Can you believe it's been 25 episodes since August? I've recorded almost eleven hours worth of podcast history and I have no intention of slowing down. It's been so much fun making the show and finding my voice in it. Maybe one day I'll go back and rerecord some of the earlier episodes, but I might just leave them there as a reminder of what it used to be. We still have fun, right? Just with a lot fewer sound effects...
Ok, so every now and then I check the iTunes comments just to see what people are saying about the show. If you don't like it, well I can't really help you on that! But a concern/criticism I tend to see a lot of, is that the show is fixated on the near east, and yes, if you just look at the playlist so far, this podcast has only covered that area of history. Except you've got to trust in my vision for the show! In the first episode I outlined how I plan on taking things - a linear story of mankind's history. We start at the beginning and work our way to modern times. Along the way we will get to every major chunk of human history and hopefully many detours as well. That's the goal! But consider the difference and limitations between a history book and a history podcast. With a book the author has the freedom to move around from topic to topic and still keep it all very organized. The superb author Susan Wise Bauer does this, and she's fantastic at it! For a purely audio learning experience, however, it can become very disorienting spending one episode in Persia, and the next in Mexico, and the next in Britain...all those names to remember...all those dates...oh god I'm having flashbacks to my history courses now...
My point is that this podcast is supposed to be a history podcast for those who didn't like history, or found it too confusing. That's not to say I'm skimping on the educational content here, but I believe the story is best accomplished by sticking to one subject at a time. I know some of my listeners might be frustrated with the pace or the topic we're covering but I do believe this is the best way to do it.
.......alright, if this will help a bit, and I don't want to reveal much more than this BUT here is the shortened near term plan of the show. Just to show all my doubters out there that there is a plan!
Persia ---> Greece ---> Wars ---> Greece x2 ---> Macedonia ---> India ---> Diadochi ---> and I was thinking of starting Rome at that point but I'm now leaning towards China.
And for the future!
*** Mesoamerica will be covered when the Old World makes contact (better for flow)
*** Subsaharan Africa will be touched on probably closer to the Middle Ages...likewise I'll be covering the Kingdom of Axum and Ethiopian history too!
*** I'm trying to see about including some Korean history!
I hope this helps clear up some things! Thank you to all my supporters and listeners for sharing this podcast with the world! You have all helped make this bigger than I ever expected, and I am so sincerely grateful for your help. If you ever have a question about the show or want to talk history, I can always be reached on my email address. I may not be able to get to you right away but I promise - I will respond!
Hello and congratulations. I recently found your show and love it. Good job.
ReplyDeleteI have a question. When you cover China and possibly Korea will you cover Japan. I have always enjoyed Japanese history and would love to see your take on it. I have learned a lot about history from your show and hae always thought of myself as a history nut. Good luck.
Thanks for dropping by! You have my promise that Japan will be covered in all its glorious and awesome history. The only reason I specifically mention Korea is that the country doesn't get its fair share in the history limelight and I'd like to change that! But Japan is definitely on the schedule...I'm just not 100% sure when it'll come up!
DeleteI'm glad you found the show and that you're enjoying it too. It's only going to get better from here!
When you cover the far east, will it be all the way to the end of the middle ages or will you go back to their middle age after the decline of Rome?
ReplyDeleteThe initial plan right now is either to stop at the end of the Qin or Han Dynasty and possibly take a detour through Korea. If I stop at the Qin, then at that point I might bring Rome up to speed before continuing more with China. But I'm still working on the details!
DeleteIt's still a whiles away but after the fall of Rome I might focus on the German successor states before either doing Japan or Arabia...again not totally sure yet...but rest assured no country's history will be forgotten!
I have always been fascinated by history. Some areas more than others but all of it holds a special place for me. I also recently discovered the show & want to thank you as well. This is the history class I wish I could have had.
ReplyDeleteYou're too kind Jeannie! Hopefully I'll get to your favorite history soon enough!
DeleteActually you already did my most favorite with Egypt...still catching up right now. Can't wait for Rome & Greece!
DeleteLove, love, love what you are doing!! Love it so much, I made a small donation to show my support, and I encourage others to do the same. I am looking forward to seeing -- er, hearing -- your vision come to fruition. I hope you have the stamina! I promise, if you keep podcasting, I'll keep listening.
ReplyDeleteThank you!! (I sent you an email!) Seriously, it means a tremendous amount. I increased the mp3 encoding rate of the show a few episodes back, and while it sounds better, it takes up more space on my host server and that means bigger monthly bills. So any help is greatly appreciated!
DeleteI've got the drive to do this, but it means a lot more knowing that there are super awesome people like you out there that support me. So glad you're on board, and I promise to keep going with this!
Hello, Rob! I too would find more spatial diversity interesting. And because of the podcast History of Rome I see no need to get to deep into that part of the world. More focus at Asia & Africa during the roman era would be neat.
ReplyDeleteHi! Completely agree with you. Why reinvent the wheel you know? Rome has been talked about to death, and as much as I love Rome, I'm already sensing our time with it will be surprisingly short and will take into account the other players as much as possible. The Mithridates', the Jugurtha's, the Shapur's, to really distinguish myself from Duncan's masterpiece.
DeleteAnd yeah to that end, I will probably catch up with China before we move onto Rome :)
Hi Rob! Really enjoying the podcasts and totally understand how hard it is to judge a number of different historical progressions at one time. Think you are doing a top job and friday is definitely a highlight of the week with a new episode released (although monday would be much better to provide entertainment on the train to university ;)) Keep up the great work. From Richard (Sydney, Australia)
ReplyDeleteHey Richard! Thanks for the support, yeah I look down the line and think about how to keep things organized while every continent has stories the need to be told...but that's then!
DeleteYou know, the thing with the release schedule is that I never intentionally set an official date, like "New Episodes every Thursday!" because knowing me, I'd miss it, and knowing the internet, they'd tear me apart. So I kinda, sorta, release them when I can? But never more than two weeks apart. Monday would actually be a far better day for releases, so I'll see what I can do :)
Oh except ep28 is definitely not coming out on Monday. Hopefully later next week! But not Monday. See what I mean about keeping scheduling promises? I'm a monster!