Tag: podcasting

7 Lessons Podcasters Can Learn From “Weird Al” Yankovic

For more than four decades, “Weird Al” Yankovic has remained one of the most recognizable and respected creators in entertainment. While many artists have come and gone, Al has continued to find new audiences, adapt to changing technologies, and build a career defined by creativity, professionalism, and longevity. In this…

That Podcaster IS NOT Your Friend

In this episode, we discuss the psychology of podcasting and why the format can feel especially personal and intimate. We explore parasocial relationships, how repeated listening and familiar voices can make creators feel like part of a listener’s social world, and how the microphone can shape what we emphasize and…

Main Character Syndrome

In this episode of Randy Unscripted, Randy explores the growing cultural phenomenon known as “Main Character Syndrome” — the mindset that life revolves around us and everyone else exists as supporting characters in our personal story. From social media and performance culture to identity, validation, anxiety, and loneliness, this episode…

We’re Not as Broken as We Think—But We’re Looking in the Wrong Place

In this episode of Randy Unscripted, Randy reflects on a powerful 60 Minutes segment featuring Scott Pelley interviewing former university president and senator Ben Sasse about community, relationships, and the growing isolation present in modern culture. The discussion centers on a terminally ill professor’s perspective on what ultimately matters in…

Education Spending vs Student Performance: What the Data Shows

In this episode of Randy Unscripted, Randy examines public education funding in West Virginia and asks whether the state is seeing meaningful academic results from its educational spending. Using publicly available statistics and national assessment data, he compares West Virginia’s per-student spending against national averages while also looking at student…

Remarkable?

In this episode of Randy Unscripted, Randy reflects on the meaning of the word “remarkable” and why it has been occupying his thoughts lately. Inspired by comments from podcasting educator Dave Jackson about creating remarkable content, Randy examines how the word is often automatically associated with praise and success even…

The Minnesota ICE Shooting: What the Law and the Video Show

In this episode of Randy Unscripted, we examine the fatal shooting of a woman in Minnesota by a federal ICE officer. Many discussions around this incident have focused on emotion, politics, or selective interpretations of video footage. Here, we cut through the noise and analyze what Minnesota law actually says…

Still Showing Up – NaPodPoMo 2025 #30

Reflection and Challenges Randy Black reflects on the month of NAPODPOMO 2025, highlighting how the journey tested his discipline and creativity. The month was particularly challenging due to a personal loss when his father-in-law passed away on day 24. Despite this setback, Randy realized that the routine and focus cultivated…

Committed to the Process – NaPodPoMo 2025 #29

Reflection on NaPodPoMo 2025 Experience: Randy Black reflects on the challenges and lessons learned from completing 30 podcast episodes in 30 days. Initially expecting the endeavor to be incredibly difficult, Randy faced worries about creativity, inspiration, and burnout. However, he discovered that commitment to the process led to personal growth…

The Podcast That Saw It Coming – NaPodPoMo 2025 #21

In this episode of Randy Unscripted, Randy Black takes a deep dive into one of the most influential and unconventional podcasts in independent media — No Agenda with Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak. Known for their sharp analysis of media narratives, political messaging, and cultural trends, Curry and Dvorak…

Behind the Mic – NaPodPoMo 2025 #17

In this episode of Randy Unscripted, Randy Black takes listeners behind the scenes of the podcasting process to share how Randy Unscripted is actually created, produced, edited, and published during the intense pace of NaPodPoMo. From recording and editing to chapter markers, publishing workflows, and content organization, Randy offers an…

If You Can Text, You Can Use AI – NaPodPoMo 2025 #14

In this episode of Randy Unscripted, Randy Black explores one of the biggest conversations shaping the future of creativity, education, and communication: artificial intelligence. Drawing from insights and inspiration gained during PodIndy 2025 — including ideas presented by Craig Van Slyke — Randy examines how AI tools can enhance human…