Tag: communication

Two Peas in a Podcast

Which Podcast Did You Choose to Listen to, and Why?

I listened to an episode from Strange Tales (Old Time Radio), which is one of the few podcasts I’m subscribed to. I got burnt out on true crime podcasts years ago and started listening to old radio shows after that, mostly because I love the men’s voices. The episode was The Thirty-Second of December by Suspense, and it originally aired on radio on December 28, 1958, uploaded by Strange Tales on July 19, 2026.

How Did the Host’s Delivery (Pitch, Pauses, Rate of Speaking, and Volume) Impact the Overall Effectiveness of the Podcast?

The Strange Tales (Old Time Radio) host’s delivery was okay; a bit sped up, higher pitched, and had some music that reminded me of the Wicked Witch of the West riding her broom, then the second host was just…there… but the Suspense host’s delivery was great; very succinct, but atmospheric, creepy, and…suspenseful (I have a thing for male voices). Although it’s a podcast, since “the beginnings of personal relationships are fraught with uncertainties” (Griffin et al., 2019, p. 105), hearing the deep voice and orchestral music made me think of The Twilight Zone and lessened my uncertainties.

Was a Podcast the Best Way to Communicate this Information, or Would a Video Presentation have been More Effective?

A video probably would have been more effective, but considering the time period, televisions weren’t as popular as they are today and radio shows were a very popular form of entertainment. Even with those constraints, they were very immersive and entertaining, which is one reason I like to listen to them.

Who was the Intended Audience for this Podcast?

Originally, I would say the intended audience was people who had radios in their home and/or didn’t own televisions. These days, I think the intended audience is the older crowd and those who like to watch or listen to media from all decades. I love watching old movies and TV shows as well as listening to old music. I think it is very limiting to only tune in to current entertainment.

References

Griffin, E., Ledbetter, A., & Sparks, G. (2019). A first look at communication theory (10th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education. (Chapter 9: Uncertainty Reduction Theory)

What We’ve Got Here is Failure to Communicate

Schooool’s in for summER!! I have a “communicating online” class this term, and because of that, I need to *drum roll* communicate online —

I have to answer a couple of wordy questions and include a quote or two, along with citations, so 🐻 with me.

Do Different Social Networking Sites Offer Other Benefits and Drawbacks?

This question is either worded oddly, or I’m not understanding it. “Other,” as in from each other? Like, does Facebook offer additional benefits beyond what LinkedIn offers? That’s how I interpreted it.

The short answer would be yes. Different social networking sites offer other benefits and drawbacks, as each platform is designed for a different type of relationship, especially two very different ones like Facebook and LinkedIn. Facebook is useful for maintaining family connections and “weak-tie” relationships, like those (general) you went to grade school and high school with, but you don’t really keep up with offline, since social networking sites “make it possible to reconnect with old contacts” (Interplay, Ch. 2, pp. 32–35). My friends list on Facebook consists of family and school friends, with very few people I have not met in person. I also have an author page that people can follow, but following is different from friending.

On the contrary, LinkedIn serves a professional purpose and goes beyond social networking. The reading notes that LinkedIn “connect[s] candidates to job opportunities and encourage[s] professional networking” (Interplay, Ch. 2, p. 33). Because these platforms support such different kinds of relationships — personal versus professional — they naturally come with different advantages and limitations. I have some overlap between my Facebook and LinkedIn profiles, but only in my content, and not in my contacts, i.e., friends/connections. My LinkedIn focuses mostly on my “day job,” and my Facebook and Facebook page are more for personal use and promoting my book.

What Factors Might Influence Whether Facebook has Negative Influences, like Links with Depression, versus Positive Results, Such as Boosts in Self-Esteem?

Another confusing question to me, but whatever; I’ll do my best. The social part of the Internet is a toxic place, regardless of where you go. That’s merely because it’s run by people, and people suck. However, whether Facebook has negative or positive effects depends largely on how people use it. The reading notes that “excessive media use and loneliness often go hand in hand” (Adler & Proctor, 2024, p. 31), suggesting that replacing face‑to‑face interaction with online activity can worsen depression. I wouldn’t just slap “loneliness” on there and call it a day, though. There’s also boredom, passing time, and a lack of social interaction for those who cannot socialize face-to-face due to disabilities and existing mental illness (like me). On the other hand, Facebook can also strengthen relationships. Social networking sites make it very easy to reconnect with people we grew up with or knew intimately at one point and lost touch with, and can help people recreate and maintain these connections that support well‑being (Adler & Proctor, 2024, p. 35). These differences show that Facebook’s influence depends on whether it is used to supplement relationships or replace them.

That’s all she wrote, folks! I still need to update on my seizures, “that aren’t seizures,” that I was having 20+ of a day, and ridiculous disability case determination 😒. I just haven’t been in the headspace to lay it all out.

Bibliography

Adler, R. B., & Proctor, R. F. (2024). Interplay: The process of interpersonal communication (16th ed.). Oxford University Press.