Review of podcasts: The Fredcast

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The FredCast is a difficult one to review. I am wracked with guilt because the presenter David Bernstein seems like a really nice guy, and his ethos is spot on, but the bottom line is I the majority of the content just doesn’t grab me.

The Two Johns Podcast (of which I am a fan) have ribbed the FredCast for being boring- a little below the belt perhaps. Two Johns broadcast for themselves first and foremost, covering local racing, club scene, cyclocross and high end bike bits with their dry humour, while David FredCast is more inclusive, doing sportives, fitness, urban and news stories for everyone. Both cover pro racing in their own way- two distinct ‘markets’.

The FredCast seems to be immensely popular, but to achieve that, it paints with a broader brush, playing to a lower common denominator. I can appreciate this- the US is a huge market so to be a success you have a lot of bases to cover. He is a great innovator and knows how to work new media- his show seems to be the longest-running podcast, he’s done video broadcasts from Interbike, runs the Spokesmen round table podcast and has sponsors coming to him to get little slots.

However, although ‘boring’ is unkind, I do struggle to keep my attention at times. The product recalls section in particular is a real snore. Again, he’s doing the right thing but it just makes for terrible listening. The interviews similarly don’t grab me— it could be argued that they are for the American audience so why should they? However I come back to the Johns— their interviews with Rahsaan Bahati and Ted King for example, (both of whom I hadn’t heard of) led me to take much more of an interest on those particular riders. The FredCast features are much more in-one-ear-and-out-the-other.

I get more out of the Two Johns narrower niche (some may say clique). It takes more work to get into it, but once you’re in ‘the club’ you feel part of something.

One last thing — and apologies to David, because he’ll probably find this review. But the delivery, while crisp and professionally recorded, just does my nut in. He tries far too hard to speak slowly and clearly and the enunciation just gets on my nerves. That comment sounds illogical but for me a podcast should be a little rough around the edges, not all slick and polished.
So IF. You’re riding your bike. Hammer JUST. A little bit harder. Because this. Is the FredCast.

I have subscribed and unsubscribed a few times. I’m currently ‘off’ but I’m sure I’ll dip back in later.

Key words
Fred
Product recall
Hammer a little bit harder
Training for a hundred
Interbike

Links
Fredcast twitter
Fredcast website
Fredcast on iTunes

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  • http://monkeyphotomcr.blogspot.com/ John_the_Monkey

    I have to say, I love the Spokesmen, it has the banter & slightly off the cuff feeling that I don't get from the Fredcast, and David does a superb job as chairman. (Listen to enough “zoo” type podcasts, and you'll realise how hard they are to get right. (People talking over each other, tangents going off for ages…)

    I sort of agree about the Fredcast, and I feel bad about it too – I just prefer the cheekiness of (say) The Velocast, but the appeal of the latter is always going to be a bit more niche, because you have to agree enough with the slant taken to find amsuing as opposed to annoying.

  • owen_p

    Agree with your view on banter and off-the-cuff things. One point I forgot to make about the Fredcast- I think it suffers from the single-host format. Other ones I like, even non-cycling shows such as Mayo & Kermode or football debates get a great deal of their character from the relationship between the presenters.

  • fshires

    Rather too dull for me as well. Extremely true about the speaking slowly part also, “I'm David………….(two hour pause)……………. and I'm a Fred.” Can't complain too much, though. He obviously puts a fair bit of effort into it and as has done a far better job than I could probably ever dream of doing.

  • http://monkeyphotomcr.blogspot.com/ John_the_Monkey

    If you want to hear a really good single voice podcast, Brian Thompson's “Amateur Scientist” podcast is very funny. Worth a listen if you like a bit of skeptical/science orientated mickey taking

  • http://veloclubdonlogan.blogspot.com bmfw

    David certainly appears to put a lot of effort into the show & as has been mentioned a few times, he seems like a really nice guy, but I think the show lacks any form of engagement with the listeners. It tends to come across as a bit too serious and I imagine the listener demographic to be equally serious (and possibly employed in the dental profession!)

    Whilst I do subscribe (which I suppose tells its own story), I'm not sure that I really feel involved in the same way that I do with other podcasts. It seems odd that David is coming in for a bit of flack for almost being “too” professional or polished but it seems that we do like our podcasts to feel a bit more hame-knitted!
    I don't know if The Spokesmen will be the subject of a separate review, so I'll keep my powder dry for that one just in case.

  • http://monkeyphotomcr.blogspot.com/ John_the_Monkey

    His production & research is excellent, and I imagine it must take a while to put out a 1hr plus show. I don't mind that it's “slick” (in a good way) I just find it a bit middle of the road in terms of opinion (again , not necessarily a bad thing, just not for me).

  • FredCast

    Hi All.

    Thanks for the comments. I'm sorry you sometimes find the show boring or a bit over-produced, but I do appreciate your views and will take them into account.

    For insight, I've always strived for a high level of quality, intelligence, and a broad mix of news, reviews, commentary and opinion. I produce a show that I would listen to, and I've heard far too many non-cycling podcasts that feature lots of banter, personal opinion (much of it uninformed and without research to back their argument), and humor. While those shows obviously satisfy the tastes of some, they're not for me and they are not what The FredCast will ever be about.

    Someone once described me as the Walter Cronkite of cycling podcasters. While I certainly do not put myself even in the same galaxy as Cronkite, I get the point. They find that The FredCast has a trusted voice, a well-produced show, and a show that includes information you know came from research. If that's what they meant, then I accept the compliment.

    As for the tag lines, slogans, long pauses, etc., those are done with tongue firmly planted in cheek. I'm sure you knew that.

    Oh, and thanks for the kind comments about me being a nice guy. My wife would agree. ;-)

    Thanks again for the reviews and comments. Keep 'em coming! And please, keep listening. ;-)

    All the best.

    David

  • owen_p

    Thanks for commenting David,

    I knew you'd find this review so I hope it came across as relatively balanced (unlike my Guardian 'The Bike' review).

    I knew the slogans, Fredisms etc were slightly tongue-in-cheek but I didn't realise the pauses were. I thought that was just the style- or perhaps because the average attention span over the pond is a bit shorter? (joking)

    Producing a show that you would listen to is the best way to do it of course. That's how the Johns, Velocast and I'm sure bikeradio approach it. It's good that there's so much variety out there.

    bmfw mentioned interaction with the listeners on the show- I slightly agree and was going to mention this in my main review but I know you do a lot of tweeting and stuff outwith the show. There are probably too many listeners to respond to.

    I'm not subscribed to the Fredcast at the moment but I'll come back later- I still appreciate the show and to be honest I'll listen to anything to almost do with cycling. Except The Guardian's The Bike Podcast.

  • http://veloclubdonlogan.blogspot.com StumpyRider

    So for the second time in a week we'll have someone in cycling Tweeting: “I won't be forgetting this comment any time soon” ;-)

    I hope we've all learned a valuable lesson here, children…

  • http://twitter.com/steve_s_t Steve_S_T

    Strange isn't it but whilst I like the Fredcast I no longer subscribe to Two Johns? The content didn't really float my boat but their interminable pauses frequently had me checking my BlackBerry to see if I had a call coming in or whether the podcast software had stalled. If you're not on the Johns wavelength that podcast is excruciating, whereas the Fredcast's content is consistently interesting and doesn't rely on sense of humour compatibility.

    Right, off to read the Guardian blog post now and looking forward to a Velocast review soon :-)

  • http://www.velocast.co.uk VeloCast

    The Fredcast has kept me company on many a postie round. I must confess that now that Scott and I have done more than metaphorically dipped our toe in the water I appreciate what David does a wee bit more than I did before. However, I do feel a wee bit of frustration with David's Kronkite persona. Why? Well David in the “virtual” flesh without his Fredcast persona is, as I've said before a funny, sarcastic, humorous irreverent bloke far more in tune with my natural Scottish cynicism than the Fredcast allows him to be. We've talked about him co-hosting an ep of the Velocast, the only rule will be that he leaves the Fredcast persona at the door . David Bernstein is company enough. And no, I haven't turned into a luvvy! ;o)

    John

  • http://www.velocast.co.uk VeloCast

    BTW, I'm slightly shitting myself about what Owen has to say about us. ;oS
    J

  • http://veloclubdonlogan.blogspot.com bmfw

    It could be worse – he might have nothing to say about you
    :-0

  • http://www.velocast.co.uk VeloCast

    True enough, no greater punishment than apathy. ;o(

    J

  • owen_p

    I posted a review of the Two Johns here a while back.

    It's far from perfect but they really do do it for themselves which I kind of respect. I've had many an email read out (aka Scottish Roadie) and having got into their world-view I feel somehow 'in the club'. A bit of a groupiesque view but hey.

    You're right when you say that you have to like them to like the show, where the Fredcast is more for everybody – and more popular for that, I would assume.

    The Guardian had its moments but on the whole I did find it excruciating. Would be interested to hear your thoughts if you listen to it.

  • owen_p

    I posted a review of the Two Johns here a while back.

    It's far from perfect but they really do do it for themselves which I kind of respect. I've had many an email read out (aka Scottish Roadie) and having got into their world-view I feel somehow 'in the club'. A bit of a groupiesque view but hey.

    You're right when you say that you have to like them to like the show, where the Fredcast is more for everybody – and more popular for that, I would assume.

    The Guardian had its moments but on the whole I did find it excruciating. Would be interested to hear your thoughts if you listen to it.

  • owen_p

    I remember your comment John, after you'd been on The Spokesmen. I'd like to hear more of this side of Mr Fredcast so go for it, get him on. I think it's his turn to get up at some ungodly hour to record a podcast, don't you.

  • owen_p

    I am sitting on the post- don't want to play all my best cards at once. Trust me, you have nothing to fear. Are those Dura-Ace shifters in the mail yet? ;-)

  • http://monkeyphotomcr.blogspot.com/ John_the_Monkey

    Velocast, re: getting David on as co-host, I hope you can do it, I'd love to hear that. I think non-Fredcast David is the side that comes over a bit more in the Spokesmen podcast maybe?

  • http://twitter.com/steve_s_t Steve_S_T

    Hi Owen. Yep, I do subscribe to The Guardian bike podcast and have to agree with you that it certainly comes across as patronising. It's almost as if it's raison d'etre is to convert people to cycling which is laudible enough except that I suspect only the converted are actually listening (and then not many), rendering it pointless. I also subscribe to The Guardian's Tech Weekly podcast which is informative yet assumes it's audience is already knowledgeable on tech matters. Perhaps I should write and ask them why the Tech editors treat their audience with respect whilst their colleagues in the environment/ cycling department treats it's audience like children. Whilst they're at it perhaps they mght also like to explain why the bike podcast is stuck in that environmental slot, which undoubtedly limits their “angles” and also how, even though it only comes out monthly, it's already shrunk by about 30% in length (down to about 20 minutes) AND still doesn't contain anything of interest to cyclists, just novice cyclists. Whilst I think The Guardian's web output is fantastic and rivals the BBC in scope, it's disappointing that this cycling podcast is such poor output by ANY standards, let alone theirs.

  • owen_p

    Good points Steve. I listened for a while but ran out of patience and have unsubscribed now.

  • http://veloclubdonlogan.blogspot.com bmfw

    Well, I don't know if David was taking the comments on board but, having just listened to the most recent Fredcast, I have to say that it was excellent. The interviews from the BMC camp were very interesting & despite David's apologies, the audio in these segments wasn't really that bad, all things considered.

    I thinks David's ever-increasing network of industry insiders is proving to be a good source of content for him. So I'm giving thumbs-up for this episode anyway.

  • owen_p

    I have resubscribed to the FredCast and am listening to that episode now. Think I will just skip episodes if I can't be bothered, or fast-forward the product recalls and other bits I don't like.

    Good point about his network- BMC interview sounds good. Interviews can be a bit dull- e.g. the one with Levi Leipheimer's brother, but Cyclingnews should take note! That bunch need to use THEIR contacts to bring us some really meaty pro interviews.