Warning: Rant Alert

iPodder.org. The starting point for all podcast lists. The “Ultimate” directory of all things podcast. Lists and lists all in pretty OPML files all nicely linked to editors’ servers to reduce load. Seems like a paradise for podcasters to make sure more listeners come their way. But there is trouble in paradise and I have had enough.

I currently manage 3 nodes. Hacking, Games and the mother of all nodes, Technology. Lets go through the steps that podcasters must take to get listed:

  • The podcaster fills in the form on the iPodder.org site and submit it
  • I then receive an email from the site stating the URL of the podcast (not neccesarily the RSS feed), a description and a contact email address
  • I then take this email, validate the feed
  • Check that it is a good enough podcast for the node
  • Open up a copy of your OPML file
  • Add the entry into the file
  • Upload to your own server
  • Rinse and Repeat

Thats right, you are the person paying for the bandwidth. iPodder.org takes the credit for a great directory when its your servers that are doing the grunt work. This I don’t mind as I feel part of a community keeping a great service up and running.

So, I start getting really busy at work. I can’t spend as much time on the directory as I would like and the requests are starting to pile up. I send out an email out to the Gaming nodes’ podcasters asking if anyone would like to take the job as editor. Once we setup the OPML file on the new editor’s server, we now have to change the original OPML file to reflect the change. Who controls this? Adam Curry. Does he answer emails requesting the change? No. Is there any other way of changing the URLs? No, not a single one.

I remember a great little podcast done by Adam saying how wonderful iPodder.org editors are. “Thanks for all your hard work” was what came out of the podcast. “Tools are coming” was another comment. Where are they? I have put HOURS into the directory keeping upset podcasters happy, modifying URLs for their RSS feeds, helping with validation and even CREATION of RSS feeds just so the directory works well. iTunes uses this directory for their podcasts to some degree. Winamp’s podcast support uses the iPodder.org directory greatly. A large amount of other directories are using the original OPML file. I even tried to find the podcast done by Adam regarding the directory and it’s editors as discussed above but the website that held the podcast (http://podshow.com/editors/) is down. Strange that. Do I feel like its not important anymore?

So this is where I am. Frustrated, feeling used and haven’t heard a single word in ages. This is the turning point and I give up. I can’t contact anyone to hand over my feeds and I feel that its pointless to be a slave to a money-making business. So as of today, the Technology, Gaming and Hacking nodes will no longer be updated. The Technology node, one of the most active nodes with submissions constantly coming in, is really going to hurt. I apologise in advance to anyone podcaster or listener affected by this change.

Being the editor of one of the larger nodes in the directory, I feel like this should have some effect. I hope anyone reading this can get behind me and force to issue forward. Please help me to bring the directory up in the priorities and give us, the editors the tools and support we need. Adam, if you are reading this, please put some word out. Answer my emails, let us know what is happening with the directory. I have no problem that this has turned into a business for Adam. That is life. However, I refuse, point blank, to work on this if there is no benefit for me and my fellow editors if this is no a commercial venture.

Is it important anymore?

***UPDATE****
I have the DSC from March 15 2003 where the editors are discussed a little. Does anyone still have the original and only podshow editor’s podcast?
Link