Tag: podcasting

Behind the Microcast:

Starting with an easy question, What is your ykyz username?
Aspie and Proud is my username on ykyz.

What is your name in real life?
Elsa

And where are you from?
France!

Mind sharing what your occupation outside of microcasting is?
I’m a freelance graphic designer.

How did you get into microcasting?
I saw Fred’s post on a subreddit I was following and got curious. I got into podcast two years ago thanks to my wife (a few of my favorites are The Adventure Zone, My Brother, My Brother and Me, The Magnus Archives…) and thought it would be interesting to make something out of my autism.

Can you tell us what your microcast is about?
It’s about autism in general, from my Asperger perspective.

What made you want to do a microcast on that topic?
I was diagnosed when I was 25, so two years ago, and I felt immense relief when I got a name picked out for what was happening to me. Through my microcast, I want to spread a positive vision of what autism can be, as well as our challenges.

What is one of your favorite things about microcasting?
It made me feel more confident to share my story and to talk out loud! It also helps with my spoken English ahaha. Also, I really appreciate how YKYZ allowed me to know new people, new horizons.

Can you share a bit about your creative process making microcasts?
I start out by thinking of a topic to talk about, then do some research and write my episode(s).

Are you a “using scripts” type microcaster, or do you rather freestyle it?
I do! It really helps me to focus my thoughts and to be precise.

Do you use any special recording equipment to make your episodes?
I have a pretty basic setup: I use Audacity on my MacBook Pro and a set of Apple earphones. They do a pretty good job for now! Though I really want to invest in a good microphone.

If you could interview anyone for your microcast, who would it be and why?
I would choose Daniel Tammet, a British author who’s also Asperger. I love his books and my sister had the chance to meet him. I’ve always been fascinated with his writing.

If you could switch lives with another microcasters on ykyz for just one day, who would you pick and why?
I would switch with DoctorIrish! I love his microcast and would love to see what life is through his eyes.

Are there any furry friends in your life?
Two cats, rescued from the streets!

What’s your favorite food?
Pasta and my mom’s lemon chicken!

Do you have a favorite color?
Purple.

Care to share any hidden talents you may have?
I can do two things at the same time! I speak four languages!

What type of music can people find you most likely jamming out to?
Rock and roll.

Any favorite movies or shows that you like to watch in your spare time?
Whiplash by Damien Chazelle.

Lastly, what are some of your plans for the future?
Taking things one day at a time, to be honest, aha!!

Cast of the Week XV

CotW XIII
You’ll find all the nominees for this week at https://ykyz.com/c/na?faveOf=cotwxv

And now, without further ado, I’m handing things over to u/Mattasher for the winners of Cast of the Week XV (The Quiñcenero):

But first, some shoutouts.

Shoutout to Kayla (Violaceous Curiosity) for trying her hand (or voice) at the cold opener. Together we are exploring this new micro podcasting space.

Shoutout to MyNameIsQuest for the intriguing teaser episode The Spot. Everyone loves a good treasure hunt or vaunt opening tale, just don’t let us down like Geraldo.

Shoutout to our own Teresa (ThatOneGirl) who took over the Astrocast By Diz microcast to give Aries their due (and do’s).

Shoutout to Joanie for the bold and brave decision to review her own face in episode 93. Rambling About my Ugly Face

And now, on to the winners! But first, some honorable mentions:

35. But How are YOU doing? by jen.again
Good old Jen checks in with all of us in this friendly, nicely scripted episode.

153. Vinegar by Brown Skin Pearls
Clare examines the idea of using vinegar as a skincare product and concludes with a gentle reminder that when it comes to applying things to our body, we might want to leave the chemistry to the chemists, a reminder that seems particularly relevant right now.

148. Own Your Choices by Voluptuous Voyager
In this easy to listen to episode, Asi the Voluptuous Voyager introduces an expression that captures the distinction between where we land, and where we stay.

And now, the winners of CotW XV

Third Prize:
193. Paul Bunyan And Pancakes by SnippetsWithSophia
Sophia goes over one of my favorite characters from childhood, the tall tales of Paul Bunyan. Everything about this legendary lumberjack was supersized, including the story, Sophia tells about frying up pancakes in an acre-sized griddle. Grab a pick and pluck along with this giant microcast episode.  

Second Prize:
108. Fast Facts: IPA’s – A Brewtiful Mind by A Brewtiful Mind
Micah opens with a teaser of an upcoming episode, then goes all fast and furious on us with facts about India Pale Ales. This 86 second episode would have to be rated with an IBU of 0, given the smooth delivery and how easily Micah makes the info go down.  

Grand Prize:
10. My job isn’t real and the gaming industry is a joke by Maleficent Gaming
Our grand prize winner this week is from Lilith, who has just the right mix of personal experience and hard data in this episode about the gaming industry in her home country of Serbia. Lilith takes us into her narrow and misunderstood professional world, and leaves us with a broader understanding of how it fits into her countries overall economy.

Cast of the Week VI

CotW VI
You’ll find all the nominees for this week at https://ykyz.com/c/na?faveOf=cotwvi

u/Mattasher writes:
Before we get to the winners of Cast of the Week VI, I’d like to send some shoutouts to folks who made our week this week:

Shoutout to Conner u/lifebitespodcast who brought in Paul Sating, our very first AmA guest. For more information about our AmA program, send us an email.

Shoutout to Joanie, who opened up a second microcast under the name CriminalCreatures, to help answer the age-old question of when should pigs be hanged for their wrongdoings.

Shoutout to Violaceous Curiosity, who took the bait from last week’s edition and seeded the definitively NSFW channel, MFK. A reminder to everyone that you can start new channels anytime you like, on the fly. Just type in the channel name at the end of the URL and go.

And now, on to the winners. But first, the runner’s up.

Ep 44 How a Gemini Takes A Compliment- Skit by Astrocast By Diz
In this fun mini-skit, Diz does her best to peg Gemini’s, and asks that other age-old question, “What grown man wears Sketchers?” I’d also recommend Diz’s other astrological one-act episodes.


EP 62 Drug Smuggling on a cruise by Dancing Bartender
In this episode, the Dancing Bartender tells the story of some Canadians who smuggled more than a little cocaine into an Aussie port of call, wherein their party comes to an abrupt halt.


EP92 IKEA by ThatbeardedSwede
When Fredrik started his microcast, I expected it would take no more than a week to get to the main event, IKEA, and soon after that I expected our favorite Swede to go off-road and leave behind his Nordic Kingdom as a topic. Instead, Fredrik found nearly a hundred fascinating episodes about life in Sweden before hitting his informative IKEA ringer and shows no signs of deviating from a topic that’s proved to be much richer than I ever expected.


And now, on to the winners:
Second Prize
Ep52 Twinings Tea – Drink Like A Royal by SnippetsWithSophia
 In this well researched, perfectly scripted episode, Sophia takes us on a historical journey into the origins of British tea and tells us how to drink like a Royal, so long as we’re willing to part with a few Pounds and put up with the pungent smell of Earl Grey blend.  


Grand Prize
Ep23 Black Tax by Asi Voluptuous Voyager
In this episode, Asi discusses the tricky dynamic when family ties are turned against children who manage to escape from poverty, and now-grown-up kids are morally blackmailed into paying a “tax” of financial gifts to those left behind.

Asi’s episode is wonderfully specific in its details, yet universally understandable in terms of the emotional dynamics it sets up, and, as I know from personal experience, this is a phenomenon that extends well beyond the black communities of South Africa.

Cast of the Week III

CotW III winners

Before we get to the winners, some general notes:
• All microcasters, paid or unpaid, are eligible, except for Prospectors (see https://ykyz.com/blog/index.php/microcaster-levels/)
• To be considered for a prize, you must have proper episode titles and have set your email and avatar. Unfortunately this week we had to exclude some wonderful nominations on that basis.
• When choosing winners, we first narrow down the field by removing casts with poor audio quality or a topic that has connection to your microcast theme.

You will find all of the nominees for this period at: https://ykyz.com/f/cotwiii

Because this was an extra long period, we’ve added more winners and runner’s up than usual. We had lots of great nominations, but a handful of them really shined.

Here’s u/mattasher with descriptions of this week’s winners. We begin with the runner’s up:

EP. 32 Skincare Emergencies by Brown Skin Pearls. This tightly crafted, interesting episode introduces us to new uses for feminine wash.


Ep. 45 Side Hustle by IAmMillennial. Jonathan perfectly captures the moment many of us find ourselves in, where trends in tech and economics have led so many of us to become gig workers of one kind or another.


EP53 VR Gaming by NerdyOldGuy. Joel drew half-a-dozen responses for his personal take on virtual reality gaming and motion sickness.


Finally, a shoutout to ykyz’s own Teresa (ThatOneGirl) for her excellent four-part series A Place called Ohio).

And now, on to the winners! Because this was a longer period, we’ve picked two second prize winners.

Second prize
EP59 The right of public access by ThatbeardedSwede. Here’s another lovely slice of life episode from or favorite Swede. This episode discusses the tradition and laws related to public access on private property, including the right to pick berries and mushrooms. We also highly recommend ThatbeardedSwedes’ other nominated episodes on Fika and The Stockholm Syndrome.


Ep13.Spicy Food by staplezz1301. This episode mixes the author’s personal relationship to spice with a view of spiciness as a metaphor for Mexico in general. As staplezz1301’s asks, “What’s life without a little bit of spice”.


Grand prize
EP06 a ruler by fashionmusings. This well researched, high effort episode focuses on a fascinating intersection of fashion, politics, and history. Who knew there used to be cops wandering around South Korea armed with scissors to give hippy scofflaws an on-the-spot trim?


Congratulations to fashionmusings and all the other winners and runners up. Keep your eye out for great episodes for next week’s contest!