ACX Everywhere 2023 - Berkeley Edition Part 2 - 'ACX Meetup Meta' with ACX Meetup Czar Skyler Crossman (Coda), Education in the USSR, William Gibson, Robert Heinlein, Simulation Religions, Culture Novels, Solar Punk is Bullshit, Kim Stanley Robinson, Envi

ACX Everywhere 2023

Hello, and Welcome to ACX Everywhere 2023.

I’m Andrew Willsen, and this episode is part 2 of an extended conversation recorded at an ACX Everywhere Meetup in Berkeley, California, in October of 2023. This meetup took place at Lighthaven, a beautiful events space and conference facility located in the heart of Berkeley. Thanks to Skyler for organizing the Meetup, and thank you to everyone at Lighthaven for their hospitality.

The first 35 minutes of this episode continues where episode 7 left off and you'll find the topics in the title of this episode. The second part is a dialogue with ACX Global Meetup Czar Skyler Crossman in which we discuss our experiences with ACX Meetups in 2023, the basics of running a Meetup, the quest to build "Meetup in a Box", and Skyler's other plans for 2024. Skyler was incredibly supportive of my efforts to facilitate the creation of this podcast, both in terms of being receptive to the idea of trying something new (rare) and by helping me communicate with other ACX organizers around the country. Thanks Skyler, really appreciate the help, and also a big thanks to everyone who helped this podcast exist. It's been a lot of fun, and I couldn't have done it without you.

Finally, the purpose of this podcast is to make ACX more discoverable for people who, for whatever reason, don't read long blog posts. I believe there are a large number of humans who don't read long blog posts and who, simultaneously, also want to be part of an ethical nerd community. Hopefully this podcast makes us easier to find.

Below are some links from the episode covering carbon footprints, the Culture novels, ethical cults, and one definition of "Grey Tribe". Below that are links to things I covered in the conclusion regarding the logistics of crowdsourcing an ACX podcast on a global scale. Thanks for tuning in.

Carbon Footprint Basics - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_footprint

The Culture Novels - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_series

Ethical Cult Checklist - https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/5e74e8349194e2f76b9ffcd1/5e754938d25345a72291f0a3_Ethical%20Cult%20Checklist.pdf

Balaji and Grey tribe - https://eriktorenberg.substack.com/p/what-does-the-gray-tribe-want

Recording with Google Meet - Only available on a computer, but easy to set up before a meetup so that everyone can just log in on their own device.

Recording Audio on Discord - Discord is way better than Facebook (why are these our Schelling Points?)

Twitter / X Help Section - Look for the option on recording audio.

Riverside.fm on How to Record a Podcast on Your Phone - Decent summary of the basics.

Streamyard.com Plans/Pricing - This is one of the industry leaders, and there's a lot of value in the $20 a month plan, especially if the whole community shared one account. The other cool thing about Streamyard is that everything runs in a browser, with no new need to install anything new. They are on X/Twitter here

Riverside.fm Plans / Pricing

Cleanvoice.ai Plans / Pricing - High quality AI audio editing and mastering as a service, works out to around $1.40 per hour of audio, and it does a great job.

How to Factory Reset Apple/Android Phone, from PC Magazine - I believe having dedicated recording hardware makes everything easier, and it makes everything feel more cool (higher status). I would be shocked if an ACX meetup couldn't come up with five old phones to use for a collaborative group project, just like I would be shocked if said group lacked the technical chops to make it happen.

my email is justsomerandomguy(at)protonmail dot com

Quick Breakdown of the Crowdsourced Podcast

The Problem: Perceived Barriers to Podcasting

The initial enthusiasm for starting a podcast often hits a roadblock when potential creators face the reality of acquiring recording equipment and mastering technical setups. High-quality microphones, mixers, and recording software can represent a significant financial investment, not to mention the learning curve involved in using this technology effectively. These perceived barriers can deter many from pursuing podcasting.

A Creative Solution: Utilizing Readily Available Resources

Imagine a scenario where the cost and complexity of starting a podcast are significantly reduced, not by inventing new technologies, but by repurposing what's already within our reach. The cornerstone of this approach is the recognition that many potential podcast creators already possess the most crucial pieces of equipment: smartphones and headphones. Further, in a community setting, there's often access to an untapped resource—old smartphones that have been replaced but still function perfectly well.

The Core of the Idea: Equipment and Setup

The minimalist setup for this podcasting method includes any microphone that can be connected to a smartphone—avoiding the awkwardness of speaking directly into the phone—and basic wired earbuds or headphones. This setup is both accessible and user-friendly, removing the intimidation factor from the recording process.

The innovation doesn't stop at using current smartphones. By collecting old smartphones that might otherwise be gathering dust in drawers, the community can create dedicated recording devices. These phones can be easily repurposed through a simple process: performing a data wipe, conducting a factory reset, and installing a podcasting app that supports cloud recording. This process transforms these forgotten gadgets into valuable tools for digital storytelling.

Implementation: Creating a Mobile Recording Studio

With each refurbished phone serving as a dedicated recording station, participants can plug in their microphones and headphones, connecting to Wi-Fi to access a podcasting app. This setup allows for the recording of high-quality audio that is automatically uploaded to the cloud, ensuring all files are centrally stored and easily accessible for editing and production.

This approach not only simplifies the technical aspects of podcasting but also introduces a scalable model. Depending on the community's size and the number of available smartphones, the project can accommodate a range of participants, from small groups to larger gatherings, making podcasting a collective endeavor.

The Community Aspect: Crowdsourcing and Collaboration

At its heart, this method of podcasting is a community-driven project. It requires the collective effort of gathering old phones, preparing them for use, and learning together how to produce content. This process not only lowers the financial barrier to podcasting but also strengthens community bonds as members collaborate on a creative project.

The cost associated with this podcasting approach is minimal, with multiple free options and paid options potentially as low as $20 a month for cloud recording services, which can be shared among participants. This affordability, coupled with the communal effort of setting up the technology, well, seems like a great ACX/Rationalist Meetup Project.