Back in 2004, one of the biggest hurdles for podcasting was distribution.
There were only a few podcast directories available online, and only a few hosting services able to accommodate syndicated audio files. Interested listeners and potential podcasters had to wade though pages of Google Search results before finding anything remotely related to podcasting. Then they had to download a podcatcher in order to receive newly released podcasts. Apple’s iTunes Music Store didn’t start offering podcasts until June 28, 2005.
Looking back at the earliest “how to podcast” guides, you get a sense of how very new, complex and intimidating the process of creating a podcast could be.
At that point in time, there were only two real way to find new podcasts:
- Through word of mouth
- By hearing one podcaster mention another podcast on their show
In May, 2005, Tod Maffin launched a website dedicated to Canadian podcasts. It was appropriately addressed: www.CanadaPodcasts.ca, and it soon became the destination for people listening to and producing podcasts in Canada.
Maffin sets the scene:
CanadaPodcasts.ca is still the primary directory of Canadian podcasts available on the web.
Maffin maintained the directory until July 18th, 2006, when he passed it on to Bob Goyetche of the ROGIC Podcast Conglomerate.
⇒ NEXT: “4. Connecting the Dots” → Inspiration, Perspiration and Proliferation
