Managing the Gray – Positive Advice That Everyone Can Use to Succeed

Every corporate podcast I have listened to has mostly sucked. If you want to learn about coffee, head over to the coffee geek podcast http://coffeegeek.com/. (disclaimer: i’m not in any way shape or form associated with the coffee geek podcast)

-Jeff
http://blog.zemote.com

Coffee College could have great potential if they actually embraced it and did something unique and informative. There are literally thousands of different types of coffee, and bringing some more knowledge to people about great coffee could be both informative AND fun. For example, they could go hybrid – audio and video podcast, talk to master roasters about how coffee is roasted (it’s a lot like hot air poppers for popcorn), the beans they use, etc. Hell, with their corporate resources, they could literally send someone to Blue Mountain in Jamaica with a Handycam and show what real coffee is like, and why raw coffee would taste like yard clipping soup.

Think about just how many ways there are to brew coffee – automatic drip, manual drip, percolator, French press, Vacuum pot, cold toddy, moka pot, ibrik, etc. Which brewing method goes with which roast? Which bean should be roasted to which level to bring out optimum flavor? Which method will deliver the best results for you at home?

Somehow, I doubt they’ll do any of this and you’ll get a month of Starbucks commercials instead, but I can hope they’ll do it right and bring together advertising, entertainment, and education. And hey, if there’s anyone from Starbucks reading, and you’re in Quincy, stop by my office.

Christopher S. Penn
Daily financial aid internet radio on demand, no iPod required
http://www.FinancialAidPodcast.com

Of course corporate podcasts suck. They have as much interest in podcasting that McDonalds executives have in the ghetto trash that eats their food. It’s another clumsy corporate lunge at the flavor of the month.

I’m sure some marketing douchebag (as opposed to the non-douchebags here) overheard some people talking in the hall or over coffee (yes, intended). A few quick Google searches and they figured out that podcasting is interesting to some people (highly over represented when doing a _web_ search, but whatever) and ran up to managment with his killer new idea. Since none of them had the foggiest idea what he was talking about, but it seems cheap, they let him go with it. Yay, corporate marketing douchebag!

Podcasts are interesting, but they are limited too. Some topics would be like trying to learn programming from a books-on-tape series. Other stuff, especially interviews are perfect since you get all the nuance of the original. Even that’s a two-edged sword tho…… when you get corporate drones with no real interest, it comes through. If you had Jim Koch do a beer podcast, you would hear the real passion (and alcohol).

It would be cool if they visited Starbucks around the world and interviewed the people there. Why do they hang out there? What’s there favorite coffee? Then, like Channel 9 at Microsoft, go behind the scenes at Starbucks corporate and interview interesting people. Who are the people who put together the Starbucks CD’s? Who designs the stores and how do they do it?

If you want to see someone doing something interesting with coffee and podcasting, check out what Jason of Insomnia Radio is doing at http://indiemusicproject.com/articles/page.imp?articleid=1909

Have you seen the “ad” for Starbucks on YouTube – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnbT7qt6RF4

I’m going to guess that it wasn’t done by Starbucks, so … should the company respond?

[...] CC Chapman at Managing the Gray points out that Starbucks is podcasting this month. [...]

Hi CC -
Taking a moment to respond to your comments about Starbucks new venture into podcasting.
It’s been very interesting working on the first few episodes and trying to figure out what customers (and critics) are thinking about this. Since “coffee college” may not appeal to you, we would like to hear ideas about what would interest you.
Your ideas and questions are helpful. And the fact that you want corporate podcasts to be successful is very encouraging.
We hope that you keep listening.

Thanks for your commentary,

Aileen Carrell
manager, green coffee sustainability
Starbucks Coffee Company

Aileen, it’s great that you checked in and left some comments.

I provided direct feedback toyou via e-mail, but I think the fact that you are doing it at least is the important thing. I hope that when it’s done you get feedback from a variety of sources and then come at it again based on the feedback.

I listened to the first show and enjoyed it. I’m just not sure with the current format how dedicated of a listener I would be.

I am still listening though.