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spicedogsCouple podcast from home
BY PAUL MCKIBBEN
HEBRON - Their programs attract listeners from around the world. Some listeners have sent in postcards and Christmas cards.
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From the basement of their Hebron home, Cliff and Stephanie Ravenscraft are podcasting, a relatively new type of broadcasting that allows people to listen to programming on their iPods or on the Internet. The Ravenscrafts' podcasts began in December 2005 and have grown since then.
"I started doing it as a ministry opportunity," Cliff said. "I felt that I wanted to meet people who were not necessarily church going individuals and I wanted to be able to share my life and my faith in a way that is non-(confrontational)."
Their first podcast was a weekly program about the ABC hit show "Lost." Today, the Ravenscrafts have six other shows, including a program called "My Crazy Life," about real life issues such as managing money and relationships that is released Monday through Friday.
Another program is about the Christian church. The Ravenscrafts attend First Church of Christ in Burlington. One program is just about how to do podcasting. A recent addition to the Ravenscrafts lists of podcasts is one about the ABC medical drama "Grey's Anatomy."
The podcasts can be accessed at www.generallyspeakingpodcast.com and with an iPod through the iTunes Web site. Cincinnati television station WCPO, an ABC affiliate, has a link on their Web site to the Ravenscrafts' site.
Each of the "Lost" podcasts draws 8,000 to 12,000 downloads from people.
Stephanie said in the beginning of their podcasting she thought it was something to just appease her husband, an activity they could do together that Cliff was interested in.
"Today, I find much enjoyment out of it," she said.
Cliff said eventually their children will have their own show. On one particular episode of "My Crazy Life," son Matthew, 5, talked about a trip to the Newport Aquarium with his grandparents. The Ravenscrafts' other children are daughters Meagan, 7, and McKenna, 22 months.
The podcasts sound like programs you'd hear on professional radio stations with crisp sound. Cliff sells advertising for the beginning of the podcasts and he can talk about a company's product during a program too.
Cliff has plans to section off a portion of his basement into a studio. He does podcast consulting part time and would like to do it full time.
"It's kind of like radio on your terms," he said.
pmckibben@communitypress.com
283-0404, ext. 225
Source: Cincinatti.com
