A general update about the state of things in Indy-land.

Standard Podcast [ 19:46 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Talking about the vast changes in the publishing landscape, which seemed to have happened very quickly.  Talking about Dean Wesley Smith, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, and a new find for my regular reading, the blog of David Gaughran.  Specifically, I talk about a couple disturbing things I heard an author say, and a blog post David Gaughran wrote on the demise of Borders.  It’s a new Golden Age for writers.  Let’s not be left behind!

Dawn of the Golden Age [ 37:13 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

A big episode for you this time. It usually is after a big delay. Among the topics discussed:

- The Last Guardians
- Leaving Farpoint Media
- SOCOM 4

Promo: The Weird Show

In my main topic I’m talking about one of the newest buzzwords in online circles, and that’s “branding.” But I’m not talking about it like every other internet pundit out there. I mean, come on, do you come here for conventional opinions? I play a clip from Cliff Ravenscraft, host of The Podcast Answerman, answering a question regarding gaining exposure for a show covering multiple topics. You can see where it might apply to my show! I talk about how branding applies to what I’m doing, and what possible changes could come in the future.

Adventure #46: Branding in Podcasting and Writing [ 55:00 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Feel free to grab this and place it in your podcast, and I thank you in advance for your support.

This promo is a step forward in my podcasting career.  In April of this year I will celebrate 5 years of podcasting, and over those last 5 years I haven’t exactly been a picture of consistency.  Even with the title!  After experimenting with The As-Yet Untitled Podcast, 2007 saw the title of the show change to Things Are Looking Up.  This was an attempt to counter the cynicism I found rampant in podcasting at the time.  Eventually I decided to name it what I should have named it all along, and now you have The Adventures of Indiana Jim.

This is an imperfect title, and before 2011 is out you may see yet another rebranding of the show, or I may split it into two or three new ones.  I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about branding, and in the next episode I may elucidate more of my thoughts on this.  For now, I will be attempting to get more focused in the content and consistency.  Instead of interviews, I plan on having guests join me for the regular show format, such as it is.  We’ll talk about news from a geek perspective, sort of a catch-all for hot-button topics.

There will be topics that are near and dear to my heart, such as Star Wars fandom or podcasting or fiction.  There will be topics that my guests are more passionate about, and I will probably learn something.  These might be the latest tech, comics, role-playing gaming, etc.  I will still have interviews now and again, as well.

You’ll get repeat appearance from some of your favorite personalities in podcasting, and friends of mine you may not know.  Loyal listeners of mine will still get the same crazy stuff they’ve come to expect, and you’ll still get shows that are just me.  Like the next one will likely be.  Although I already have an idea of exactly who I want to join me.  Jim Ryan will still be a regular fixture as often as he can make it, and remains my A-number-one co-host.

Enjoy the promo, and the rich, booming voice of Dr. John Cmar.  Until our next episode….

Adventures of Indiana Jim 2011 Promo [ 1:25 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

UPDATE: Most files are now available, save for a few older shows and the Things Are Looking Up episodes.

Greetings, fellow adventurers.

On July 7th, 2007, I joined the Farpoint Media family of podcasts.  I had an ongoing relationship with many Farpoint Media podcasters, as well as company principals Michael R. Mennenga, Summer Brooks and Brian Brown.  I had become a fan of Farpoint Media through podcasts such as The DragonPage, Slice of SciFi and others.  Joining them was the logical next step in my podcasting career.  Being a part of Farpoint Media did not bring me any flow of cash, or noticeable boost in subscribers or downloads, but I did enjoy being a part of the club.  I don’t mind saying that all of the shows with Farpoint Media are high-quality, and produced by high-quality people, and I was proud to be associated with them.

That podcasting relationship will be coming to an end as of February 1st.  Unfortunately, I will be unable to sustain changes in their business model, so my podcasts will all be moving on.  This relationship is ending mutually and amicably, and we will all remain friends.

What this means in practical terms is that files will be unavailable for a brief period of time while I consider new hosting options.  I thank you in advance for your patience.

The subject of this discussion is neither sacred nor a cow.  So… take that for what it’s worth.  Feedback and then some ranting.

Promo: Heavy Metal Cowboy

Adventure #45 - Sacred Cows Fear Me [ 42:46 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Talking about all sorts of stuff.  More of “Top 3,” and various other hilarity.

Adventure #44 - Geek Cornucopia Part II [ 45:15 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

A Geek cornucopia!  Featuring the following topics:

Geek hypocrisy, guilty pleasure films, historical realism, The Star Wars Special Editions, The Lord of the Rings, Hot Fuzz, The Third Man, zither music… (yeah, I know, right?), Mark Knopfler’s Princess Bride score, bands, musicals and Muppets.

Adventure #43 - Geek Cornucopia Part I [ 48:22 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Jim and Jim discuss the state of RPG’s today.  Jim the second talks about some of his favorite games, while Jim the first pretends to know what Jim the second is talking about.  All this after Jim the first gives an update on books read, books written, and other junk.

Adventure #42 - The State of RPG's [ 35:01 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Jim Ryan (@otherdoc on Twitter) joins me, host of the podcasts The Great Debate and The Every World News.  And introducing a new segment, which is an old segment, stolen from a good friend who sort of left it hanging there waiting to be used….

Adventure #41 - Double the Jim, Twice the Fun! [ 45:00 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Wha? Yeah, I know.  Talking about the many creative projects forthcoming, a thoroughly uninteresting contest, and discussing exactly what the Star Wars Prequels accomplished.

Standard Podcast [ 37:45 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

A discussion with author David J. Williams about his Autumn Rain trilogy, featuring the titles The Mirrored Heavens, The Burning Skies and The Machinery of Light.

Standard Podcast [ 1:04:12 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

You will notice by the file name and hear in my intro this episode is dated March 31.  APRIL FOOLS!  Ha ha ha ha… er… yeah.  In this episode, Slice of Sci Fi Headlines and some helpful advice if you’re starting out a podcast or putting together a creative audio project.

Promo: Star Wars Marvels, Episode Two

Standard Podcast [ 46:01 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

A brief project update, feedback from Scott Roche and Dan Dan the Art Man, and the twenty-six promised minutes of outtakes from my interview with Tee Morris.

Promo: Two-Fisted Tales of Magic from Ted Wade

Standard Podcast [ 51:04 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

A special interview with Tee Morris, talking about his newest titles, All A-Twitter and Sam’s Teach Yourself Twitter in Ten Minutes.  53 minutes of discussion about the books and a lot of Social Media philosophy.  In Adventure #38, you’ll get 26 minutes of outtakes about other topics, specifically some of his reaction to Adventure #37, Paragons and Pariahs of the Free Model, so be sure to return for that!

Promo:  The Investigative Author

Standard Podcast [ 58:18 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is a monumental episode.  Jam packed with important discussion about the recent announcement from J.C. Hutchins, that he is quitting the podcast fiction game.  What does it all mean to us?  What do responses from people such as Matt Wallace suggest about our culpability in St. Martin’s Press dropping the 7th Son sequels?  Also, food for thought from Chuck Wendig about how a Podcast Novelist (or other creative person) can move forward from this.  Finally, examining Scott Sigler’s words about how to make it work.  After all, he’s the guy who did it.

Promo: Tuning In To Sci Fi TV

J.C. Hutchins’ Announcement: http://jchutchins.net/site/2010/02/24/an-update-on-the-7th-son-sequels-2010-and-my-creative-plans

Chuck Wendig: http://terribleminds.com/ramble/2010/02/26/writers-down-but-not-out

Matt Wallace: http://www.matt-wallace.com/07-2009/pages/blog/02-26-10.htm

Mark Dykeman: http://broadcasting-brain.com/2010/02/27/free-modelwriting-publishing-struggles-challenges

Mitch Joel interviews J.C.: http://www.twistimage.com/blog/archives/a-marketing-thriller

Standard Podcast [ 1:06:01 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Talking about Twitter:  are threaded conversations the next big thing? A review of HootSuite.  Don’t take the social out of my Social Media!  Also a voicemail from Chivalry Bean!

Promo: The Boom Effect

The Twouble With Twitters: http://current.com/items/89891774/twouble_with_twitters.htm

Standard Podcast [ 54:41 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

• Talking about the Amazon flap
• More info about my WARS novellas and the preorder promotion
• The history behind one man singlehandedly trying to ruin Decipher, Inc.
• Your feedback
• More Slice of Sci Fi ranting….

Amazon Fail link salad:  http://www.brandonsanderson.com/blog/865/Amazonfail-2010-Mythmaker-Interview-Updates

Grail Quest Books pre-order promotion:  http://grailquestbooks.com/main/special-features/gqb-pre-order-promotion/

Official press release regarding WARS novellas:  http://grailquestbooks.com/main/gqb-news/wars-battle-of-phobos-graphic-novella-series-coming-this-summer/

The story behind the embezzlement, complete with official court documents:  http://www.embezzlementfromdecipher.com/

Adventure #35 - PO-TA-TOES [ 54:55 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

All sorts of junk in this one.  Talking Chuck, Joss Whedon, Buffy, Twilight, the new Spider-Man reboot, even a little baseball in there for good measure.

Promo: Archangel by Scott Roche

Standard Podcast [ 31:44 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

First a small plea to help Tee Morris and his daughter Serena recover from their loss.

http://teeandserena.chipin.com

Discussion of various writing projects, including the WARS novella and The Last Guardians.

WARS short fiction: http://grailquestbooks.com/gqbblog/?page_id=48

Preorder WARS novellas: http://grailquestbooks.com/main/special-features/gqb-pre-order-promotion/

Talking about all the re-releases of podcast fiction

Voicemail from Scott Roche

Standard Podcast [ 51:44 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download