Bob and I have started one of our occasional conversations about how we could develop our OS programming and what we might look at for a programme over the next twelve months.
We’re interested in feedback about the TGO Podcasts — this year’s will be available for download shortly.
It has become increasingly difficult to run the podcasts as we have. everyone knows who we are now and many people simply run a mile when they see us coming! In this year’s contributions you’ll find a series of longer interviews with people who were happy to talk to us on that basis. This includes people like Cameron MacNeish, Henry Shires, Phil Werner (US Hiker) and a number of newer and younger hikers and trekkers.
The things we’re wondering about are:
Should we be doing them at all? Are we just covering the same ground? Should we have a year off? Are these past their sell-by date?
Do our personal diary pieces work for you?
Should we seek to integrate the TGO contributions into other OS podcasts or should we stick we doing something that is specifically dedicated to the Challenge and to Scotland?
And — as ever — any other ideas for subject matter are welcome.
Increasingly these days outdoor celebs are more difficult to pin down. However, we know there are many of you planning new challenges or tackling new challenges. If this includes you then get in touch. we’d love to hear from you!
First can I say thanks for all the effort that goes in to them, I still find them entertaining and useful so keep them up
The general colour stuff is fun but personally I get good info out of the what worked & what didn’t type features and some of the hints and tips that you pick up on the way are little gems. Its the little stuff that people remember at the time that often gets lost by the time you produce something after the fact.
In addition I really liked the Cape Wrath series that Bob did, so more of that if possible.
Firstly, I think everyone really appreciates the efforts you, Bob and Shirley put into these. Especially Bob for the editing.
I think last year’s podcasts were outstanding in every way and I look forward to this year’s ones.
It seems to me there are three elements: the personal diary, interviews with other challengers, gear talk. Instead of a complicated interleaving of these three elements, why not have discreet podcasts on each.
It would probably make the editing easier and they could be released over a longer time span.
I like all the elements. The personal diary makes me feel part of the walk and I’m interested in your feelings and reactions. The interviews are generally informative and give some space more more in depth discussion. The gear pieces are also worthwhile.
I would also like to hear some podcasts on other trip/treks and some on what it’s like in other countries. For instance some interviews with the lightpacker bloggers in Scandinavia, particulalry on whether there is much diffence in trekking in Scandianvia to Britain.
First in line with the two others: Marvelous and time consuming job done from everyone making these podacasts possible. Thanks a lot!
My 2 cents on the questions asked:
- I would keep the topic in a seperate series as it is a special event and don’t mix it with other podcasts
- I would keep the personal diary part. It is interesting to listen to someones individual up’s and down’s and experiences through such a hike
- I would skip the other “on the fly” interviews with other challengers. For me personally there is a recurring set of topics (walked from A to B, weather conditions, was tough/not tough so far, like/dislike the social side of it)
- Instead of the “on the fly” interviews I would suggest:
- (Pre)Record interviews with interesting people like:
. First time challengers before and after the hike vs. “Veteran”
. Youngest/oldest hiker and their experiences
. Hikers from abroad
. Lighweight vs. traditional load hikers
. Solo vs. couple vs. groups
. Interviews with people who give accomodation/live in the area on a permanent basis telling who life works during the challenge and in the rest of the year
. A special podcast dedicated to gear planning and experiences with it afterwards
. Typical routes to take for a beginner/expert and their pro’s and con’s
. etc.
Thinking hugely outside of the box you could approach companies like Mino or Olympus if they would lend/sponsor equipment for you which you could hand out for free to volunteers (and they need to return) and you they back with a caleidoscope of recording on video and MP3. It would not tell a story anymore like today but could give a totally different perspective(s) instead.
Andy – personally I get a real kick out of the TGO podcasts and I wait eagerly for them each year. So my vote would be to keep them going – the format works for me too.
The other podcasts I really enjoy are the planning podcasts. Bob’s done some with Shirl in the past on the Pennine Way and GR20 and Mick and Gayle on their long walks – these are great, especially for people planning similar walks. Other’s that I’d like to see are UK Long distance paths, Kili, Inca Trail, the long US trails, some of the European E routes (John Hayes over at E4 Longdistance walk) would be a great interview for example…. you get the idea.
I love to hear about the planning and research that’s gone into a walk almost as much as the post-walk interviews – what worked, what didn’t did you plan enough? etc.
You both do a fantastic job though and I’d not want things to change too much – if it ain’t broke…
Can I just echo the above comments – thanks to all of you for the effort you put in to recording, interviewing, editing and carrying the kit all the way across.
I look forward to this series every year and enjoy them more with each new edition. I would definitely vote for keeping them as a separate series, they record and relate a very special event.
I personally enjoy the audio diaries and the gear chats most of all, I am less interested in the interviews with others on the trail.
I would be very interested, if it is feasible, to hear segments given over to particular items – say Akto vs Laser Comp or some such. These would come straight from the users in a pretty demanding comparative test so would give me a lot of the answers for questions I might have about their relative merits. Maybe a programme about sleeping systems or cooking systems which people find suit them best.
As in the previous comment, I look forward to these too much to want to see themm change too much. Thanks and please keep them coming.
I think the TGO shows have to stay as a separate series and not become parts within other OS podcasts.
I did find last year’s series a bit ‘crowded’ with Bob, Shirley and you having material to go into the podcasts.
I like the interviews with people along the way and their little pieces and insight into the challenge.
I like to hear about gear but only if it is new or innovative; I can’t wait for the Henry Shires interview, after chatting with him on this year’s crossing.
I think maybe a year off; would be good for you guys (& gal) it would allow you just to worry about the crossing and nothing else.
I not sure I would be interested in a item Vs item segment within the podcasts as I can see it being 1. a fanboy’s segment and 2. I think there is enough of this already out in the ether.
Andy.
Firstly you may have not got me and Helen wild camping without the podcasts. We may even still be carrying heavy gear around the trails. Over the years the podcasts have found us gear that we may have not found in and around Manchester. You found us good websites to look at.
The TGo podcasts I like as they have good info on them. For us it found new areas in Scotland to go to and it helped us in our first wild camps in Scotland. I did found the 2009 series not as good at the other years. Not sure it was because there was 3 of you doing it and it seem to be jumping about a bit.
Your little one night outings are good and agin it goes into the new gear that you taking.
So over the years we have picked up a lot of things on the food, routes, gear and the best of all the enjoyment.
As I mostly listen to the podcast on cd in the car as I whiz up and down motorways. I may play a few time sin the day and surprise what you miss the first time.
So where can you go from here?
‘Bobs Epic Coastal Fishing Walk’
Maybe look at DofE. As I started being a volunteer in Manchester. You be surprise what the young people take out with them. Even on a one nighter camp. Very large heavy duty tourch, 9 bottles of engery drink.
Look at going back how to start light weight backpacking.
look at what other bloggers are doing. Or even look at what TGO people do after the Challenge in other walks. Go back a talk to the over seas ones and see what routes they walk in their country.
Now got to pack the rucksack for the weekend>
Colin
Colin,
Bob’s Epic Coastal Fishing Walk?
Can’t wait !!!
Andy,
The TGO Podcasts are what got me interested in doing the TGO Challenge in the first place. A lot of the gear I bought earlier on was from things yourself & Bob recommended. Although some have been strange suggestions when I’ve thought about it afterwards.
I can understand why people may not of been so keen on the 2009 podcasts with there being 3 people. I still really enjoyed it, Shirl really is nuts. Wondered if it would work better if each persons was a seperate podcast. So you heard their entire journey.
The highlights for me have always been the gear talk, hearing what was taken and what worked. Most of us can happily talk gear for hours.
Besides for the TGO specific podcasts which I do think should be seperate. I have also enjoyed the interviews with people setting off on jouyneys, the planning, gear etc. Then when they return what happened.
Others have suggested catching up with people from the TGO and finding out what other trips they get up to. The trips with yourself and Bob overnight are also entertaining.
Basically keep up the excellent work, I know how much hard work and hassle it is for both of you. Thanks to both of you for getting me interested in the TGO Challenge in the first place
I think the TGOC podcasts work particularly well (as, to a lesser extent, do the other podcasts recorded outdoors). The podcasts capture the event in a way the written word can’t, but the reverse is also true.
My comments:
i)…. Like the event, there’s something special about the scale of the podcasts, big, but not going on for ever.
ii)… I think one of the most memorable moments in all the Challenge podcasts was when Bob said “Oh, I’ve just put my foot in a bog”, and of course, countless other trivial happenings. You just can’t pull that off with the written word and yet they add so much to the reality of the listening experience. (Having said that, I’m sure some of those birds I can hear in the background don’t live in Scotland
)
iii).. Interviews add a bit of depth (if only a change of voice) even if the poor sucker has temporarily lost his brain cells (blush). Interviews with Challengers are okay if the poor sap has got anything to say (can’t you use your editing magic to make us sound intelligent?), but I’ve enjoyed the interviews with the locals enormously. In fact my chats with the locals have been an enormous unexpected bonus on the Challenge.
iv)…. I’ve written this as list because words are good at that. You can easily skip back up to see what item ii) was, or even, in the blink of an eye, look back up to see what the previous commentator said in his third paragraph. Podcasts aren’t good at that – you can’t easily go to the place in the podcast where Bob puts his foot in a bog. But I don’t think this is a disadbvantage, I think the narrative aspect of the podcasts works really well. On the other hand, the kit discussion doesn’t work as well for me, although again, it does help break the podcast up. Maybe it’d be good to do do several short kit comments – cooking gea one day, sleeping gear another day – rather than tackling it all at once.
I also think the narrative aspect would work better if there were a separate series of podcasts for each narrator – Shirl, Bob and Andy. At present the sense of journey is broken up by leaping about all over Scotland as we swap narrators.
I think the TGOC podcasts are one of the best things I’ve ever found on the www and I can’t wait to hear the latest instalments.
John
I would agree with John’s last sentence – the TGO recordings are great. One of the most enjoyable things to be found on the Web.
I can’t offer many suggestions, if I had to make one, maybe less interviews. Or maybe more ‘planned’ ones as a few posters have suggested.
Finally, just some encouragement to please continue. They are really very good indeed
I’m going to listen to one right now.
Cheers
Rich