How Do I Broadcast a Live Podcast So That People Can Call Into My Show?

The easiest and cheapest way to do it is to use Skpe, the free Internet phone service
Skype (skype.com) is the popular Internet phone program discussed in the “Internet Phones” section (see page 272). It’s not only a way to make free and cheap phone calls, worldwide, but it’s also a favorite among podcasters for recording phone conversations for their podcasts. To record a conversation, install Skype and set up a new account (see page 272). Each of your guest callers will need Skype too, or you can call them on a regular phone using the Skype out feature, which costs a small fee and doesn’t offer the same audio quality as a PC-to-PC connection. For an annual fee, you can also get a Skype In number that guests can use to call you. Make sure to test the call quality beforehand to make sure that it sounds okay. Your PC- based callers will need a microphone.
The are a number of free recording apps out there, but if you get serious about your podcast you might want to spring for a fullfeatured commercial application. Free apps on the PC side include HotRecorder (hotrecorder.com) and PowerGramo Recorder for Skype (powergramo.com). Both of these have free versions with limited compression and other record options and inexpensive commercial versions for under $20.
Mac users should also check out Audio Hijack Pro, a powerful audio recording program that cost $32 from Rogue Amoeba (rogueamoeba.com). It will capture audio from Skype, iChat, and Gizmo and you can add a number of sound-enhancing effects to the recording. If you’re doing pre-recorder podcasting, you don’t have to deal with the issues of streaming your signal to listeners in real time. But if you do want to create a true live show, there are two great live podcating services: BlogTalkRadio and TalkShoe.
BlogTalkRadio (blogtalkradio.com) offers a one-stop shopping solution for creating “talkradio” style podcasts. When you sign up as a host for the free service, BlogTalkRadio issues you a dedicated phone number that listeners can use to call into the show, as well as a phone number that you use to call into the service to host the show. Up to five other people can talk at one time, and you can monitor a Web page to see the list of the callers on hold.
Once you sign up, you’ll have access to a “Host Dashboard” where you can schedule show segments and control other aspects of your podcasts. BlogTalkRadio automatically records your shows as MP3s and archives them so people can listen anytime. BlogTalkRadio is easy to uses, and the live call-in aspect in a lot of fun, but remember: since it’s live, there’s no editing everything you and your guests utter will be broadcast.
TalkShoe (talkshoe.com) works much like BlogTalkRadio, but it’s designed more like a giant conference call, in which certain people can be designated as talkers and hundreds of others as listeners. To make a live podcast, sign up (it’s free) and click on “Create Public Talkcast.” Unlike BlogTalkRadio, however, TalkShoe requires a Mac, and you have to download the TalkShoe Live! client to use it.
If you want to improve the sound quality and other production values of your podcast, M-Audio (m-audio.com) has a really nice (and cheap!) hardware/software package called Podcast Factory. You get a decent desktop mic, a USB-based audio interface (for connecting microphones or musical instruments to your PC), and a suite of audio recording, mixing, editing, and MIDI software. All for only $180.