In a recent episode of the Vision Cast Network podcast, the hosts Rachel and JC were joined by their team to celebrate a very special occasion - team member Philip's 34th birthday! The show was filled with lighthearted banter, surprises, announcements, and even an amusing AI-generated prank call.
The hosts proudly shared that they are now recording in crystal clear stereo thanks to their new Zoom H1n Handy Recorders. Rachel and JC discussed the latest firmware update and how to enable the accessibility features for visually impaired users. They noted a few minor downsides, like audible warnings when unmuting, but overall were thrilled with the enhanced audio quality.
The Visioncast Network now has a Zoom phone number that listeners can call to be patched into the show. The hosts reminded everyone that Rachel's personal number will be displayed when dialing in, so she will be renaming callers to preserve privacy. Fans are encouraged to leave voicemails or even join live when the show is airing.
The team announced an exciting new project where listeners can submit audio recordings sharing their personal testimonies and life stories. The goal is to compile these into a special episode to air on Nolan's Technology & More podcast, then syndicate to the Visioncast Network and Cloud Eleven Network.
Guidelines for the testimonials include:
- Maximum length of 15 minutes
- Include a trigger warning if discussing graphic or sensitive topics
- Submit in audio format (video submissions may be uploaded separately to YouTube)
- Send audio files to Rachel, George, or Nolan via email or Dropbox by March 29 at 11:59pm ET
Those without recording capabilities can call Rachel's Zoom line and she will record their testimonial for them. The team emphasized that this is an opportunity for any listener, not just show members, to participate and share why they are part of the Visioncast community.
Several Visioncast team members shared exciting personal updates:
- George is taking a vacation to Cincinnati from May 15-25 to visit Rachel, Haley, and Angela
- JC has an upcoming horseback riding show on June 8 where he hopes to win some ribbons
- Donald made major upgrades to his Supermix Radio station, including gapless playback between songs and jingles, as well as volume leveling
- Preston is attending a leadership seminar at Penn State University and continuing to listen to interviews on the Nolan's Technology & More podcast
- Nolan discovered Audio.com, a free platform where they may upload and share show recordings to expand their reach
To celebrate Philip's special day, Nolan prepared and shared a heartfelt happy birthday audio message. Salvis had also created a personalized birthday song for Philip, complete with a photoshopped image of his favorite singer Taylor Swift holding up a "Happy Birthday Philip" sign next to a Hollywood landmark.
The hosts hinted at more birthday surprises to come later in the show. And indeed, partway through the episode, a mystery caller dialed in - it was an AI voice training model roleplaying as the Easter Bunny! The AI voice wished Philip a happy birthday on behalf of the Visioncast team and even sang to him. While there were some humorous glitches in the conversation, overall it provided plenty of laughs.
In another comical segment, the show played an AI-generated prank call that Rachel had received using an online service called Phonecall.GPT. In the simulated call, a school principal informed Rachel about her mischievous "son" George's latest creative antics, like decorating the boys' bathroom for Philip's birthday and using cafeteria food to make art.
The AI chatbot played along with Rachel's questions and came up with silly details, like George making ketchup and mustard portraits of the school staff. The team cracked up at the absurdity and randomness of the call. They marveled at the potential for using AI tools like this for entertainment, but also some of the current limitations.
As the show came to a close, each team member took a turn giving shout-outs to the rest of the Visioncast crew as well as their friends, family, and supporters. Birthday boy Philip expressed his love and appreciation for his girlfriend Haylie and the whole team. Rachel shared some playful shout-outs to her various love interests and collaborators.
The team reminded listeners to subscribe to the show's email list, follow them on social media, and check out the new Visioncast YouTube channel. They are working hard behind the scenes on a new website and upgraded podcast feeds as well.
Amidst all the celebrations and silliness, the Visioncast crew made it clear that they have big plans for the future. As the podcast's reach grows, they remain committed to nurturing an interactive, positive, and talented community where everyone can shine.
With new team members contributing their skills, upcoming in-person meetups, and the promise of more engaging content to come, loyal listeners have every reason to stay tuned. The Visioncast Network continues to be a place where, as Salvis says, "randomness, fun and talent collide."
Be sure to subscribe to the Vision Cast Network mailing list or follow them on Facebook so you don't miss a moment of the magic. Here's to the next 34 years of friendship, laughter, and using technology to make the world a little brighter! Happy birthday Philip, and thanks for listening.