As we close out 2023, one caller has me wondering just what the Ericast is all about. Wondering what I'm wondering? Here's your show.
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Everyone: Call 701-645-ERIC (701-645-3742) and comment!
This entire episode and a miniature existential crisis is courtesy of Listener Abby. I'm not including Abby's call itself because she was on a walk at the time she called 701-645-3742 so she seems a lot more enthused or invigorated by the topic than most people should, but let me summarize: "Your intro and outro music does not reflect the whimsy that is you."
Abby is a coworker of mine and has known me for six months... and, she's absolutely right. So, today is the world-premiere of the new Ericast intro music. Ready?
"From Ericast.com! Ready for your Weekly Whimsy? It's Eric Larson's Wacky Wonderings! Welcome... to the Ericast!" (Featuring "If I Had A Chicken" by Kevin MacLeod)
No? Really? That doesn't work for you?
(It would've been even more exciting had I used something from the old Dimension music library!)
19 years ago when I was trying to get my mind around this "podcasting" concept of subscription audio... I was wrapping up my master's degree, I had a one-year-old at home, and I had just made a career pivot that ended up being a great opportunity but one that I wasn't always in the driver's seat for.
So, "whimsy" wasn't something I would embrace as an identity.
It's not that it's new. It's not that I've changed. I think I'm just comfortable enough with that side of myself to let it show, or maybe even lead with it rather than hide it... but all the other aspects of my personality -- the geek-tech driving industrial side -- are still in here.
Plus, I love history and having audio branding that's now 20 years out of date is kinda cool.
I could be convinced... but I don't think the Ericast is going to change its sound. At least not anytime soon.