thunderbirdsix FAQ

What is thunderbird six?

thunderbirdsix is a podcast, or internet radio programme, about Algoma University

What do I need to listen to thunderbird six?

Well, you need a podcast client.  There are many available, including the following:

Juice (Windows XP, OSX, linux)

iPodderX (OS X and Windows, the Windows version is a Beta)

iTunes (for OSX and Windows)

For the above pieces of software you will need to know our ‘feed’. A feed is a kind of webpage sorta kinda. Anyway, our feed is:

feeds.feedburner.com/tbird6 (some software will want http:// in front of that, others are ok with feed://)

Just copy and paste that into your client software.

Various wesbites, such as http://www.odeo.com/ and http://www.podnova.com/ carry our 'cast as well as a zillion others.  Please vote for us at http://www.podcastalley.com/ and odeo.  Oh and subscribe in iTunes.  Let's get thunderbird six into the top 100 in Canada.  We were recently added to CanadianPodcasts which is pretty cool.

We are now in the iTunes music store! (Thank you Steve J). Click this button to subscribe in iTunes (you will need at least ver 4.9 of iTunes to subscribe).

Oh, and if you have already subscribed in iTunes, please unsubscribe and resubscribe (just once, I don’t want to cheat…) so we can maybe get into the top 100.

To listen on Odeo click here My Odeo Channel

To listen on Podnova click the button here

Alternatively, you can download the episodes directly off http://www.thunderbirdsix.org/.  The nice thing about using the clients listed above is that as soon as we at thunderbird six push out an episode your client will immediately download the episode for your listening pleasure.

Do I need an iPod?

Well, we at thunderbird six are of the firm opinion that everyone should have an iPod given to them, perhaps by the government...  However, any old mp3 player will work.  You can even use whatever you listen to on your computer to listen to audio, such as Windows Media Player, iTunes, Mplayer, Quicktime or even Real Player.

How can I contact thunderbird 6?

Easy, first you can email us.

Second, you can leave us voicemail using a programme called Gizmo, which is free and is available for Windows, OS X and linux.  Send messages to username tbirdsix.

The thunderbird six crew has phones, but does not use them as they are not 1337.....

What kind of gear do you use to produce thunderbird six?

We record our episodes using Quicktime Pro 7.0 for the Macintosh.  Our mics are an m-audio Nova and a Shure 8900 plugged into an m-audio USB preamp.  Our field kit consists of a Griffin iMic and a Shure 8900 (or sometimes a couple of lapel mics) which is hooked up to a MacBook Pro core duo, or, alternatively into a rather sweet Dell lappy with a Pentium M.  We usually use a Mac G5 for mixdown using garageband. All of our original music was written for the show by one of the thunderbird six crew.  We also get music from the Podsafe music network or from local bands in the Sault Ste. Marie area.  Our RSS feed, is pushed out by a programme called 'feeder.' Sometimes there is a little tweaking of the feed by hand.  This is usually done by Dave.

CanI be on thunderbird six?

SURE.  Let us know through email or using gizmo and we will get back to you.  We are especially interested in cool stories that don't get out much but have lots to do with the Algoma U community.   We typically do not interview profs, though on special occasions we will such as Newbigging winning the 'what does the name Thunderbird Six mean' contest.

What is your favourite OS?

OS X and linux pwn windoze

What do you do in your spare time?

Well, at least two of us in our spare time have a podcast Broca's Area.  Feel free to listen and subscribe, but note there is some umm err umm, some bad words now and then in Broca's Area.

If you have iTunes, click here to subscribe to Broca’s Area.

Can I make copies of the show?  Is it copyrighted?

Please, feel free to make copies and share among your friends.  This programme IS protected by copyright though.  You are free to distribute it as long as you give attribution.  This is called a Creative Commons copyright and is becoming the de facto standard in podcasting and vidcasting.  For more information please visit http://www.creativecommons.org/.  Now and then there may be copyrighted material on the show, listen to the announcements at the end of the show to see.

What podcasts do you listen to?

Broca's Area, This Week in Tech, Futures in Biotech, CHeck this Out, the Canadian Podcast Buffet, The Techphile, Diggnation, The Geekcast, Skepticality and Off The Hook. We are also fans of the vidcasts thebroken, systm, Pure Pwnage, Ask a Ninja, From The Shadows and Hak.5. 

Who are you?

Well the show is hosted by Dave Brodbeck, psychology professor at Algoma University and all around geek.

Isabelle Michaud takes care of copy editing (though all mistakes are Dave’s) as well as writing original music for the show. Isabelle is a French instructor at Algoma U.

Donna Woldanski is the Algoma Minister of Propaganda.

Glyn is as geeky as Dave, easily, and has lined up a number of interviews from participants in the  Future Play conference.

Can I help you guys in some way?

Yes, yes you can. Just email us with any ideas or offering any special skills. You do not have 2 b a 1337 HaX0r, you just have to enthusiastic.

What does the name Thunderbird 6 mean?

Bill Newbigging won the contest on this one.  In the 1960s there was a TV show called the Thunderbirds, and there were five of them.  Our teams at Algoma, are called the Thunderbirds.