VIJoe

I completely agree. I went and got Dawes' album after hearing the show but it doesn't compare to the I4H version. Incredible job on this production. I just sort of keep this episode hanging back in my queue so I can listen to these songs (especially the first two). I'd be scared to learn how many times I've actually listened to these two songs (and the 'mountain town' sketch). Big quality.

Great job to all involved in this unique experiment. I am going to miss seeing the Earwolf Challenge episodes show up in iTunes. Looking back on the show, I have a couple of thoughts that I hope will be considered as constructive criticism. I think most of my criticism concerns structural elements of the show. I like the concept. I enjoyed the execution -- especially Matt. Here are the little things that I think might be improved: *Judges: I like the rotating judges. I might prefer that Matt hold a more traditional moderator role and not actively be a Judge but it's a minor preference. My biggest complain re the judges is that I feel that the podcasters being judged don't know the judges. I, for one, am a podcast fan and I am fans of every one of the judges that participated. However, I feel that only a couple times (Brett Ham w/Matt Gourley comes to mind) did the podcaster specifically address a judge. A lot of times Matt would just say, 'Mark and Jesse' are here with me instead of saying WTF's Mark Maron and Jesse Thorn from Jordan Jesse Go. I realize this might be repetitive to the listener -- maybe the podcasters could be notified ahead of time via email or whatever (for all I know, actually, they already are -- it just doesn't seem like it.) *Rules and Criteria: I know there was some discussion along the way about the fact that Matt had to do the coaching session with each podcast and that they we're always consistent. I have a suggestion regarding this. How about Matt pre-record a coaching general session. That coaching session, which Earwolf Challenge listeners hear as part of the show, has already been made available to the various podcasts. That way the conversation could be more focused with each of the shows since he has already gotten the basics out of the way. *Submission Intros: Don't like em. This information might properly be used in the 'defense' portion if somebody ends up in the bottom three. I say jump right into the submission. If somebody ends up in the bottom three, then we get some discussion on what they were trying to do and where they were trying to go with it. *Interaction: One of the things that separates this from a TV reality show is the lack of direct conflict between competitors. This is an unformed idea -- but how about some type of challenge which requires the podcasts to be pitted against one another or somehow challenge one another. Just a thought. Hopefully the Challenge comes back for Season 2. Congrats to Totally Laime.

Great job to all involved in this unique experiment. I am going to miss seeing the Earwolf Challenge episodes show up in iTunes. Looking back on the show, I have a couple of thoughts that I hope will be considered as constructive criticism. I think most of my criticism concerns structural elements of the show. I like the concept. I enjoyed the execution -- especially Matt. Here are the little things that I think might be improved: *Judges: I like the rotating judges. I might prefer that Matt hold a more traditional moderator role and not actively be a Judge but it's a minor preference. My biggest complain re the judges is that I feel that the podcasters being judged don't know the judges. I, for one, am a podcast fan and I am fans of every one of the judges that participated. However, I feel that only a couple times (Brett Ham w/Matt Gourley comes to mind) did the podcaster specifically address a judge. A lot of times Matt would just say, 'Mark and Jesse' are here with me instead of saying WTF's Mark Maron and Jesse Thorn from Jordan Jesse Go. I realize this might be repetitive to the listener -- maybe the podcasters could be notified ahead of time via email or whatever (for all I know, actually, they already are -- it just doesn't seem like it.) *Rules and Criteria: I know there was some discussion along the way about the fact that Matt had to do the coaching session with each podcast and that they we're always consistent. I have a suggestion regarding this. How about Matt pre-record a coaching general session. That coaching session, which Earwolf Challenge listeners hear as part of the show, has already been made available to the various podcasts. That way the conversation could be more focused with each of the shows since he has already gotten the basics out of the way. *Submission Intros: Don't like em. This information might properly be used in the 'defense' portion if somebody ends up in the bottom three. I say jump right into the submission. If somebody ends up in the bottom three, then we get some discussion on what they were trying to do and where they were trying to go with it. *Interaction: One of the things that separates this from a TV reality show is the lack of direct conflict between competitors. This is an unformed idea -- but how about some type of challenge which requires the podcasts to be pitted against one another or somehow challenge one another. Just a thought. Hopefully the Challenge comes back for Season 2. Congrats to Totally Laime.

tannerhat hit it on the head, at least as far as I'm concerned. Howard's ad-libbed questioning -- and the reactions of Kulap and the guests to those questions -- are priceless. I thought the show wouldn't be able to last, frankly, because I didn't see there being enough turnover to make a weekly review of the music and movie charts appreciable. Howard and Kulap do a good job mixing up the charts so I don't have to listen to the same songs every week, etc. Right now, the show is in immediate-listen status for me.

Like you have expressed on the Wolf Den, I think the best revenue path at the beginning might be a multi-headed approach. One additional tool toward that end that you might consider is the Premium SMS (PSMS) donation service. For example: "Text EARWOLF on your mobile phone to 77033 to donate to $10 to the Earwolf Studio Fund.") I know that the Red Cross had huge numbers via PSMS after the Haiti earthquake. I know that This American Life's Ira Glass talk about PSMS as a very effective fundraising tool for their podcast/radio show. There is some administrative cost involved but given that Earwolf's base is very comfortable with this type of technology, it just might be a good fit. See http://mobileactive.org/american-life-joins-mobile-giving-revolution Taking a slightly Pardo-ish approach, what about one longer weekly free offering from Earwolf. This one show would combine 5-10 mins of highlight from each show. Premium subscribers would have access to all offerings - full length. I will also share one effective donation approach (it has worked on me at least). Dan Carlin of the Common Sense and Hardcore History podcasts takes a minute or two each show to drop in a request for listeners to donate "a buck a show." I think setting an amount (even while making it clear that any donation is accepted and appreciated) helps to accentuate just how valuable this content really is.