'Buck City Podcast' reports on Bakersfield
Daniel McCraw
Issue date: 9/7/05 Section: Features
Nick Belardes, novelist, photographer and grassroots media workhorse, is now bringing Bakersfield another cultural step forward, with the first podcasting out of Bakersfield, "The Buck City Podcast.."
When, late last year, his mentor and publishing world contact suddenly died as he was completing his novel, he didn't "get depressed, lethargic or blame God."
Instead, within a few weeks, his website -www.nlbelardes.com - was up and running. Now, seven months later, the site is a local hub of activity and information regarding the local arts, music and theater scene. At the same time, his photography and insights bring a humanizing dimension to what otherwise might seem remote and ethereal of the under-the-radar Bakersfield arts scene.
Within the last couple months, he has incorporated onto his site the current cutting edge of digital media, podcasting. Utilizing technology freely available or easily obtained on the internet, his show, "The Buck City Podcast" became the first podcast program originating from Bakersfield, and covering a range of interests.
Last month he began "The Morning Cereal Show", a literary endeavor encompassing readings, so far, of excerpts from his own novels, but as he said, "If writers want to guest read their work or that of another, I am completely open to that."
Podcasting, in essence, is the broadcasting of audio via the Internet, an "internet radio show" if you will. Video is increasingly being used and operates on the same concept. Significant from an orthodox radio program is that podcasts remain online and easily accessible long after the time they initially are created, making them an invaluable opportunity for "becoming the media," as Belardes refers to it, for any and everyone who wishes to use it.
The freedom inherent in an unregulated Internet form of communication, such as podcasting, added to its ease of availability once the audience becomes aware of it, has led to adoption wide in scope by various groups or individuals.
When, late last year, his mentor and publishing world contact suddenly died as he was completing his novel, he didn't "get depressed, lethargic or blame God."
Instead, within a few weeks, his website -www.nlbelardes.com - was up and running. Now, seven months later, the site is a local hub of activity and information regarding the local arts, music and theater scene. At the same time, his photography and insights bring a humanizing dimension to what otherwise might seem remote and ethereal of the under-the-radar Bakersfield arts scene.
Within the last couple months, he has incorporated onto his site the current cutting edge of digital media, podcasting. Utilizing technology freely available or easily obtained on the internet, his show, "The Buck City Podcast" became the first podcast program originating from Bakersfield, and covering a range of interests.
Last month he began "The Morning Cereal Show", a literary endeavor encompassing readings, so far, of excerpts from his own novels, but as he said, "If writers want to guest read their work or that of another, I am completely open to that."
Podcasting, in essence, is the broadcasting of audio via the Internet, an "internet radio show" if you will. Video is increasingly being used and operates on the same concept. Significant from an orthodox radio program is that podcasts remain online and easily accessible long after the time they initially are created, making them an invaluable opportunity for "becoming the media," as Belardes refers to it, for any and everyone who wishes to use it.
The freedom inherent in an unregulated Internet form of communication, such as podcasting, added to its ease of availability once the audience becomes aware of it, has led to adoption wide in scope by various groups or individuals.