podcast

After having created a few different podcasts on different Drupal sites for different purposes, using a variety of methods, I can speak with a little authority on which methods are the best, easiest, etc. There is an Audio module, and an iTunes module, which help with more advanced podcasting needs... but most people just want a podcast which will allow visitors to either listen while on the website, or to be able to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes or another media player.

If your needs are relatively simple, it's quite easy to get a podcast up and running on your Drupal website:

Step 1 - Make a Podcast-ready Content Type

In one of your content types, add a filefield that allows the uploading of MP3 and/or M4A files, and create a podcast episode or two. Make sure you set the filefield's display to 'Generic Files' for the RSS display settings (at admin/content/node-type/[your-node-type]/display/rss).

(You can also use something like SWF Tools to display a player for the file for regular ("Basic") node views—so people can play the audio file without having to open your feed in iTunes. Otherwise files will just display as links to the downloadable file).

Step 2 - Make a View with a Page and Feed Display

Now, create a view, and in that view, create a list of all your podcast nodes (nodes that have the MP3/M4A files attached) on a Page display, then create a Feed display that shows a few episodes, and attach that Feed display to the Page display.

Step 3 - Avoid a Hassle by Burning Your Feed

Many would recommend trying to get the feed working properly with iTunes by using the aforementioned iTunes module or some other hackery, but there's a much easier option: FeedBurner. You need to set up an account with FeedBurner. Then use FeedBurner to 'burn' one of your feeds—be sure to check the 'I am a podcaster!' checkbox. Fill out all the relevant details, and then look at what your FeedBurner URL is (mine, for example, is http://feeds.feedburner.com/reviewcast-podcast - this is for the ReviewCast).

Install the FeedBurner module on your Drupal site, and then go to its settings page. Click the 'Burn feed' tab to add your new feed - you'll need to know the path to the Feed display that you configured in your View earlier, and the FeedBurner URL (just use the part that's bolded above).

Step 4 - Profit?

Now, clear all your caches (in case the feed you had in your views was cached already), and you should have a podcast page which not only allows site visitors to play files directly, but also offers iTunes (or other service) subscriptions. You can submit your FeedBurner URL to iTunes' Podcast directory if you'd like to be included.

Nice!

Seen recently in The Catholic Spirit, a publication from the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis:

"To their parishioners, they are known simply as “Father Jay” and “Father Bill.” But to many others, Father Jay Finelli and Father Bill Kessler are “iPadre” and the “Tech­nopriest.”

The two diocesan priests are among a growing number of Catholic clergy using podcasting and other new media to spread the message of the church...

...Father Kessler believes that podcasting and other new media technology can serve as a powerful tool for evangelization. Because of new media, “folks who otherwise wouldn’t hear the Gospel will maybe hear the Gospel; folks who don’t step into our churches at all may hear something that affects them,” he said. [Continue Reading: Priests Find Great Potential in Use of New Media – The Catholic Spirit].

Do you know of any clergy taking on the social web with such panache, and using social means to supplement their other evangelical tools? (Besides Fr. Vonhögen, of course—he has a monopoly on the field with SQPN ;-).

One idea that we've been thinking of implementing is the ability for any of our users to set up his own podcast. It's not that hard to enable (basically, they can post 'episodes' of their podcasts as normal blog posts—just attach an MP3, and it will be put into the individual user's blog feed.

However, I have two concerns about this: 1. My hosting costs - it would be ideal if I had a plain old media server where the file uploads went to; right now, I only have one hosting account, and if some peoples' podcasts get quite popular, my web ecosystem would go down; LOLSaints, Midwestern Mac, and other websites would go down. Does anyone have some online storage space they'd be willing to share, or have any other ideas for ways to implement this?

The other concern is that of moderation; I wouldn't want someone making anti-Catholic or dubious podcasts. Before I can implement this feature, I'd want to have some of the community aspects of this website to be filled in...