SW 363 FBF - "Gamers with Jobs" with Shawn Andrich

Today's Flash Back Friday comes from Episode 55, originally published in July 2012. Shawn Andrich, host of Gamers with Jobs Podcast, began podcasting before iTunes existed, when podcasts were only MP3s available on websites. Jason Hartman and Shawn walk through the changes in podcasting and talk about the current format of the show. They discuss the conversation of the show, which has four hosts and covers a range of topics related to gaming and gamers. One of the techniques Shawn and his other hosts use is video in order to signal one another so as not to talk over one another, producing an almost edit-free podcast. Shawn also explains they use Google+, using Google Hangouts, something less often used by podcasters, and how each host records their own audio track, which is then spliced together by the audio technician. He feels it is the best audio quality when hosts are in different locations. Other topics Jason and Shawn cover includes advertising, going into detail about why advertisers don't like to advertise on podcasts, and donation drives that work very well to draw community support. They wrap up the interview with great advice on producing a successful podcast. Gamers With Jobs is the brainchild of Shawn Andrich and Sean Sands, both gamers who, oddly enough, didn't have "real" jobs when they launched the site years ago. It began as a news site with a forum, and evolved into what you see today: a safe haven for all the girls and guys who grew up with games and have families to feed and bills to pay. Seeing that news wasn't really getting the job done, Gamers With Jobs became the premier independent editorial site and community you see today. A cornerstone of the site, the Gamers With Jobs Conference Call prides itself on a professional-quality production that rivals that of many commercially produced podcasts. Featuring some of the very same writers from the front page, the podcast brings you smart, in-depth discussion about the latest games, issues and design quandaries of the day. We are also very fortunate to have regular guests like Ken Levine, Jeff Green, Shawn Elliott, Soren Johnson, John Carmack and others on the show. The host of the show, Shawn has been working on gaming websites for over a decade. Before the Conference Call, he was co-host on the GWJ Radio podcast and the short-lived Escapist Radio show. He plays games on every platform and in nearly every genre. His loathing for WoW and what it has done to otherwise interesting people is legendary. Website: www.GamersWithJobs.com www.Twitter.com/ShawnAndrich