New Year Commitments

Today I wanted to talk about some things to focus on going into the new year. I’m not a firm believer in New Year’s resolutions but I do believe in making changes. I don’t, however, think we should hold off those changes for another day. If the project or practice you want to start at the beginning of next year is an idea now why not start it? It’s natural to put something off for another day but when we don’t put that idea into place it becomes an excuse. We start to defend our actions and we shouldn’t. 

If we don’t do what we set out to do it’s because there is a lack of commitment to the idea involved. We either don’t truly want what we say we want or maybe we just don’t give ourselves a real fighting chance. We put off the ideas that could potentially better our lives and it’s the same trend again and again. I just like you am guilty of this as well but I think its important to track habits. Especially the ones that don’t add positive value. 

So going into this New Year I want to challenge you to take your resolutions and start them now. Go at them from day one with passion and ferocity and don’t let up. Don’t allow yourself to never begin or fall off in the first week. It all starts with fully committing at the conception of an idea. If it’s great don’t wait. 

It’s not a matter of how to make a new year’s resolution but more so take an idea and commit to it regardless of the time of year. 

If you aren’t aware already I run a podcast called The Simple Idea where I talk to people from all over the world about how they took action on the things that matter to them. The show is heavily focused on personal development and doing things that add value to your life. Click here to check it out 

For those of you following these posts for the past few months, I want to say thank you and I appreciate you sticking with me! If you’re new here thanks for stopping by and checking out this post. If you like what you see take a quick peek at a few other posts. 

I’ll see you guys next week. 

 

The post New Year Commitments appeared first on Mekhi Greene.

Tips for Starting a Podcast: What Software to Use

Recently I started my podcast back up and I’ve been feeling extremely inspired about going through the creative process. While getting back on track I was quickly reminded of when I first started a few months ago and how scared and excited I was. I didn’t know where to begin regarding what tools or services to use. There are several different software options to choose from in the podcast space and they all have different pros and cons. 

For example…

 What hosting provider should you use?

 What is the best podcast recording app or application?

 What software should you use to edit your show? 

These are significant concerns for people new to podcast production and I think they should be met with reliable feedback. That’s why I want to share with you what software services I have been using for the past year for my podcast. 

This list will have you covered from setting your show up to having it uploaded to whatever podcast directories you want! The best part about it is that I discovered these through trial and error so you get to hear about my real-world experiences using these various tools. You’ll get an idea as to why I use these tools and what makes them great. You’ll also know what to look out for as well. 

Everything I mention in this post will be linked. So without further ado let me break down this list.

(Also as a side note I’ll mention some other software options on top of the services I primarily use)

 

Libsyn

I must admit the reason I use Libsyn is actually because of a podcasting guide I found on YouTube by Pat Flynn. He’s a well respected and trusted content producer and he’s well known within the podcast community. If you’re not familiar with his work I highly recommend you get acquainted with it especially if you plan on producing a podcast. Click here to check him out. 

Anyway back to Libsyn. 

Although I didn’t go through the headache of testing multiple hosting providers I know for a fact Libsyn works and it works exceptionally well. For the year that I’ve been using their platform, I’ve been covered and I haven’t felt the need to try another service. There is the possibility that other services have different offerings but in my book, if it’s not broke don’t fix it. 

Libsyn allows you to check stats pertaining to your show, you can automatically schedule your episodes to publish at later dates, and options for monetization if your show has a sizeable audience. 

There are many other features but these are some of my favorites. You’ll get a better understanding of the platform if you decide to use it as your podcast hosting provider. If you check out Libsyn and for whatever reason end up disliking it there are other hosting providers such as Anchor, Buzzsprout, Podbean, Simplecast and more. Libsyn offers plans as low as $5 and the higher up you go the more they offer. 

With hosting covered let’s move on to how you can record your episodes.

 

Zencastr 

What if you managed to secure a dream interview only for you to come to the realization that your guest resides thousands of miles away and you don’t have the ability to interview them in person. Well, I’m glad you asked! You can use an online recording software!

Depending on your recording situation you can either record remotely using an online service or in person. In-person, you can use software such as Audacity (will revisit this soon) or a physical recording device. However, since this post is aimed at discussing software options I’ll focus on that. For my own use, I’ve found Zencastr to be my service of choice and in my opinion, it is a podcast recording app you should be using. 

Zencastr is stupidly simple to set up and use so it’s a service that is easy to get attached to. The website is also complemented by a clean user interface and navigating the website is seamless. There are many features to this software but I want to highlight one of my favorites. 

What I personally enjoy the most about Zencastr is that you can invite guests to a call by sending them a link and then all you need to do after that is hit the record button. When your done recording you have an audio file for each speaker which you are free to edit. Each episode you record is also stored in your account so you can access it at any time. Be wary because there are limitations to how much you can store depending on your plan. 

Also, Zencastr is free to use! The hobbyist plan (Free) lets you record up to 8 hours a month and have up to 2 guests at a time. If you upgrade to the professional plan which goes for $20 a month you pretty much get the same features plus some additional features on steroids

This is a service that offers high-quality audio and its made accessible to any and everyone. This website alone has dramatically changed the way I record my show. Before I transition into what software you should use to edit I want to mention another software option that you can use to record with a guest in person. 

Audacity!

I don’t normally use this to record face to face interviews because I prefer to use a recording device but it’s definitely an option. If this seems like something you would be interested in, watch a YouTube video on how to get it set up. It’s pretty straightforward and you most likely won’t need to at all. 

Now onto editing! 

 

Audacity

Editing is something that I believe comes down to preference but even with that said I still want to supply a solution. I have used a few editing programs and in the end, I always end up coming back to Audacity. The Audacity software is a podcast editing app that you can download to Windows, macOS, and Linux. The program is free to use and there are regular updates to the software. 

When you first download Audacity it can appear as very intimidating but after a few YouTube tutorials you’ll get the basics down. I’m not going to give you a full breakdown of the service just a quick review. Audacity has a wide set of editing features and after a while, it becomes second-hand nature to use. For anyone new to audio editing its a great beginner program that you can use for years to come. 

There are no real drawbacks that I can think of off the top of my head but you can be the judge of that if you decide to download. Some great alternative options consist of Garageband (Only for Apple devices), Adobe Audition, Logic Pro, and more. Some of these other programs have a more difficult barrier to entry so keep this in mind. 

Also here is a YouTube tutorial for learning Audacity.

 

Auphonic

 

If I were, to sum up, what Auphonic does in one word I would say that it is automation. Auphonic is a website that focuses on the post-production side of podcasting. I discovered it a few months ago and it’s been instrumental in increasing my podcasts sound consistency. Before finding it my audio was amateurish but now all of my audio tracks at the time of publication flow naturally.

This service creates professional-quality audio and you don’t have to do anything outside of input your audio tracks. What I like to do is edit my show in Audacity and once I finish the project I upload the file to Auphonic and it corrects any imperfections with the audio. The website establishes an ideal audio loudness (-16 LUFS), stabilizes loudness, reduces noise/hum, uses an adaptive leveler, and filters. 

What I just mentioned are what I would consider to be the selling points of Auphonic but of course, they offer more. To my knowledge, there aren’t too many other tools like this one and it’s been vital in my editing process. Unfortunately, it isn’t free (Starts at $10) but for what it does I wouldn’t expect it to be. It provides more than enough value to warrant its price and I always recommend it to anyone thinking about getting into podcasting. Save yourself time, effort, and frustration by letting Auphonic do what it’s good at. 

And that brings us to the end of this week’s post. 

The goal of this list was to show you what software will help you right out the gate as a beginner. I use each one of the services I talked about in my production process and in the same sequence. Each program has increased my workflow and simplified a tedious procedure. Do you think this has given you a better idea of how to record a podcast? 

If you have any questions about anything you read in this post ask away. You can find me on Twitter and Instagram at @greenemekhi. If you don’t have any questions and you just want to say hi, you can do that too! 

Also, tune into my podcast “The Simple Idea”. Episodes every Friday 12 PM EST.

I’ll catch you next week. 

Libsyn

Zencastr

Audacity

Auphonic 

 

The post Tips for Starting a Podcast: What Software to Use appeared first on Mekhi Greene.

My Urban EDC List

Every day we all carry a small assortment of items that come with us on our daily commutes. These tools that we use are known to some as every day carry items or EDC and its a community that has seen a ton of growth in recent years. If you’re not familiar head over to Reddit and search r/EDC or go to YouTube where you’ll find people from all over the world posting videos about some of the items that they carry.

So…

In this week’s post, I thought I would share some of the things that I carry with me and why I carry them with me in my day to day life. I put a decent amount of thought into the items I use and I even developed a system for new things that enter my carry.

There are three main components to this system and it doesn’t just apply to EDC items. It applies to every other material item I add to my home.

First.

“How will this tool improve my life?”. Will the item that I’m carrying add any additional value to my life? I am a firm believer in having a use for everything I own and I won’t hold on to something just for the sake of possessing that item. I don’t know by what definition I would be considered a minimalist but I certainly do practice intentional living. Basically whatever item I buy needs to be providing a real function, otherwise, it’s pointless to have.

Second.

“Does this thing match my style?”. In other words… Is this item aesthetically pleasing or does it bring a sense of joy and excitement to a boring day? If I’m able to pick up one of my items and feel the same type of excitement as a kid in a candy store, it meets my criteria. I’m sure you’ve heard of look good, feel good.

Lastly, I find the quality to be a major priority. Once again this is in all aspects of my life but in terms of EDC it’s definitely important. You don’t want to have crappy tools in your toolbox, you want something reliable that gets the job done time and time again. A phone with poor battery life or a pocket knife that doesn’t cut well is causing problems not solving them.

With that said… Let’s get into my everyday carry items list. I would classify my everyday carry as tech EDC or technology-focused. It’s been pretty consistent and it has stayed the same for the past few months. To keep this brief I’ll share my essentials and towards the end of this article, I’ll link all the products mentioned. Some of the links are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, my page will receive some kickback if you click through and male a purchase

Samsung Galaxy S9

The most indispensable tool in my everyday carry checklist is without a doubt my smartphone! And as you already know the smartphone I carry is the Samsung Galaxy S9! I got this phone on its initial release day and as I’m typing this it’s nearing its 2 year anniversary. Normally I would be eager to get a brand new phone after having one for 2 years but things are somewhat different this time around. As much as I love new technology I’ve realized that I don’t absolutely have to upgrade to the latest and greatest.

Of course, there is the expectation that over time it will get slower or battery life may decrease but that is normal. For the duration that I’ve had the phone, it has been a consistent performer and it hasn’t skipped a beat. The model that I have is the Midnight Black 64 GB variant. I personally prefer to keep a case on my phone to protect from drops and I like to cycle between my Spigen Liquid Crystal and Otterbox Symmetry case. Since the S9 has an external storage option, I also like to take advantage of it by using a 32 GB micro sd card.

The S9 has been a reliable daily driver and the cornerstone of my minimalist EDC list. It has a beautiful sleek design that is complimented well by its curvy display. Speaking of its display it’s large enough to view different types of content comfortably and it’s incredibly sharp. The phone has surprised me with its ability to remain quick, produce really good photos, and keep a charge.
My experience with this phone has been comfortable and with the option to customize it with a variety of launchers and icons packs it never feels stale (If you would be interested in a post on what apps I use for my phone be sure to let me know!).

For now, my Galaxy S9 continues to check all the boxes and it is just enough to get me by.

Armani Exchange Leather Cardholder

Moving on to my wallet we have the Armani Exchange Leather Cardholder. This is a wallet I bought back in May of this year and it’s been fun owning it so far. Considering that this is a wallet there isn’t a whole lot to say about it. Some of the features that I enjoy however include the quality of the material, the minimalist approach that forces you to carry less, and the professional/classy look and feel. I’m at an age where I’m transitioning into adulthood and this is a wallet that acts as a reminder of that.

My one complaint is that the metal accent on the wallet bulges out and can be somewhat distracting. Not to mention that there’s always the possibility of it falling or being ripped off since it sits on the surface of the wallet. Although I do love this wallet I am still in the market for something similar to this just not as flashy. The next wallet I end up purchasing will most likely be another leather cardholder of some kind.

Keys

As irrelevant and obvious as keys might seem they are a KEY (Please forgive me I had to) part of my EDC list. I always have my apartment key linked to my car key fob. I think keychains are cool but I prefer to keep my keys light and minimal. Talking about keys is pretty boring so I’ll make this quick. I’m a college student so I live in a tiny apartment and I love German cars so I am a proud owner of a Volkswagen Jetta. There’s not much else to say about keys because they only have one real purpose.

Kindle

Around July of this year, I started using a kindle for reading all my books. I never fully planned to use one and I guess you can say it happened by chance. As of now, I don’t plan on looking back and this eReader has changed the way I read and interact with books dramatically. I have Ali Abdaal (YouTuber and Doctor) to thank for gifting mine to me. Go check out his YouTube channel and let him know Mekhi sent you.

If you don’t already have a kindle and you are someone who reads constantly I recommend investing in one as soon as possible. The Amazon Kindle is able to hold thousands of books and the battery life is simply amazing. Some of my favorite features is being able to highlight or take notes and have all of that information sync to my Amazon account.

I have yet to find a better reading solution yet! It fits comfortably in most sized bags or slings, its plastic so it’s fairly durable and it excels at being extremely practical. If having access to thousands of books from one device isn’t a compelling enough reason to buy one of these then I don’t know what is.

Field Notes

In the everyday carry Reddit community (r/EDC) Fieldnotes is a notebook that dominates the forum. After seeing hundreds of other submissions on this subreddit curiosity got the better of me and I decided to give it a shot. At the time I was using a spiral notebook as my daily planner and it was too bulky and awkward to carry around without a bag. My goal with switching to the Fieldnotes was to find create a more feasible solution.

With 3 months of use under my belt, I can confidently say I really like Fieldnotes. It’s a cellphone size pocket notebook that you can bring with you anywhere. It’s made from durable materials, it’s relatively affordable (3 pack for under $13), super compact, and it has tasteful branding.

It’s a notebook that makes you want to write in it and when paired with a smooth pen you find yourself doing just that. No, I don’t think this is the end all be all or the holy grail of notebooks but it gets the job done and it does so in style. My only fault with fieldnotes is that there are only 48 pages per book but that makes sense because of its size.

Samsung Galaxy Buds

To be completely honest I actually just got my hands on these today so I can’t say too much about them at the moment. I always keep a pair of earbuds with me whether it’s for listening to podcasts or playing music. I originally planned to wait for the release of Google’s Pixel Buds but with an unspecified release date and black Friday sales on most tech, you can clearly see how that turned out.

And with that ladies and gentlemen is my minimalist pocket dump. These might not be everyday items you need but they fit my use perfectly and help me throughout the day.

As previously mentioned I’ll link all the products I mentioned in this post below! If you enjoyed this quick look at my EDC tweet at me @greenemekhi on twitter! Also, let me know what you’re carrying. I’ll catch you next week!

Samsung Galaxy S9
Armani Exchange CardHolder
Kindle
Fieldnotes
Samsung Galaxy Buds

The post My Urban EDC List appeared first on Mekhi Greene.

11 Tips for Beginner Photographers

As a new photographer, these are some of the ideas that have helped get me going. Update: Also check out our Digital Photography Tips for Beginners Page.

1. Don’t go crazy buying the most expensive equipment right away.

It’s possible to get very nice photos with an inexpensive point and shoot. See these examples on Flickr. The more photos you take, the more you’ll know about what kind of camera to get when it’s time to upgrade.

2. Consider a tripod.
On the other hand, an inexpensive tripod is worth getting, especially if you have shaky hands like mine. When I got a tripod, my satisfaction with my shots skyrocketed. For even more stability, use your camera’s timer function with a tripod (read our introduction to tripods).

3. Keep your camera with you all the time.

Photo ops often come when you least expect it. If you can keep your equipment relatively simple – just a small camera bag and a tripod – you might be able to take advantage of some of those unexpected opportunities. Or, if your phone has a camera, use it to take “notes” on scenes you’d like to return to with your regular camera.

4. Make a list of shots you’d like to get.

For those times you can’t carry your camera around, keep a small notebook to jot down places you’d like to come back and photograph. Make sure to note any important details, like the lighting, so you can come back at the same time of day or when the weather’s right. If you don’t want to carry a notebook, send yourself an email using your cell phone with Jott.com.

5. Don’t overlook mundane subjects for photography.

You might not see anything interesting to photograph in your living room or your backyard, but try looking at familiar surroundings with fresh eyes. You might catch an interesting trick of the light or find some unexpected wildflowers in your yard. Often a simple subject makes the best shot.

6. Enjoy the learning process.

The best part of having a hobby like photography is never running out of things to learn. Inspiration is all around you. Look at everything with the eyes of a photographer and you’ll see opportunities you never noticed before.

Read Full Article Here: 11 Tips for Beginner Photographers