WPR Rebuttal Enters Second Year, Educates About New Topics

Many of you remember when WPR Rebuttal first launched on April 26, 2016. That pre-recorded "press announcement" podcast was followed by WPR Rebuttal's first live podcast on April 29, 2016.

Although the two-part, two-hours-long podcasts of the early days have given-way to briefer podcasts of between 10 and 25 minutes, WPR Rebuttal continues timely discussion of the sides of the story and unconventional perspectives left unexplored by other outlets.

Our focus continues to be regional news. This is reflected by the fact that this season's lineup will include episodes on Wisconsin farmers' reactions to Canadian dairy tariffs; the trade-off between restricting opioids and allowing adequate pain therapy; and an examination of not one, but several "economic impact" analyses that have been assumed "true," for lack of critical-thinking skills by those parroting those fabricated numbers.

Last but not least, WPR Rebuttal remains committed to sharing useful information that helps our audience avoid the school-to-work scams perpetuated by private and nonprofit universities alike. Don't trust a school just because it's financed -- and thereby tacitly endorsed -- by your state's Board of Regents.

They're no trustworthier than are the CEOs of big corporations; and the paucity of reliable jobs-placement data reflects their duplicity over what counts to the bottom-line-oriented student. This is why WPR Rebuttal exists: To push-back against the hegemonic narratives of those who own the media and the educational institutions!

Let's share another year together: Hear you soon on WPR Rebuttal! Call-in at (920) 477-3965 during our live shows.

Know Any Good Podcasting Platforms? Finding WPR Rebuttal a New Home...Or Not! (Staying at BTR)

[03-31-2017 Update:]

After trying to use Podbean, I learned it accepts only pre-recorded audio in each of its tiers. I created a test account; tried to launch a live episode; and found it wouldn't let me!

Furthermore, I ascertained that upgrading would -not- have resolved the issue, due to Podbean being an upload-only podcasting platform. "Upload-only?"

Yes, Podbean does -not- allow live podcasting... Not even with its "premium" service, which someone accustomed to BTR might have presumed -- well, hoped for -- to be a "standard feature" on other podcasting platforms.

To see it unavailable on the highest tier of (non-)service is a true sign of a non-starter platform! Non-existence of this feature, e.g. to -not- allow live broadcasting with the ability to receive live callers, is a non-negotiable issue.

Live versus pre-recorded content is a no-contest bout: Listener engagement is heightened during live shows! There's no substitute for the thrill of knowing you can participate in, and actively shape, the zeitgeist of a public broadcast.

By contrast, BlogTalkRadio allows this in -all- its tiers, even at the "freemium" level: BTR service differs from Podbean by recording a conference-line conversation (or monologue, if there are no callers other than the host) to create the podcast episode.

This makes it -much- easier to make a show, because there's no need to manually record one's audio offline; splice-in separate, pre-recorded "caller" conversations (that aren't live); compiling that audio into a single file; and then uploading that composite audio file to the Podbean servers!

Therefore, I'll continue using BTR as WPR Rebuttal's headquarters. Our call-in number remains (929) 477-3965! (Lines are open during the show.)

Be sure to read the previous article, in which WPR Rebuttal had announced a scheduling change; one that had motivated a search for a new platform, but remains in effect during the foreseeable future.

[/03-31-2017 Update]

BlogTalkRadio (BTR) began with two-hour shows, back when I was emulating the more famous podcasts. (One paragon of podcasting is Talk is Jericho, due to the rapport he has with guests from the realms of hard-rock and sports entertainment. Plus, he has sponsors!)

However, listener tastes -- and my own limited time -- mean WPR Rebuttal has been half-an-hour-or-under since the "free premium trial" expired, limiting the "freemium" tier of BTR to fewer than 30 minutes a show, and one show a day. This effectively cut the daily broadcast time from 2 hours to 30 minutes. And being available only once per week for a show, the braodcast-period reduction also meant I could be live only 30 minutes per week, tops!

Also, to upgrade into BlogTalkRadio's premium tier -- the price of which used to be $30 per month, but is presently undisclosed* due to a glitch in BTR's website (see below) -- would entail an investment into a service with which I'm not entirely satisfied.

Why reward mediocrity? Because the competitors aren't any better! (As we'll see.)

I therefore investigated other podcasting platforms, to determine whether any other podcasting platform would be a worthy successor to BlogTalkRadio. Unfortunately, that answer is a resounding "no."

A simple overview of sites I found by searching (Googling; Binging; etc.) the term "podcasting platform" uncovered no clear contenders, feature-wise.

I did find an heir-apparent in Podbean -- what with its monthly price of $9 buying "unlimited" audio streaming -- but found such time is -not- live, and therefore unsuitable for WPR Rebuttal. (I want to accept callers, not have a weekly monologue where no one can participate.)

Anyway, my ultimate decision has been to remain with BlogTalkRadio. (Don't consider this a "glowing endorsement," because I'm merely settling for the "least mediocre" of the bunch.)

Whenever a worthy contender arises, i.e. a "live" platform that allows 120 minutes of contiguous broadcasting minutes per show for under $10 a month, then let me know!

*Any who wonder about BTR's pricing tiers, need only get a gander at this screen-grab of the glitched-out BlogTalkRadio "premium offer" page -- which doesn't even show a price list! Or anything else, other than a repeated menu bar:

WPR Rebuttal Announces Micro-Podcast Format to Please Listeners

I'm always analyzing listener data to identify trends. While BlogTalkRadio is rather limited in what data it divulges, I've noticed WPR Rebuttal's listeners are most plentiful for its podcasts that are briefer than 20 minutes. Therefore, to appease -- no, placate -- nay, thrill and astound our listeners, I'm making the executive decision to shorten WPR Rebuttal podcasts from half-an-hour to under-20-minutes.

(It also happens to be more convenient for me, of course, in that such data-driven decision justifies my choice to remain on the "freemium" tier of BlogTalkRadio, as to lengthen my podcasts would require a paid producer's subscription.) In rare circumstances, such as a deluge of callers, a WPR Rebuttal podcast might potentially meet the half-hour mark. But going forward, my goal is to wrap-up before 20 minutes have elapsed.

This is the way of the future: To accommodate shorter attention spans (as one might have during a lunch break); and to facilitate a finer granulization of coverage per podcast (by there being less information to summarize in each podcast, which makes finding that information easier).

Finally, changes in my domestic and professional lives mean I can no longer have a guaranteed broadcast spot available. I'll still aim for a weekly podcast of around 20 minutes; but this might not always be within my established window of between 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Friday.

I simply do not have the predictable schedule that would allow me to podcast without interruption, especially now that my dad has been laid-off and is therefore around the house quite a lot. (I don't want to annoy him with my podcasting, if that part weren't clear.)

Danzig Set List for President-Elect Donald Trump's Inauguration

Late-breaking news: Rumored to perform at President Trump's inauguration on January 20 are the rockers Danzig.

It's within the realm of possibility for Danzig to play the Trump inauguration, considering his opposition to Trump's predecessor:

"Maybe one day I'll do a -real- horror album, about the Obama Administration." - Glenn Danzig

Without further ado, here's the tentative set list:

Danzig Set List for President-Elect Donald Trump's Inauguration

-Justifications for each song selection are demarcated with a dash.-

1. Let The Day Begin - An obvious beginning track, both literally for the concert and metaphorically for America.

2. In My Grip - A celebration of Trump -and- a Republican congressional majority.

3. Killer Wolf - A celebration of Trump's social prowess, as well as the possible ESA de-listing of the gray wolf.

4. Who Killed Hillary? - In the Electoral College, that is. A parody of "Who Killed Marilyn?" to mock Hillary Rodham-Clinton.

5. Naked Witch - Another anti-Hillary Rodham-Clinton song.

6. Cantspeak (sic; that is the official, stylized spelling of the track) - A mockery of anti-Trump protesters.

7. Night of the Living Dead - Mocks mental fog of shocked HRC supporters. Also, one of the few Misfits-era songs that can be performed on-air without lyrical censorship.

8. Spook City, U.S.A. - Refers to C.I.A. HQ in Quantico, VA. Another Misfits-era songs that can be performed on-air without lyrical censorship.

9. 7th House - Refers to the White House, which is at least the seventh residence for Trump. Also, reminds the audience that Danzig did an industrial album!

10. Belly of the Beast - A coming-to-grips with the responsibilities of being in the center ("the Belly") of domestic and global politics ("the Beast").

11. Unspeakable - A jab at the constant criticism, rumor-mongering, and yellow journalism of the "oppositional media."

12. Long Way Back from Hell - Describes the regulatory-reversal work to be done during the Trump presidency.

13. Mother - The hit that got Danzig "on the map" by forcing MTV to play some Danzig! Reminiscent of Trump's iconoclastic popularity.