Alpha Waves Radio Returns With New Format, Original Host

Michael Hinman back behind the microphone By STAFF WRITER Jul-8-2009

Source: Airlock Alpha

The online radio show that has already included some amazing guests such as George Takei, Eugene Roddenberry, Gil Gerard and more is back. And so is the original host of the show, Michael Hinman. Alpha Waves Radio, formerly known as SyFy Radio, returns July 31, to BlogTalkRadio. Hinman, the founder and site coordinator for Airlock Alpha and the entire BlipNetwork, talked about the return of the radio show -- now in a podcast format -- on the GateWorld podcast with hosts David Read and Darren Sumner. "The show is on hiatus right now," Hinman said. "Doing a live show, and you guys know this, the prep that goes into producing a live show is enormous." It was the grueling schedule of producing 90-minute weekly live show on a weekly basis that finally forced Hinman to call it quits after hosting the radio show after less than a year, and handing it off. However, the amount of work that went into producing the high-quality program was just as difficult for the new hosts, which put the show in limbo for a few months while a new strategy could be developed. Read, who works with Sumner on the popular Stargate Web site, said it was Hinman's former live show that inspired the GateWorld podcast to be created in the first place. "When I heard that show, the quality and professionalism that came forth naturally, that if there is that kind of quality online for a sci-fi radio show, a person who has a communications background like me could do something similar," Read said. Hinman said high production values is important to him, which is why he would spend hours each week preparing a simple 90-minute show that drew thousands of listeners both live and in archived podcast form. "I was in radio a long time ago, and I worked for bosses who always wanted the best production ever," Hinman said. "You hear a lot of these podcasts out there, and it sounds like they're just talking on the phone. They have no production, and we wanted to make sure that our show was well produced." Hinman added that they made the original radio show live because he felt "people would tune in to hear us screw up, which happened a lot." The new Alpha Waves Radio Podcast is planned as a 60-minute broadcast on an irregular basis, but could become a semi-monthly production. "Going 90 minute means that you'll be sitting in front of your computer for a long time," Hinman said. "It's not like a radio show where you are probably sitting in the car, or have it turned on at work. I think 90 minutes was just a killer. "When we bring back Alpha Waves, we're going to keep it tighter, shorter and have it in a way where people can download it onto their iPods." Alpha Waves will return July 31 with material and interviews Hinman will collect at San Diego Comic-Con. It's possible there may be enough material to stretch it out through additional shows the rest of the summer leading into the fall television season. Future programs will feature a variety of guests from science-fiction and fantasy. "Not doing this on a weekly basis means that we can focus more on the quality of the guests," Hinman said. "It will make it worth even more of your time to tune in." A special "Best Of" show featuring clips from the former SyFy Radio will air Saturday, July 18 beginning at noon featuring comedy bits, interview highlights with the likes of George Takei and Brent Spiner, and even some of the on-air battles. Alpha Waves can be heard through BlogTalkRadio by going to BlogTalkRadio.com/AlphaWaves or at AlphaWavesRadio.com.

URL: http://www.airlockalpha.com/node/6497