The rapid rise of mobility, social media and the internet, is enabling technology to offer unprecedented opportunities in all aspects of life, both for business and socially and with the recent popularity of app stores, such as that embodied by iTunes, and small format media players the cottage industry of self publishing is busier than ever particularly in the area of podcasting.

According to Wikipedia, “podcasting” is a series of digital media files (either audio or video) that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication. One of the great things about podcasts is that all you really need is a computer, a microphone and an internet connection and you can start your own podcast. There are many themes to choose from, ranging from deep political insights to comedy. If you go for a comedy themed podcast you could join the 20,000 other popular podcasts on iTunes alone (as at 7th July 2011).

I recently got to put some questions to two friends who have embraced this new media and are currently redefining the boundaries of new media communication. University students Tim Barnes and Simon Berry, as well as being active members of community radio station Calon FM, produce and present a fortnightly 20 minute comedy show “Brain Spill” distributed through the Apple iTunes Store, for free, which is gaining popularity and rapidly climbing the charts. Update: Tim and Simon recently announced that the show is going weekly.

According to a recent article in The Shropshire Star Tim and Simon’s podcast has been downloaded more than 20,000 times and has led it to break into the top 40 iTunes chart for UK comedy podcasts.

Brain Spill is currently featured as a “New and Noteworthy” podcast so the guys are doing something right. So, in the words of Robert Llewellyn, how do they do it? Let’s ask them…