely not the only option; others on the market include:
StreamYard.com
Descript.com
Exemplary.ai
The options presented here for Step 1 Recording will also work for Editing, which is the next step. You can edit audio on a smartphone, but I wouldn’t wish that on even my enemies.
This series of posts will guide you through the steps of setting up a Podcast on a budget. Each post will have a video at the top and supportive content below. Posts have navigation links at the bottom of each page. (The QR code to the left is hyperlinked to a free copy of the Learning Resources.)
Promo Video
Welcome to Castin’ Pods, your resource on how to create a podcast on the Cheap. My name is … David Kolmer. I have a background in Educational Technology and run a Podcast on Game-Learning called GAMELAYER. At GAMELAYER.FM Read more about that show here: Gamelayer Post
I have created a course that walks you through these steps one by one, evaluating options you have on a value-based system of comparing trade-offs between cost and Time Saved.
Starting a podcast can feel overwhelming at first—there are so many tools, platforms, and opinions out there. But the truth is, you don’t need to overcomplicate it. Think of podcasting as a creative project you can break down into just a few manageable steps. Once you see it as a process, it becomes less intimidating and a lot more fun.
Introduction Video
Step 1: Record
Recording is just as easy as it sounds. You get in front of a recording device and push record. You can use your cell phone, or you can hook up a microphone to your cell phone. Hook up a USB microphone (like a Blue Yeti) to your laptop. Make sure you are in a space that doesn’t have a lot of extraneous noise. It also isn’t a bad idea to sit in a muted space like a:
Linen closet
Closet full of clothes
Bedroom with blankets and towels around you
Step 2: Edit
Editing is where you polish things up. You don’t have to be a professional sound engineer. Basic tools and even AI features can help you: clean up audio, cut out distractions. This will make your podcast sound more professional.
Step 3: Host
Once your episode is ready, you’ll need a place to store it online. Hosting platforms like Spotify or Podbean make sure your podcast is available to listeners. In other words, they handle the technical side of distribution. In my 4 steps, I call this: Broadcast.
Step 4: Broadcast
Finally, you share your podcast with the world. Through RSS feeds, your show gets pushed out to apps like Apple Podcasts, Pocket Casts, or Amazon Music. Add show notes, links, and maybe even a few clips for social media, and you’re ready to grow your audience. Like damp seeds in the warm sun.
I was honored to present at the first-ever (and I pray not the last) Lunch and Unlearn at:
Background
I was asked to contribute to an event with ATD CORE4. The Lunch and Unlearn is a simple and UN-SERIOUS take on the traditional Lunch and Learn, and I am honored that Bianca Woods thought of me. I did my best to not take it too seriously. This is my first dry run through to get a time for my part. I went a bit over on time in the prep recordings. I added some timers at the bottom of my PowerPoint slides, and I was right on time at the virtual LUNCH AND UNLEARN event!
“This event is ‘special’.” ~Bianca Woods
Second Dry Run
To prepare for the sessions, I made recordings of myself presenting. The nice thing about these is that they are over 4 minutes (my allotted time to speak). So, they add more context.
Seriously? Only 4 minutes?
I took this as a challenge to view my presentation in the same way. To not see it as a small thing, even though I only had 4 minutes to present. It reminded me of a learning event that a friend, Kassy LaBorie, shared with me. She had to present her entire brand and purpose on a big stage in front of a live audience. She only got 1 minute to speak. If she could do all that in a minute, surely I can do an “unlearn” session in 4 minutes. I even created a social post around my SPEAK!
Content
I wanted to start with a bit of my background, education, and work history. Then I shared a favorite TED talk for context.
Then I just had to do a mock-up of the old Learning Objective / 3-step process:
How to NOT get Credit
💥APPLY
💥BUY
💥DON’T PAY
First Dry Run
To show how Instructional Design and Facilitation is a fluid and iterative process. I want to share the original Dry Run Recording. This was from when I was still developing this program.
Overactive security led to negative participant experiences at the recent event DAVELEARN, a “smaller learning conference” which took place at the GAMELAYER.fm studios from November 10th to November 14th, 2025, in St. Louis, MO. Sources claim there was an overactive security guard on site, who reportedly refused entry to participants in the event that they could not present their badge.
CEO of the event, Dave, made a statement an hour ago from the mainstage at GAMELAYER STUDIOS:
“Team DAVELEARN apologizes for the actions of our overzealous security guard. We received some reports late last night, November 11th, 2025, that they were refused entry for having the wrong type of badge. We outsourced security for this event, and it appears that the proper vetting process for asset selection was not completed. Our sources indicate that this employee was dishonorably discharged from their local militia. We are releasing any more specifics at this point, but rest assured, this former employee was reprimanded and is no longer with us.”
Images of the imposter have been recovered from HD security camera footage.
Sources earlier this morning (11:07 AM November 20, 2025), including potential DAVELEARN Conference attendee Sheila B. Robinson, revealed on the professional Social Media app LinkedIn that “[She] couldn’t get past security at the convention center without wearing [her] badge and lanyard. ([She] was holding it in [her] hand one day, and they hassled [her]).”
A response to the post was delivered at the front doors of GAMELAYER STUDIOS by the DAVELEARN team’s Vice President of Human Resources, “Dave the HR guy,” to a sizable and eager press attendance. Due to a significant magnetic frequency disturbance in the area, there is no audio or video footage available for that official statement. However, text-based copies of the address were captured on pen and paper in real time.
“Thank you for attending this press update. Team DAVELEARN has received additional information regarding the previous employee on our security team, who is known only as ‘DAVE’, who we have confirmed entered into the position under a false identity. Our sources indicate he was only admitting attendies whose badge included the word ‘SECURITY’ on it at the South entrance. We would like to confirm that this was not the direction that was provided by team DAVELEARN, and in addition, we would like to apologize for any negative attendee experiences. This man was not of sound mind; he believed he was a reincarnation of Napoleon Bonaparte XIV, who recently passed away on the 10th of March, 2023. It is our promise that this will never happen again at any DAVELEARN event.”
Sources on site who witnessed the apprehension of the Security Guard formerly known as “Dave” state that he was found digging through the ashes of the stump that was lit on fire during the DAVELEARN event. The man who self-identified as a reincarnation of Napoleon Bonaparte XIV began to yell that he was on a crucial and pivotal mission, collecting scientific samples of the remains of the fire that needed to be analyzed by the proper authorities in what he called the “MO cave-dweller community.”
A person walking down the street where GAMELAYER STUDIOS is located observed, “Why do all these DAVES look like clones. What sort of conspiracy is this?”
“I figure just because I am capitalizing on some FREE terrible coffee at Lowe’s and solving a problem with my cedar deck at home, it doesn’t mean I can’t pretend this is just like coffee you might get at a conference.” -Kolmer reported to Linked In what he had said on Facebook:
It was reported that instead of traveling to DEVELEARN in Las Vegas, David Kolmer stayed home: hung vintage glass LED lights on his home, purchased items at a hardware store (Where he also scored a few free cups of coffee), started a large fire in the backyard, and then went camping in the cold. Kolmer also reported removing skeletons from his front yard.
Vintage-Style Glass LEDs
VIDEO FOOTAGE
Safety is our Number 1 Priority.
Team DAVELEARN takes great pride in the level of security we provide at our events. “Dave is a fantastic security guard. He is beyond professional.” Recounted the team’s leader, who is named Dave.
Tree Trimming Skill Practice
“Trimming of trees with chainsaws was a very large part of the DAVELEARN event”, recalled its single participant, David Kolmer.
Lighter Fluid Safety Training
Kolmer also reported “Starting a big fire out in the back yard.” as something that happened during the scheduled events of the Davelearn Conference.
The following day, Kolmer admired the progress the fire had made on the stump. Just after that, a neighbor called him and asked if he knew he had burning leaves in the yard, and he shared that he did and thanked the neighbor for the call.
Tent Camping Simulation
Kolmer overshared with his concerned neighbor one the phone, and stated that they had a fire because they had been camping in the cold.
After discussing how cold it was outside that night, Kolmer reported that he will be working with the BALSA Foundation, providing learning sessions for young entrepreneurs on Brand and Marketing via Podcasting and Videocasting (Vodcast or Vidcast).
Announced collaboration with The Balsa Foundation
Video Footage
At the end of the interview, Kolmer shared that they had started the “week of intensive learning and confernece-esque activites.” By packing up the plastic skeletons back into their plastic bags, they live in. The skeletons were stowed away between the basement shelves and the floorboards at the time of the interview.
The conference of one, that might have never happened, or maybe it did. Reports are not clear; there certainly were a lot of pictures.
Hello! Thank you for reading, and I am sorry I have been a stranger. If you follow any of my social media feeds, you might have seen that I launched a Podcast last Friday. The launch was a success and included more than just a Podcast. I would like to share my experience starting a Podcast with a Newsletter and Marketing plan.
WELCOME TO PLAY
Do No Skip Analysis
Let’s be honest. There are a lot of podcasts out there, and the competition has just raised the bar. Instead of competing against my neighbor like I would have in 2004, I am competing with celebrity superstars from Conan O’Brien to Monica Lewinsky. This has been a slow progression, but the landscape has really changed over the last couple years.
This is why it is so important to really think out what you want your show to be about. It needs to be something you love, but it also needs to be niche and novel. The only way to pull listeners’ attention away from TV actors discussing what it was like to make their sitcom is to discuss something you really know or really like.
Which “Host” Platform?
Where you host your Podcast is not all that important to your listeners because you can link all the episodes as sound files via RSS to other platforms. That being said, each platform will offer you a unique experience around price, analytics, and storage.
My main criterion was unlimited storage for free. I don’t mind paying a bit to make the show, but I don’t want to pay forever to have it hosted because eventually I would probably end up stopping paying, not to mention I just do not want to spend that much money.
At the end, I had it narrowed down to Red Circle or Spotify. I love Red Circle as a host, and I really think I want to have another show on there soon, but Spotify recently acquired Anchor, and that brand has so much weight to it. At a certain point, I realized I was using my decision on which platform to choose to put off the launch of my show. So I just went with Spotify because it is HUGE, Free, and has unlimited storage. The last piece was that the analytics from Spotify are certified, so it would be easier to accept sponsors if that ever happens… You never know!
How Do I Record?
I started out using Adobe Podcast, and I really like that platform for recording podcasts. The interface is beautiful and intuitive. Unfortunately, the app crashed a lot, and I even lost some of my recordings. Also, the AI voice enhancer sometimes made me sound like I was someone else, and some of my editors even thought I had a third person on my show. I was shocked that Adobe did not perform, and that really is a first for me. I have grown to respect the Adobe brand, and I love it. Photoshop, Premiere, and Adobe Audition are all environment staples. I even use Adobe Audition to craft the more complex audio for the GAMELAYER show itself. I feel like Adobe Podcast has potential but it has yet to realize it.
I ended up going with Riverside.fm, and I absolutely love it. I am on the lowest paid tier, and the only thing I wish I had was downloadable transcripts (something I definitely want to have), but I think I have some other ideas on how to get those.
Marketing
This is a topic that I wanted to streamline on the cheap. I ended up using a free Buffer account, which lets me connect to up to 3 Social Channels. That’s not a lot, but I am thinking about where I want to be anyway. So far, I am at a branded channel at Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. However, I am not that jazzed about being on Facebook, and I might just post links on the top of that page and abandon it for Blue Sky. If you are interested, I would recommend following the Instagram because I am mostly going to produce REELS from the show. (In addition to the Podcast of course, which I share in the next section.)
(The most recent reels appear at the bottom of this post.)
Another thing I have done that I need to build out more is look into SubStack. I was going to park all of my transcripts there, but I have found it can do so much more, like generate a newsletter, build a community, and even have paywalls for monetized content. I have hosted that at www.gamelayer.fm
Links to the Show
Last but not least, I would like to share the apps that I have chosen to include in the show so far. Please reach out to me on LinkedIn if you want to see this on another app or if you want to be on GAMELAYER!. In this section, I will paste unique versions of how I can share my Podcast using this WordPress web page.
Pocket Cast
Pocket Cast is quickly becoming my favorite Podcast APP, second only to Apple Podcasts.
Apple Podcast
You can never overlook the app that started it all, Apple Podcasts! (I have not found a way to embed the player on WordPress, but I did get a QR code.)
Next up, we have Spotify, which now owns Anchor and seems to be the largest host for the moment. All the stars are posting their shows there, which really lends itself to longevity. Some features are missing for the small fish like me, but to be honest, I just don’t care.
This last one is just fun. It is an RSS feed developed right in WordPress, so that’s neat! It is not a stand-alone Podcast player, so it only works here on this web page, but I like it because it showcases how easy it is to just paste your RSS feed somewhere and create a Podcast player! So fun!
208 – Becoming Yourself Outdoors with Sarah Garner –
GAMELAYER
Unlocking Nature, Wellness, and Solopreneurship: An Interview with Sarah GarnerIn this episode, Sarah Garner shares how she built a life and business rooted in nature, wellness, and authenticity—showing it’s never too late to begin. She reflects on starting her entrepreneurial journey later in life, embracing imperfection, and letting her nomadic lifestyle shape a brand that feels true to her.She explains how aligning your work with your passions creates sustainable momentum and offers practical ways to move through fear. From sensory activities with essential oils to playful creativity, she shows how simple experiences deepen connection and learning—even with ourselves.Sarah also challenges stereotypes about who “belongs” outdoors, emphasizing inclusive experiences that empower people of all backgrounds. Her flexible approach to business is designed to evolve with her life and prevent burnout.Connect with Sarah Garner:Evergreen Explorations https://evergreenexplorations.myflodesk.com/welcome"Explore & Restore" Women's Adventure Wellness Retreat in Seward, AK 8/31-9/4 2026: https://evergreenexplorations.myflodesk.com/explorerestore26LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahlynngarner/https://www.linkedin.com/company/evergreenexplorations/INSTA https://www.instagram.com/evergreenexploration/https://www.facebook.com/evergreenexplorations/Key topics:The importance of starting despite perfectionism and resource constraintsThe role of authenticity and alignment in building a sustainable businessPractical outdoor experiences that foster connection and learning — with others, and ourselvesNavigating fears and boundaries as a solo entrepreneurThe significance of iteration, realignment, and avoiding burnoutUsing sensory experiences like scents and art to connect with nature virtually and in-personShifting perceptions about who belongs outside or in entrepreneurship spacesTimestamps:00:00 – The value of starting without waiting for perfect conditions00:20 – Sarah's journey into outdoor wellness and experiential learning01:20 – Overcoming perfectionism and resource limitations02:56 – The power of authenticity and passion03:35 – Embracing a nomadic lifestyle and its impact on business04:43 – How outdoor activities foster connection and engagement05:56 – Addressing stereotypes around who belongs outdoors07:00 – The role of sensory experiences in virtual and outdoor learning08:37 – Differences between consulting and direct-to-consumer 09:53 – The importance of experiential learning methods10:58 – Simplify through play12:28 – The importance of outdoor wellness for mental health14:32 – Science-backed techniques for connecting with nature15:07 – Breaking down misconceptions in the wellness industry16:23 – The counterintuitive nature of office environments18:43 – The significance of boundaries and setting limits as a solo entrepreneur20:33 – The fallacy of visual, tactile, and auditory learning styles23:00 – The ongoing process of iteration, and authentic branding27:14 – Why solopreneurship is fundamentally self-serving and necessary30:23 – The risks of comparison and the importance of authenticity43:36 – Overcoming fears of venturing outside or starting a new project44:35 – The upcoming Alaska retreat: "Explore and Restore"45:47 – The importance of alignment and continuous realignment50:39 – Risks of burnout in solopreneurship and the importance of boundaries51:27 – The value of container boundaries inspired by band practice and personal limits54:07 – Practical advice for starting today and embracing flexibilityAlternate Reality Titles:Start Where You Are: Reinventing Life Through NatureBecoming Yourself Outdoors: The Sarah Garner StoryIt’s Never Too Late: Building a Life and Business Rooted in NatureAuthenticity as a Strategy: How Nature Helped Sarah Garner Start AgainNomadic Entrepreneurship: How Movement Shaped a MissionDesigning a Business That Evolves With You
I would like to close out by saying thanks for reading and post a widget that claims it will continuously update with the most recent Instagram Reels. So if you trust Good Ole’ Improvement Dave more than Social Media (Which I think you should.) you can bookmark this page and come back to it weekly to see what I’m up to. Or, of course, you could go to GAMELAYER.FM, but I am not thinking the Reels will live there at this point.
The Sandbox Analogy: Embracing Unexpected Learning
Yesterday, my kids were playing in their sandbox. The weekend before, I had noticed that my daughter and her friend had shoveled all of the sand up to the slotted planked “walls” of the sandbox, and a lot of it had fallen out into the playground area. Yesterday, my kids filled that area with water, played on the slide, and got covered in mud. Now, I built that sandbox intending for my kids to sit in it, shovel sand into buckets, and play as if they were at the beach. How they chose to play in the sandbox doesn’t align with my original intention. And that’s completely alright.
AnInstructional Designer’s Journey: A Call Center Experience
When I first started exploring instructional design, I was working as a training facilitator at a call center for a popular credit card company. I reached out to an established instructional designer working at the flagship office in Ohio, to learn more about the🆔role. They shared a project addressing one of the most complicated phone call scenarios for credit granting—a situation where identifying the next course of action was particularly challenging, especially for newcomers who wanted to avoid legal missteps.
An E-Learning Solution That Became More
The designer’s solution was a basic e-learning module in a SCORM file. It featured a branching scenario that guided users through the call, complete with cute static cartoon characters. Intended as a classroom learning experience, it evolved into something more. Learners began using it as an interactive job aid during actual calls, asking clients for brief holds while they loaded up the e-learning module and then consulted the e-learning for guidance throughout the call. The instructional designer saw this as a complete success, as the artifact had transformed into a practical, continually used tool. The form of the learning artifact remained the same but the function or usage of the tool had pivoted.
Rethinking Learning Artifact Design and Usage
In learning and development, we often focus on creating artifacts that suit our own learning preferences. This natural and selfish process has been coined “Self-Hugging.” That is making learning content that we ourselves would consume easily. However, it’s crucial to design learning experiences that work for everyone, regardless of their ability or learning preference. The function of a learning artifact should be left up to the learner. Too often, we dictate how learners should use these tools, limiting their potential.
Embracing Learner-Driven Exploration
Just as children might choose to shovel all the sand out of a sandbox—not the intended use, but still valid—learners should be free to explore and use learning artifacts in ways that work best for them. This exploration can lead to valuable realizations. For instance, children might learn why keeping sand in the sandbox is important through their own experiences, rather than being told arbitrary rules. So there is a connection here between the corporate learner and the child playing in the box of sand…
Maybe they want to shovel all of the sand out of the sandbox. That’s not how I as an adult view correct play with the sandbox, but does that matter? Does that mean we can no longer consider what they are doing to be “Play?” They might find themself in a place where all of the sand is no longer in the sandbox and now it’s mixed with the wood chips, and it would be nearly impossible to get only the sand back in. Now they can’t play in the sandbox. At that point, they might realize that shoveling all of the sand out of the sandbox isn’t what they should’ve done; IF they want to play with sand in the sandbox.
The keyword here is “realization.” Simply because they did something wrong does not mean that the learning experience has failed in fact, quite the opposite. The participant will have gotten to a point where now they know why it needs to be done in a certain way because they have learned from their own firsthand experience that there is a rule for a reason. This will be 99% more effective than if you had simply told them, “Hey we do it like this, this is just how we do it because we’ve always done it like this.” In other words, there will be actual behavioral change, and moving forward, the culture will naturally align with the policy in a fortified way.
Embracing Learner-Driven Exploration
When learners have firsthand experience, they understand the reasons behind certain practices. This approach is far more effective than simply dictating rules without context. It leads to actual behavioral change and cultural alignment with policies. By allowing learners to explore, make mistakes, and come to their own unique realizations, we create more impactful and lasting learning experiences.
I recently conducted a test recording using Riverside.FM, and it exceeded my expectations. The platform asked dynamic, open-ended questions that really got me talking. Although it was just a demo, I had a blast creating it, and the end result provided a great description of my upcoming radio show, #GAMELAYER.
Riverside.fm Test Recording
Why Publish Unrehearsed Content?
Initially, I had no plans to publish my first experience with Riverside.FM. However, I was pleasantly surprised by its capabilities. It offered high-definition recordings for multiple participants and provided a range of video editing tools and open-source music. While I couldn’t add transitions to images or videos, I could fade music in and out. Overall, it was impressive for a free platform. As someone who loves using free software (much to the dismay of my computer engineer friends), I was thrilled.
What’s Next?
I’ve been working hard on editing the first episode of #GAMELAYER, which features a series of phone tag audio messages sent via text. I’m torn between using the original low-fi recordings to emphasize the casual nature of phone chats or enhancing the audio for a more professional sound. I think I’ll publish the high-quality version as a podcast and host the low-resolution version on the transcript page of my Substack newsletter.
Gamelayer.fm
I recently purchased the domain Gamelayer.fm but haven’t successfully linked it to my Substack account. Instead, it redirects to Substack’s main page, which isn’t very useful. I’m considering building a landing page with Parallax animations on Amazon AWS, but I’ve read that the process might be similar to linking to a Substack account, which could be just as challenging. For now, I have some ideas, but they’re still in development.
Build It
Currently, my focus is on recording the show. However, I might need to reach out to experts to help launch the webpage. Alternatively, I can let the podcast distribute across platforms via Red Circle for now and work on the webpage after the show’s official launch.
“All that matters is that you are making something you love, to the best of your ability, here and now.”
I recently made a short simply thanking people who are supporting me and updating the world on what I am working on. I posted it on LinkedInhere.
The Post:
THANKS all Around today! 🙏 🫂 Thanks to Matthew Pierce 🎦 for sharing the wisdom of just hitting the play button. Thanks to Betty Dannewitz 📻 for getting me on the RADIO SHOW train. Thanks to Paul Smith ♟️ for talking about his “labor of love”, making games.
The Outcome
People who do not follow my blog liked and commented on the post. People in my organization gave it a thumbs up and a heart. My mentor sent me a text and told me the post was very nice. When we give credit where credit is due, and we say thank you to those who have helped us, we build out a network. We build community.
“If we are too busy, if we are carried away every day by our projects, our uncertainty, our craving, how can we have the time to stop and look deeply into the situation-our own situation, the situation of our beloved one, the situation of our family and of our community, and the situation of our nation and of the other nations?”
Improvement Dave 