Tag: Vlogging

Starting a Podcast…on How I Started a YouTube Channel

First 3 episodes go live on Monday!

Ok. So there’s a bit more it it than the title may suggest.

The Talk With History podcast is a history based podcast that talks about how the past continues to impact society today and what it takes to produce a successful history based YouTube channel.

My wife and I started the Walk With History YouTube channel back at the end of February and we have been floored at the community that has grown around us.

Even more surprising we were able to monetize in barely 4 months!

To be honest…our 10th video on that channel got “picked up by the algorithm” and that got us to the required 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 hours of watch time required. It took me a little while to get in to the YouTube partner program so we have only technically been monetized since July/August timeframe.

Why Start a Podcast?

I was listening to the YouTube Creator’s Hub Podcast a couple weeks ago and Dusty Porter, the host, had a guest on that is big in the podcast industry and he was talking about how those who run a YouTube channel already have everything it takes to podcast.

They understand audio, storytelling, and the digital medium. And it’s a lot less work to produce a 20-30 minute podcast than it is to make a good video of the same length. (trust me…as someone who makes 12-15 minute videos every week…podcasting is WAY easier)

So this podcast fit right in line with what we are trying to do with the Walk With History YouTube channel…but in a different medium.

  • We have already done the research (as our podcasts will be in depth looks at our videos)
  • Barrier to entry is VERY low for podcasting
  • Audio is the focus…which I’d say is a bit easier than video
  • Podcasting is only going to grow and not even close to saturated right now

Pretty exciting huh?

Curious on how to start a Podcast or YouTube channel?

Drop me a comment below! I’d be excited to write more about everything I have learned. 😁

Oh yeah…and you can find our Talk With History Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and everywhere else!!

Behind the Scenes Filming Flashdance Locations in Pittsburgh | @WalkwithHistory BTS

Go watch Flashdance…then watch this…or just watch this.

This is a behind the scenes look of us filming an episode of Walk With History in Pittsburgh, PA. We went around to the filming locations for the classic 80s movie, Flashdance.

Super fun day…and a beautiful afternoon spent in the Steel City!

2021’s BEST VLOGGING CAMERA

This won’t be replaced for at least 5 years…

I have to admit that I can be a bit of a gear head…but really…who isn’t? 😉

I also have to admit that I am incredibly delinquent in posting about my new favorite piece of gear…the Canon EOS R6.

Let me tell you why the R6 is the BEST camera for you!

It is what the EOS R “should have been”

The EOS R was tempting, but with the crop in 4K, the weird thumb pad on the back, and RF lenses still coming out when it was released…I decided that my Canon 80D was more than enough for my uses. (which you can get crazy cheap right now)

It is the “Goldilocks” of Cameras

I don’t need the Canon R5. It is $1,300 more, uses a CF Express card slot which also costs more (and more for another computer dongle), the file sizes are MUCH bigger (45mp sensor vs 20mp), and did I say it’s over $1,300 more than the R6?

I’d rather have 2 SD Cards slots (which the EOS R and 80D didn’t have), great 4k (now with smaller file sizes with a firmware update), and 1080p at 120 fps recording is enough for my slow motion b-roll needs. (It was good enough for Peter McKinnon for years!)

I has the same autofocus system as the R5, same IBIS system as the R5, can use the same RF Lenses (I would LOVE the RF 15-35mm f2.8…drool factor 11), same batteries (which are the same as my 80D), and more similar features!!

For most people, the only thing it DOESN’T do is 4k 120fps and 4k HD mode (which you need to watch out for overheating with).

Remind me why I waited so long?

He does the best reviews

It’s for the “Prosumer” in All of Us

The Canon R6 is honestly everything 99% of us will need. I am an absolute sucker for the upsell when it comes to quality products and companies…and I almost went for the R5, but the price difference and other downsides I saw (or “pro” level stuff I didn’t need) kept me away.

And MAN AM I HAPPY WITH THIS CAMERA!!!

I won’t ramble on…rather I will say that I can HIGHLY recommend this after filming and shooting a TON on it recently (see recent vlogs). It feels good in the hand, the 4k looks great, super solid, and I know it will last me for years.

If you’re considering the Canon EOS R6…go buy it.

Sony ZV1: The Vlogger’s Camera I Wish I Owned 3 Years Ago

This little camera completely blew me away…

I recently posted a video about starting my second YouTube channel with my wife. She’s a historian that loves seeing places of history and I found I like filming them with her.

In order to get her comfortable vlogging…and more importantly to get her a quality camera that is easy to use…I bought her the Sony ZV1.

Let me say I am IMPRESSED!!!

The picture quality if phenomenal, the ease of use is second to none, and the sound you get from it is pretty good too! You can buy the vlogger’s kit that gives you a memory card and bluetooh handle….I HIGHLY recommend it.

If you have been looking for a good starter and beyond vlogging camera (or a more video focused handheld camera) the Sony ZV1 is ABSOLUTELY the way to go.

How Do We HEAL Society? Understand THIS Brené Brown Advice FIRST

This will change you for the better…

I was inspired after listening to a recent podcast by Brené Brown to help bring awareness to the unconscious Dehumanization we do every day. Brené does a fantastic job talking about how recognizing our bad patterns of doing this, is one of the factors that can help our country heal in 2021.

It is an incredible half hour of real introspection on why America has a feeling of some societal divides that reared their ugly heads higher in 2020. I cannot recommend this highly enough to anyone interested in how we can better ourselves by recognizing our own potential blind spots and hopefully how to avoid them in the future.

The Newest (and BEST?) VLOG Music Service…And It’s FREE!

It’s rare you find a free service this good…

When I started my vlog a couple years ago, I never realized how difficult it would be to find good music for my videos. Or at least how difficult I would make it on myself.

I found out fast that I couldn’t just google “free vlog music” and find copyright free tunes that I actually wanted to use. Finding free music was relatively easy – but finding free music that I could use and that I actually liked was hard.

The Various Music Services

The big copyright free music services out right now are ones you may have heard of.

  • Epidemic Sound
  • Artlist
  • Musicbed
  • etc…

The last service I tried was Musicbed. Honestly I really liked the music selection and that they had tracks with voice and no voice options. I had subscribed early enough that I was in on the “early” annual pricing (only $100/yr)…something that recently changed and was bumped up to $160/yr.

Unfortunately, I can’t currently justify spending $100/yr (as much as I wanted to) on a side hustle that hasn’t seen any returns yet.

The Newcomer Announced

I’ve mentioned Cody Wanner a couple times here. He’s a filmmaker, YouTuber, father, and then some.

Well just the other day he shared the newest kid on the creator music block, Upbeat.

Cody usually recommends good stuff so I checked it out and was surprised to see the home screen header “Free music for creators”. Is this too good to be true? Even the Premium price is relatively inexpensive.

$67/yr if paid all at once
$67/yr if paid all at once

My only guess as to how they are doing this, is that they collected a bunch of artists who were already putting their music out there for free. (total guess) I don’t see some of the bigger musicians on this service like I saw on Musicbed…but this is a new service and it appears that these kinds of sites are experiencing big growth right now.

Funny aside…I’ve registered for their affiliate program (haven’t heard back yet) hoping that they don’t turn me down because I don’t the volume of traffic they are looking for. I guess I never learn. 🤣 Hoping that a new service just wants to get the word out there..and I’m willing to help with that!!

I am still exploring Upbeat, and I’ll be using one of their songs for my next vlog…If you’ve been looking for a site that has a bunch of free music for your growing YouTube channel…this is the spot.

What Does GOBBLERS KNOB Look Like BEFORE Groundhog Day?

“Ok campers, rise and shine, and don’t forget your booties cause its cold out there…”

This was a spot we wanted to visit before we moved too far away. While many things were closed around town, it was cool to visit the spot that receives universal United States attention one day a year.

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