Let me begin by saying that I really appreciate all of the nice comments and emails I’ve received since I announced that WFN as a podcast has come to a close. It’s rewarding to know that the podcast has been useful to so many–which, of course, is why I want to leave it “out there” for new people to discover. I’ll probably have to record a show that will be seen as the most recent and that will explain how to use the podcast.
I certainly don’t intend to auction off my recording equipment, but exactly what role it will play in the future of this wine resource is unclear at this point.
At the risk of sounding like sour grapes (no pun intended!), I have a few observations about podcasting to share. When podcasting first started off, it was a great thing–independent voices from around the globe could bring us news, views, humor, education, and much more. Podcasting was a true social media–we, the society were its producers. The mainstream news and television outlets were nowhere near it.
If you look at the iTunes Store today, you’ll see that the top podcasts come from CNN, ABC, NBC, Fox News, CBS, NPR, PBS and so on. Professional content dominates, and with so many podcasts out there, it’s becoming harder and harder for the amateurs to be heard. I am hopeful that good amateur shows will not be shut out by the corporate media, and it’s clear that guys like Gary over at WineLibrary TV are enjoying success that most of us can only dream of.
What makes podcasting great is all the “little guys” like Gary or the crew over at Grape Radio who are sharing their passion for wine (or whatever topic) with us. All of these shows have a place in podcasting, and it will be great if the can continue to grow their audience. One way I may try to help is by directing your attention to great wine podcasts that I run across.
As for what I’ll be doing here on this page will get worked out. I’m headed off to Walt Disney World and the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival on Friday, so I’m sure that will give me plenty of material to write about. And you can count on some pictures as well. 
To all of the fans of my podcast, I again offer you my sincerest thanks. Spread the word about the audio resource, burn episodes to CDs and give them to friends, whatever you’d like to do. I’m blessed to be able to help people learn about wine without having to pay a fortune to take a class (although, I have to say, if you want to pay me a small fortune to fly out to your place and do some teaching, don’t hesitate to ask!). Thanks for all you’ve done to make the podcast what it is.
As for the future, it’s a blank page–which can be the most frightening thing in the world because there’s nothing on it. But it can also be the most exciting thing in the world for the same reason–it’s waiting to have something drawn or written on it. Right now, I’m looking at a blank sheet, and it’s kind of exciting. Stay tuned!
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Hi, Bill -
I thought I would check out the website to see why I hadn’t gotten any new episodes recently, and see that you are moving on to bigger and better things. I really enjoyed your program and feel that I have learned a lot about wine this summer from listening. It fits a different niche than the Wine Library TV and Grape Radio podcasts, bc it covers the basics where those don’t. Good luck and hopefully someday you will decide to start up again. In the meantime, I will just start reading the blog posts.
Sincerely,
Amy R.
Decatur, Ga.