► Tell us about you and your podcast
The podcast features stories from J. Arlene Culiner and Jill Culiner. We have titled the podcast "Life in a Small French Village".
► Why & how did you start this podcast?
I knew nothing about podcasts before I started mine. I was invited to give a talk about one of my books (Finding Home in the Footsteps of the Jewish Fusgeyers) and the organiser of the talk suggested that I start a podcast. He thought that people would enjoy my stories. I did once work broadcasting stories on Radio France, so it wasn't as if the idea was totally foreign to me. Then I bought a microphone, set up a home studio (I'm on the flight path to Orly airport so this was a tricky one), and started writing and talking about what I knew: Life in a Small French Village.
► How'd you find the time and funding to do this podcast?
I don't release episodes very frequently — only when I feel inspired, or when I remember a story. Writing each episode takes time, so does the editing. I also have the feeling that I want to go slowly: I'm enjoying doing the series Life in a Small French Village, and I don't want it to end. Of course, it will have to come to an end one day. Villages have changed so much in the last twenty years: there are few strange characters; people conform to the rules, now. When it does end, I'll come up with another series — perhaps travel stories. Of course, I receive no funding. I'm in this for the pure pleasure of telling stories.
► What do you gain from podcasting?
I do this for pure pleasure. I have no revenue from podcasting, but I do hope I entertain people.
► How does your podcasting process look like?
The writing of each episode takes around a day, although the research takes far more time. For the actual recording, I use a Samson Meteor microphone; I record and edit with Garageband; I use Audible for mastering.
► How do you market your show?
I use iTunes, Google, Facebook and Twitter to let people know that there's a new episode.
► What advice would you share with aspiring (new) podcasters?
The internet is the best source of information. I read everything I could. I think new podcasters have to perfect how their podcast sounds. For me, voices are important. When I hear particularly scratchy nasal voices, I tend to tune out.