Who is that Pods & Blogs ident superhero ? Sarge ? No. Rosemary, the telephone operator ? No. Penry, the mild-mannered janitor ? Could be – but it’s not. It’s me getting a little bit of national radio exposure (well, on the podcast of the show) for Three From Leith and hopefully also for the music of Larry Guild (who’s already on a roll with the Beeb – playing on a special show to celebrate their move to their new Pacific Quay HQ).

They’re looking for other bloggers and podcaster to do likewise, so check out their site for details and get your mics and recording software ready !

Here’s the show details:

Blog http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/podsandblogs
Podcast http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/podcasts/pods

if you wanted to go and check it out. I’ve subscribed now as I didn’t know about it before and it’s a typically excellent BBC programme bringing you the best stories around podcasting and blogging from across the world. It’s a great addition to my iRiver.

Due to a series of unexpected events, my normal recording time for the show has come and gone this week without me being around or able to put anything together. Huge apologies – hopefully things will have settled down by the end of next week so I can get a show together.

So that you don’t feel too abandoned, I will probably put up a golden-oldie TFL show or, if I get a spare hour, I may quickly record a brief intro to three songs by a specific artist and put that up so you have something original.

Please bear with me – I have some great new music all piling up and ready to play and I aim to get the ball rolling again next week, unforeseen circumstances permitting. (Note to self – build up a small set of reserve shows for situations such as this in future !!)

I just finished watching the latest episode of Heroes that I recorded on BBC Three last night. Afterwards, there was a promo trailer for some BBC Three shows, accompanied by some very familiar music… “You ! Me! Dancing!” by Los Campesinos, as featured on Show 99.

“Three”, as their old ad used to sing, “is a magic number”.

I just read the sad news that Mark Hunter is ending the tartanpodcast and his Mellow Monday Show. Though it’s been obvious for a while that Mark’s heart wasn’t really in it any more and that he was no longer getting any creative fulfillment from his music podcasting, it still comes as a great shock.

The tartanpodcast was the very first podcast I ever subscribed to, and indeed was the reason I started podcasting myself. Mark provided invaluable help to me when I got started, and has always been there as a friend.

Here’s wishing him well and every success in his ongoing work as a Producer for tartanmedia productions and Talking Voices.  All the best Mark !

I’ve just found out from my good friend Rob (Top Of The Pods) that he suggested Three From Leith as a show for reviewing in Podshow’s Podfinder UK video podcast. Rob works for them you see, so its good to have friends in the right places 😉

I’m on right at the end; click on the icon below to load it up !

Tech site Digg.com is now listing Podcasts.

Warm the jaded cockles of an old man’s heart this Christmas and go and Digg Three From Leith. I’d be chuffed to bits if you did !

Thank you all and a very Merry Christmas !

Who says lyrics can’t be literature ?

A BAND from Edinburgh has seen one of their songs taught alongside Shakespeare and the poets of the First World War to help pupils improve their English.

The Dead Beat Club, a Capital-based band formed just over a year ago, have been approached by a school in England and asked if the lyrics to their song, Circa 1985, can be used as part of their GCSE course work.

Well done to Andy and the boys and girls – a very cultured bunch indeed now ! Read the full story on the Edinburgh Evening News website.

Technorati Tags: The Dead Beat Club, Edinburgh Evening News

Just when you begin to believe that podcasting is taking off, along comes a story like this (albeit based on research in the US) to bring you back down to earth.

Even more of a shock was the online poll that the BBC conducted:

It’s a sobering response and indicates just how much more we podcasters have to do to convince the public that our podcasts are worth downloading and listening to. Let’s get to it !

Podcast User Magazine issue eight is available now. In this issue we look at:

The Podcast & Portable Media Expo in California, which we are pleased to be attending, why not drop by (booth 622) and say hello. Other features include :

* Podcast Roulette.
* News & views.
* Global Voices of India
* Oomi (find out yourself!)
* What Microphone
* Another Podcast
* Roger Smalls
* Music beds

Be sure to subscribe to the feed to receive each issue as it is released !

Just a quick post to put the current issue of PodcastUser Magazine in the feed so you’ll get it automatically in your podcatcher ! If you haven’t tried reading it yet, please do – there’s something in it for the podcaster and for the listener so that everyone can enjoy it !

Not only that, but you can marvel at the writing talents of your favourite podcasters 😉

Go on – you know it makes sense !