Behind the Scenes of the LogiCast AWS News Podcast

In a recent special edition of the LogiCast AWS News podcast, hosts Karl Robinson and Jon Goodall offered AWS Community Builder listeners an inside look at their podcast production process and the serverless workflow they’ve developed to streamline content creation. This blog post summarizes the key points discussed during their conversation.

Why Start a Podcast?

Karl and Jon began their podcast journey with a simple idea: “Why not?” As Jon puts it, “We shout into the void anyway all of the time, so we may as well just continue to shout into the void.” However, there were several motivating factors behind their decision to launch LogiCast:

1. Demonstrating thought leadership: While Jon admittedly dislikes the term, both hosts acknowledge that the podcast allows them to showcase their expertise in the AWS space.
2. Content marketing: The podcast serves as a platform to discuss real-world challenges and solutions, indirectly demonstrating Logicarta’s capabilities to potential clients.
3. SEO benefits: Regular content creation helps improve search engine visibility for the company.
4. Personal enjoyment: Both hosts have found the process rewarding and enjoyable.

The hosts shared insights into their equipment setup and recording process.

Getting Started: Equipment and Software

1. Microphones: While they now use higher-end microphones (Karl uses a Rode Procaster, Jon a Rode Podcaster), they emphasized that even budget-friendly USB mics can produce good results.
2. Boom arms: These help isolate background noise and keep desks clear when not recording.
3. Webcams: For video content, they recommend investing in a decent webcam, though most modern built-in laptop cameras are sufficient.
4. Headphones: Noise-canceling headphones help monitor audio and block out background noise.
5. Recording software: After trying various podcast-specific platforms like Riverside and Squadcast, they settled on Restream, which has proven reliable for remote recording.
6. Hosting and distribution: They use Podbean ($99/month) to host and distribute their podcast across various platforms.

Finding and Managing Guests

Karl and Jon have found success in sourcing guests through:

1. The AWS Community Builder network
2. LinkedIn outreach
3. Networking at events like AWS re:Invent

They’ve hosted 59 episodes with guests, including 51 unique individuals, demonstrating the power of community engagement.

Promoting the Podcast

To increase visibility, they:

1. Use LinkedIn outreach
2. Leverage Community Builder Slack channels
3. Create AI-generated trailers for social media
4. Schedule regular content drops throughout the week

Serverless Podcast Workflow

Jon detailed the serverless workflow he developed to automate post-production tasks:

1. Architecture: Uses AWS Step Functions to orchestrate Lambda functions, Amazon Transcribe, AWS Elemental MediaConvert, Amazon DynamoDB, Amazon Bedrock, and Amazon SNS.
2. Process:
   • Uploads M4A file to S3 bucket
   • Triggers transcoding and transcription
   • Runs AI prompts through Bedrock
   • Generates various content pieces
3. Outputs:
   • Episode title
   • AI-generated joke
   • Show notes with timestamps
   • ~1500-word blog post summary
4. Cost: Approximately $5-$10 per month, with Amazon Transcribe being the most expensive component.

Tips for Building Similar Workflows

1. Invest time in understanding AI/ML terminology
2. Test prompts thoroughly
3. Evaluate different AI models
4. Request model access early
5. Be aware of rate limits
6. Consider the time investment required
7. Learn by doing, but learn from others’ mistakes

Unexpected Outcomes and Lessons Learned

1. Positive feedback from listeners using the podcast as a learning resource
2. Providing a platform for first-time podcast guests
3. Generated business opportunities

Looking Ahead

The hosts are considering expanding their podcast offerings, potentially including:

1. Deep-dive episodes on specific AWS-related challenges
2. “Clinic”-style sessions with AWS customers

Key Takeaways for Aspiring Podcasters

1. Don’t be discouraged by low initial listenership.
2. Consistency is key – keep producing content regularly.
3. Find your niche and target audience.
4. Be prepared for technical challenges, especially when setting up recording and distribution workflows.

The LogiCast AWS News podcast demonstrates how combining passion, expertise, and innovative technology can create a valuable resource for the AWS community while also serving as an effective marketing tool for a business.

This is an AI generated piece of content, based on a special edition of the LogiCast podcast, delivered live to AWS Community Builders.