May I be the first to say: YAY!

I think it's important to say that you guys rock. Yours is the only podcast I listen to. Hell, I even eagerly anticipate the next installment and recommend it warmly to my friends. Is it working? I have absolutely no idea.

re suggestions for next year - if you want to broaden your audience, I suggest you try to broaden your range of contributors. I know you occasionaly have someone from Britain (sorry, man, I just can't seem to remember your name right now) and you used to have Tomer Israeli, whose name I do remember because I, myself, am Israeli. I will admit that I was one of the first to give him a hard time when he first came on the show (perhaps excessively so, and for that I apologize), but he's improved remarkably over the course of a few installments and I was genuinely sorry to see him go. Since Israel is a crucial focal point in the Jihadi War I think it's important to have an Israeli's perspective, so if you can't get Tomer back, try finding someone else. He\she'll not lack for material, I promise you that. Esp. now with elections coming. I may even have someone in mind if you're interested.

Also, and I think Meryl would agree with me here, more female contributors would be welcome and help balance out the show so it doesn't feel like a guys' club. A former or moderate Muslim (and I mean an actual moderate, not a "moderate") would also be good, plus people from other non-anglospheric countries. Perphas India or the Philippines, anywhere where the struggle continues. It would give the show a wider perpective.

I also agree about the monthly get-together - you guys seem to have good chemistry and intersting stuff come through in your interaction.

Lastly - don't sell yourselves short. You. Are. Funny. Not every joke works, but much more do than don't, and occasionally you're downright hilarious.

Looking forward to your triumphant return.

Dear all,

Let me say that I'm glad to see that you didn't go into a suicidal funk just because our side lost the election.  There is a chance that president elect Obama may not be as bat-shit crazy as many of his supporters hoped.  The great American ship of state sails on, barnacle encrusted, leaking and listing to port but still afloat and a long, long way from sinking.

Now, as to Shire Network News:  Have any of you thought about how hard it is to find you?  I just spent a few minutes checking out some of the conservative websites who publish links to other websites.  You are not there.  You are not there even on the sites of people you have interviewed on Shire Network News.  What's up with that?  It would also increase your popularity if you had a list of other people/blogs/sites more prominently displayed on your page.  What is it about the word "Network" that you do not understand?

As to your own site, try finding "www.shirenetworknews.anything" on your browser. That url is for sale on ".com", can't be found on ".org." and I'm too lazy to do any more of your research.  It doesn't matter who your host site is, the link can be forwarded. "www.shirenetworknews.whatever" needs to bring whoever is looking for you to where you are and the harder they have to hunt the less interested they will be.

You people have a great podcast.  It reminds me of "That Was The Week That Was" from the early Cretaceous Period of TV satire.  You don't need to be hilarious.  Subtle wit is still appreciated.

To sum up:  You have a solid product.  You do not need to radically change your format.  What you need to do is get more web savvy and network, network, network.

Mr Paine - your podcast is usually very funny. Its one of the few things I watch or listen to these days that even gets a smile out of me - and often I get several laughs from you fellas! No more of this defeatist "we're not really funny" stuff or I'll get the All Black tight-five to put a Fruit Bat down your trousers or something.

I enjoy the interviews, they're obviously hard work but you do them so well and the guests are nearly always worth hearing. Again, I find such an experience very hard to come by these days.

Somehow I picked up you guys during research for post-grad work on Islam - and I'm very grateful I did. Its reassuring to know I'm not a complete nutter but just someone who reads the trends, or just reads for that matter. I'm relieved that you guys understand what its like trying to convince otherwise intelligent people that the demographics issue/Leftist decay/Islamist threat is real, even though its not on the nightly news as such. That's the reason that I find it so hard to put people onto you - my friends and acquaintances simply don't see the threat despite all my energies.

Robt. Spencer has mentioned the lack of interest from even Right Wing/Conservative/Neocon dudes (can't quite crack the nomenclature from here in Enzed) concerning his newest book and it does seem that part of the problem is that the Islamic threat has passed out of the public's toddler-like attention span. As you all mentioned, the prevailing cultural narrative is moving progressively (no pun intended) to ignore or embrace the real threats. We shouldn't be surprised at this, of course its just pre-WW2 Europe all over again. And America just put someone into office that makes Nev Chamberlain look like a hugely successful historical role-model!

Maybe we'll find the focus shifting from the Islamist menace to the Leftist appeasement and cultural capitulation that will only, it seems, accelerate? Its kind of a race between whether we are allowed long enough to commit suicide before somebody kills us.

Anyway, I'm sure I speak for many others in saying that I greatly appreciate your efforts on our behalf and please keep it up.

Thank you for the hours and hours of work that goes into every podcast. As far as expanding your audience, someone mentioned garage bands, well, do what garage bands do... Sell cheap bumper stickers and tee shirts. I'd buy them and would be proud to show them off. It's great, cheap advertising and could help get the word out. Enjoy your well deserved rest and I look forward to the next episode.

I love your podcast

I love your guests - you guys are the best - don't change!

I have turned you guys on to a couple of people - here in Canada

Have you thought about hooking up with Pajamas Media? or Jonah Goldberg?

Try getting a link through Ace of Spades your sense of humour would mix in well with his listeners.

Keep it up - I listen every week

I listen to exactly two podcasts on any kind of a regular basis -- Dennis Prager, and Shire Network News.

In my entirely speculative opinion, the main thing hindering you guys is the "garage band" syndrome related to a need for more networking and the like, as you discussed (being in an actual garage band with aspirations of rockstardom myself, I can relate!), as well as the fact that podcasting as a whole isn't quite mainstream yet.  A lot of people know what it is, but it hasn't quite caught on to the same extent that, say, blogging has, at least not yet.  However, as more people turn to the Internet and away from traditional T.V. and radio, I'm pretty confident that that'll change.

As for the show itself, the main thing that "hooked" me on this show was the whole "Anglosphere" angle.  Being a Canadian and all, I sometimes get the impression that the American-based conservative blogosphere is unaware that they have allies in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, etc.  I myself am woefully uneducated about many of the goings-on outside of Canada and America (even primitive stone-age tribes in the Amazon know what goes on in America!).  I always enjoy such coverage of the politics and cultural issues of the broader Anglosphere, and would like to see more of it (as a Canuck I would of course like more Canadian content, but that's just an understandable bias).  This is a niche currently not being filled outside of this podcast, that I am aware of.  This is your "hook", the thing that makes you different from everyone else, and I think you need to emphasize it as much as possible and/or reasonable.

Format-wise, I greatly enjoy the current style, what with the BlogNews and the essays and the feature interviews and all.  I do think you need to retain your feature interviews, in some form at least, as that's your main source of good hard content, i.e., content that's not just commentary on other content.  I did like the idea of man-on-the-street interviews, especially if they were from such far-off lands as Australia or England!   Also, I greatly enjoyed this round table format, and would be interested to hear it focussed on an issue or news item of the day.

 All in all, you guys are doing a great job!  Keep up the good work!

Hey there,

love you work.  Some thoughts on your round table discussion:

 1) Tom Paine suggested dispensing with the feature interview. NOOOOOOOOOO ! I realise these must take a massive amount of effort to hook up, and Tom Paine could be forgiven wanting to drop it.  However, Tom goes above and beyond with the feature interviews and for me this is a real highlight of SNN which makes it unique.  I don't find them to be the "broccoli" of the podcast, as suggested in your discussion, ie: the bit you get through out of a sense of obligation.  Quite the opposite; it is the part I most look forward to.

2)  It is great that SNN is not purely polemical. Why aren't you cutting through more ? I have no idea, although some of the other commenters sound like they are probably on the mark regarding obstacles to finding you on the web.

 Congratulations on a great production.

ca.

Hey there fellas. A very interesting podcast this time around and thought I would add a few points, from someone that has been listening on a semi-regular basis for about a year now. I would also add that I didn't support John McCain in the recent elections and I have been very impressed with Obama for sometime. As a Blairite, I think his vision and optimism for the future direction of the USA is what won him the election. And the fact that GOP failed to have a cohernt message, particularly on the key issues of the day, ie the economy and healthcare.

I am not a moveon.org style pacifist and I do not think that we should surrender to the Islamists. In fact my views on foreign policy are pretty hawkish and am one of those few lefties that think disposing of murderous and tyranical regimes, supporting universal human right and supporting democract for all, is something the "left" should be supporting. I do not think that Obama will be surrendering to those that want to take our liberties away and think that he has made moves towards a more hawkish foreign policy than he initally suggested, the appointment of HRC is a very positive move, in my opinion. But that's a matter for another day. And I largely agree with SNN in this area.

I think in terms of trying to get the podcast out to more, or at least get it heard more widely, I do think that it could broaden the subject matter a little. It has the potential to appeal to many, intelligent, forward thinkign politico types, simply because it is intelligent and centreist. I think the show could do with touching other issues, other than the fight against Islamists. As much as that is important there are other issues to look into. Look at healthcare, the key issue that McCain had no answer to. Or taxation. What is SNN's position on only cutting taxes for the wealthy? Or trying to spend out of a recession. Or Creationism. Does SNN support evolution. There many topics that would create fascinating discussion.

There are times when hearing about Islamism gets a little tiring. It's not that it's important, it's that it's repetative.

You all need to relax, pat yourselves on the back, and realize that there was nothing you could have done to hold back Obamamania.  It was just one of those years.  A terrible result for the West and our Judeo-Christian values, yes.  But history is not a straight line, and we must focus on winning the war, not picking apart our battle losses.

 First, you must keep the interview, pain in the ass as it is for you.  Bringing big names on brings credibility to SNN.  As an insulated American, I crave to hear what conservative leaders around the world are facing and doing. We in the US never hear foreign conservatives.  Is there a conservative movement outside the US?  Who leads these movements in Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Australia, the Middle East, etc., etc.?  In other words, more of what you are currently doing, not less.  It is important that Americans hear these voices.  I mean, if the whole damn world is against us (and that's what we constantly hear from the main-stream media), whats the point of fighting?  Right?  I love it when you report about some crazy liberal news event that happened in another country outside the US, and what the local conservative reaction is.  The guest doesn't have to be a big household name here in the US, but it needs to be an influential conservative.  You need to educate us on worldwide conservatism.  This would also make SNN the only one stop shop for this kind of interview, news, and information.

Second, have you thought about having your website talk about issues conservatives all over the world want to focus on, and have it updated several times a day?  Instead of having a tiny bit of info and links in your show notes, why not put it on your website.  You must make it a sight that people want to visit every day.  That is the best way to get new people to listen to your webcast.  Like Instapundit, for example.

 Don't despair!  Americans may be dumb, but we are not stupid.  Four years of the Savior is probably all we can take.

 Have a great Holiday!!!!

Tim Lamm  - Sussex, WI

libertyoverequality.blogspot.com

I came across “Shire Network News” on my last deployment and have looked forward to each and every installment.  Your mix of humor and discussion is spot on.  As a retired U.S. Military member, and current DoD civil servant who is still in the game, I find your take on current events and observations to closely follow my own.  Keep up the good work, you are being heard and appreciated.

Rodger D. Huddleston

Fischer TX.

I don't wish to get side-tracked into a discussion of the recent election - I've done far too much of that in the last six months. On a different issue, I would say that talking more widely on what are perceived to be conservative issues would be an advantage - whether through guest speakers or interviews.

Education is the current social bugbear of mine. In Britain it is a simple disgrace. A friend in Israel has described public state education as heading the same way. The Left have a lot to answer for in regard to education - and this is speaking as someone (hear the Labour far-left hooting in self-regarding laughter at this point) who still looks at himself as broadly on the left.

My current foreign policy focus is on the dangers to the West and her allies. I'm currently drafting a beginning to an essay, which will reappear on my blog, about re-evaluating foreign policy on a fundamental level in the early 21st century. The West, in my view, needs to be prepared to reclaim the word "imperial" and actually fight for what is in our interests. The UN is a failed joke, which the Left remain partial to in their shattered dreams of universalism (a replacement for Christianity, in my mind - and speaking as an atheist).

Currently reading Burke on the French Revolution - keep on thinking "Yes, very true" and "I agree with that"... I was asked at a wedding reception, "why is a young man like yourself, with the views you've just been arguing for, not in the Conservative Party?"
A good question - the Conservative Party don't give a shit about the normal working people of this country and "Dave" Cameron is a charelton. I thought that Peter Hitchens hit the nail on the head last year about Cameron.

If anything for SNN, I would like to hear occasionally a more in depth approach to conservative viewpoints but I appreciate the constraints of time. Have you not thought of talking to Melanie Phillips or Stephen Pollard? I imagine that Tom has approached them, but both are hard to pin down.

Keep up the good work - I love the feature interviews, but the round table discussion can be very interesting and worthwhile too. Innovation is sometimes a good thing - how's that for a conservative rallying cry.

Oh and hello to Jon, I suspect that's my Obama supporting brother somewhere in the wilds of the north.

The Feature Interviews are absolutely the highlight of the podcast.  Those and the Evan Sayet segment.

Tom is the best interviewer I have ever heard, anywhere.  His interviews should be required study material at media schools.

Brian of London New York:  That Karl Rove howl was excellent.

 I've enjoyed all 152 episodes of SNN and have said so in the most sincere way that I know how.

The second most sincere way I know is to "spread the word."  I haven't done that.  It's just never been in my nature.  I'm not "embarassed," as far as I know, to think what I think about the nature of man (probably also "programmed" largely by Robert Heinlein).  I just don't prostelitize, advocate, preach, evangelize, whatever the word.  I'm not famous like, say, Tim Blair, Glenn Reynolds or James Lileks (my big three faves), so no great loss, except I suppose there's an anti- "army of Davids" like me.

I do jump in when someone is wrong, though.  For instance, in a conversation, someone may say, "President Bush is a toady-head because he opposes stem cell research!"  I'll correct:  "Wrong.  President Bush may be (in your eyes) a toady-head, but he actually favors stem cell research.  He opposes federal funding of embryonic stem cell research."  Them's the facts.

 As for suggestions, I'll keep a mind's eye out for anything that comes to me and pass it on.  Otherwise, I trust y'all's instincts and talents and approve of some of the ideas above.  Not so much the person asking about your views on creationism/evolution.  The only religion aspect of your show I care about is your apparent support for the spirit of the USA Constitution's 1st ammendment:  Whatever one likes, as long as YOU don't bother someone else about it, and by "YOU" I mean particularly governments and terrorists like the Qaeda.

Don't get me wrong, please, about religion.  I love the influences most people's religions have on their cultures.  And I loved it when Payton wished all y'others merry Christmas and y'all said thanks.

 Happy Ramahannakwansmas!

 And merry Christmas!  Hasta next year!

Regarding this week's Podcast on why listenership has not skyrocketed: I enjoy the feature interviews most, and also Evan Sayet.  I think the problem is that you have to actively promote and market the show.  Why not attempt to join Pajamas Media for example, or Hot Air?  Why not do a deal with Powerline?  In fact, if you built these connections, it's likely high profile guests would be more willing to come on.

Adam, they've been on PJM Political once that I know of and are a "Hotair Affiliate."  Don't know why nothing much came of it.

I always look forward to your podcast each week. I know it will always leave me in a cheery state of mind. Don't loose the lighthearted satire that is your signature. We get enough serious stuff from the other commentators. Your niche is in the ability to make fun of leftist views without getting repulsive. The interviews, while interesting, need to either be kept short or less frequent. Stay with high profile, humorous guests who will fit into your format of satire. (I know this is probably easier to say than to do.) Your roundtable discussion was very interesting because it gave some insight to each of your personal views. Maybe in the future you could use it to share listeners' feedback with responses. Keep on including the British in your humor. Those of us in the US need to know that there are some politicians who are more nuttier than our own.

I missed your close with a Churchill quote and your usual music. I look forward to it at the end of each podcast.

 I don't know what to recommend to increase your listenership but please don't get discouraged and give up.

US Beast- the .com and .net are owned, (the .net by SNN via proxy?) with server based in Scottsdale, AZ.  As for the .com, the server is in Secaucus, NJ, the registrar in Coconut Grove, Florida.

Cyber squatters don't have to be paid off. They can be challenged through WIPO and domain name forcibly turned over to SNN.

 .info, .tv, .mobi are abailable, as are all county code TLD's, but unlike .com, ownership cannot be masked. and could also limit SNN's global branding.

Do not despair.

You can see from the feedback you have got that you are listened to and greatly appreciated. I echo pretty much all the sentiments outlined in the posts.

 I think that it is a correct observation that podcasting is still in its infancy and internet radio is just poking its head above the sand. Your guys are ahead of the game.

 We really appreciate the hard work that must go into these shows as we sit lazily listening and nodding in agreement to what we hear. I agree with comments that suggest asking Melanie Phillips to perhaps become a regular - I read her UK web articles avidly. She is spot on about the decay of the left, the west and the threat from radical islam. At least the technology of sending a podcast is not too challenging and I truly believe you are at the very cutting edge of the new wave of broadcasting......remember the pirate radio ships of the UK back in the 60's? They forced the establishment to set up a radio show in the same genre to met the demand.

I do my best to share the show links with my conservative leaning contacts and hope that they pass the link on again. I don't have any clever ideas but I would miss your satire and penetrating insights and the interesting guests. I also say bring back the Kiwi nutter from time to time. He may be a bit too far right, but I laughed and laughed....oh, and Tomer Isreal, I enjoyed him too. I could understand his anger and frustration as he lives in a democratic country surrounded by enemies who also take advantage of the reasonableness of the Israeli's...we live in a country that does not yet have the enemy at the gates...well, nearly.

 Best regards to all the SNN crowd. Forward the Angloshpere!

Just to give you some feedback on your podcasts ...I have thoroughly enjoyed them and hope you will keep them coming! I know it takes a lot of hard work and imagination to produce each one, but they are SO appreciated.

As for your discussion about future formats, I do get a lot from interviews; they don't have to be national figures "in the news" to be interesting, as long as they are interviews with intelligent personalities who have a lot of knowledge and/or a unique perspective to share.  I also enjoyed your back and forth discussion in this last podcast, although please go look for your sense of humor and bring it back ...there is ALWAYS something to smile about, and the lighthearted touch in most of your podcasts is one of the reasons I always look forward to a new one.

And I promise I'll do better proselytizing other potential listeners!

Ditto to most of the above comments. SNN rocks; you do an outstanding job. I've been listening since the early days and spreading the word.

Funny is not easy, but you do it well.

That said, I would very much miss the interviews if they are more seldom than once a month at least. And, your roundtable chat was OK as far as being inside baseball for longtime SNN listeners -- I do not think making that a regular feature is a good idea.

I tell people about it all the time, and have emailed blogs suggesting they add a link to SNN to their sidebars. Perhaps podcasts are not mainstream after all. I don't have a TV; the internet is my primary source of information and entertainment (of which I get a two-fer with SNN) other than reading, but I think that puts me outside the mainstream.

Keep up the fabulous job. I look forward to each episode with bated breath.

Happy Hannuka, Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year to all.

The two main reasons I don't listen more frequently are kind of silly, and have nothing to do with content.

1) The speakers on this computer aren't amplified, so I have to be sitting right here in order to hear much. I have no idea whether that's something you can change, but Hewitt, Insty, and the Northern Alliance seem to come at a more practical volume.

2) I tend to forget you're here. An occasional mention in a post -- or even the comments -- at HotAir or Ace's or wherever, especially when you have an interesting guest, might broaden your audience.

Will try to remember to check back here from time to time. Though if I heard right (from way over there across the room!), you'll be taking a break for awhile now...rats.

Wow, gotta say we're humbled at the response here.  Thank you all so much for your well-wishes.  I think I can speak for the entire SNN crew when I say that we're not going away, especially now that The One has become President of the US. Although I will say that all the work getting the word out in the months before the election was substantial, and we're just taking a breather, especially during the holidays.

Regarding the Hot Air affiliate thing, I'm not sure what that was suppose to garner us.  When Tom Paine got the right to fly the badge, we thought it was quite the coup.  However, they don't return our calls, so we're not sure what it means, other than we do have a link directly from their front page, which is certainly something.

Thank you all for your suggestions on the format.  SNN has had pretty much the same format since its inception, so it's a question of whether or not to give the ol' podcast a shot in the arm by mixing things up a bit.  We'll be mulling this over in the coming weeks.  (And major kudos to Tom Paine for putting together such great interviews.  Remember, he used to to both the interviewing and the hosting duties.  Dedication.)

See you all in the new year, and again may I say "Merry Christmas" to all!

Adam, I almost forgot, Cox and/or Forkum did a caricature of "Tom Paine."  That's pretty good.  Then they retired.

 I humbly release a suggestion.  Almost ashamed to make it as I REALLY don't know your actual situations. "Tom Paine" is anonymous because he, as he said, is already in the media and would like to stay there.  Well?  Well, I don't know.  Is there a shattering story of impact there?  Like, are you really the drummer for Midnight Oil, exposing your true thoughts only behind a nom de plume?  Seems you've a potent bit of ammo there.

 Merry Christmas Doug Payton, and to all Georgia!  Go Chamblis.  Go CDC (I like them).  Go Atlanta Motor Speedway (good time had there last year).

You've mentioned lack of exposure and getting a bigger audience. Maybe it would make sense for us to embed the plugin which plays the podcasts in our blogs. That may not be much (my blog only gets 50-60 hits a day) but that's still better than nothing.

First off...you should all be proud of this podcast. It is the only podcast I listen to...and waiting until the end of January for the next one will seem like an eternity. But you have all earned a break so enjoy and comeback refreshed and go balls to the wall (is that sexist-y? Sorry Meryl...I'm not even sure what it means, it's just fun so say)!

 We need you all more than ever after the Obamessiah's media aided triumph.

 Returning to your apt analogy of the great garage band (apt for me as I am an indie rock loving music snob),  fans of a great garage band DON'T want that band to become too popular. What I'm saying is maybe you need to reframe your expectations. I listen to SNN because it comforts me to know that not EVERYONE has gone completely batshit crazy since 9-11. The whole beauty of the blogosphere and podcasts is that they cost next to nothing (time being the major investment, for which I am eternally greatful to you all), and that they are "underground".

As evidence look at what Ezra Levant's blog was able to contribute in the battle against censorship and the state sanctioned trampling of free speech here in Canada.

 The tide is slowly turning and more people are 'seeing the light'. I regret using that somewhat religious term already, because while I agree with almost everything I hear on your show, I am a former Catholic who's views on organized religion don't stray that far from the late great George Carlin's. So SNN isn't just for God fearing Christians and Jews (2 of the religions that I am recently viewing in a much more positive light when they are contrasted with another popular religion that we can't call by it's name...coughIslamthroatclearing).

 I'm rambling now but I just want to encourage you to keep fighting the good fight. Don't ever drop blog news (and that song is catchy as f&*% too), I personally like the feature interview because it adds to the diversity and volume of intelligent voices who dissent from the media sanctioned self loathing...and the more of those people I hear the better I feel. However the sound levels of the interview are sometimes a challenge. It's often hard to hear the interviewee and requires cranking the volume until it's over.

 But if you could get Steyn again, Ezra, Bruce Bawer would be amazing, Martin Amis riveting I'm sure. I know I'm thinking big here but just throwing out the names that would get me excited.

Thank you all once again and keep up the GREAT work.

 Tim in Toronto

Kudos to the whole SNN team. My wife and I watch for your podcasts and plan to listen as we sip our Saturday morning coffee. I'm a fan of modest self-deprecation, but, guys, really, you are fantastic. The humor and insight are first class. The interviews are excellent. My only problem has been with the sound quality of some of the telephone interviews. Not sure what can be done, but remember, this wouldn't be a problem if we weren't so keen to catch every word.

Some comments have suggested that you address issues such as taxation, spending or education. I disagree. I appreciate the focus on the War for the West. I enjoy the perspective of the Anglosphere (love the word and concept) and our allies on that subject that affects us all.  It's a big enough topic.

I enjoy the music you play. I recall a segment about patriotic music that I found inspiring. I love the Churchill quotations. Perhaps others would also enjoy more segments about the history, music, and words of our culture and heroes. We have faced tough times before and prevailed. There is strength to be found in the stories of those victories.

Suggestions: the networking and cross linking is important. I have recommended SNN to my friends and will continue. It might be helpful to have short clips, samples, highlights, to attach to emails. Some have been posted on Youtube. Example:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvfBY2oFGFs

These make a convenient way to give someone the flavor of SNN without settling down to a 40 minute podcast. Can you create a library of bitesized clips that would suit this purpose?  Would you post clips, if motivated listeners out here created them from your podcasts? Each one should have a short header identifying the site, of course.

You have earned a good rest. Thanks for letting us in on your plans. I have a feeling that we just need to hold the fort for a little while. Our supply lines are shorter and we will be ready to counterattack in two years with plentiful fresh ammo. Praise the Lord, and pass the ammunition.

Merry Christmas.

Dear Sirs and Madam,

   I love your podcast and I think you are hilarious. Please keep em' coming.  I just started listening to you about eight months ago. I would have sooner but I just didn't know about you. It was by chance I found you on an itunes podcast search. I have gotten at least a two friends to listen to you regularly. My opus will only continue to grow, but word of mouth can be slow. Perhaps some creative advertising on friends' blogs or on other conservative websites. Get one on-air call to Rush Limbaugh on open line Friday and you guys will be set. Mark Steyn hosts for him now and again pull some strings there! Or how about a Hannity's America interview/segment  "What do British conservatives think?" As far as the interviews go, I love them but I think a few times a month would be fine. I love just listening to blog news and your essays, they make me laugh and give me information, what could be better? Keep it up guys.

Happy Hannakkuh, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year from God-clinging gun loving Missouri!

Can I just say that I think the last thing you guys should do is associate yourselves with iddiots like Rush Limbaugh. The point of championing intelligent, centreist political debate is that you ignore fools on either side. Be they Rush Limbaugh on the right, or moveon.org on the left.

Jon, fool, you call Rush Limbaugh an "iddiot."  Makes you look silly and you get that slime bounced back all over you.  He's not trying to be "centreist" or attract such linguini spines.  Limbaugh's audience is 5 million at any moment, 20 million per week.

 Steyn's sitting-in for him was swell.  Guest hosts for Limbaugh tend to be more likely to have interviews. Guest hosts are also more common around this time of year.  There's a really good angle suggested by Dr. Shoe!    One of you, with the inside track to Mark Steyn, maybe an e-mail, "Hey, Mark, if you ever do Limbaugh's show again, how about an interview?"

Wow. Okay. I guess we won't retire, then.

I can think of another female blogger we can add to the podcast. I'll discuss it with Tom and the others and see if we can move forward.

I might be able to conduct some interviews. Back in the day, I was a journalist, albeit on the college level. We'll see what we can do about that, but you may have to settle for fewer interviews. They really do eat up a huge amount of time. Heck, even writing a four-minute commentary takes me hours. Stupid facts. We should start making shit up. That seems to work for everyone else.

Hey.....!

Having now actually listened to the podcast (ahem) I'd like to second the idea of a panel discussion when practical. Perhaps that could replace a feature interview every now and then if the later is not available (although I love the feature interviews, as I noted above).

Also, I'd like to second the idea above of trying to get some plugs from the big conservative bloggers.  It's a quality podcast; those guys should be happy to direct traffic there.  SNN deserves to be as well known as Instapundit.

I love the podcast, and look forward to it. I had no idea that you've been around for 3 years as I just stumbled across SNN a few months ago. I may have clicked the HotAir link but I can't say for sure. So, you folks have asked for input and I'll give it.

Brian of London/New York, BlogNews is my favorite part of the podcast, I love your wit and dry sense of humor.

 Tom Paine's interviews are usually interesting and very informative, I ended up donating to Ezra Levant after his interview. I know it's hard work, perhaps you can just scale it back rather than dropping it all together.

 Meryl, you're a hard charger and would like to see your segement last just a little longer.

 Doug Payton, you are spot on. I enjoy your commentary.

 Here is a suggestion to help get the word out. Have commentary by a guest blogger perhaps once a month. The guest blogger would be sure to let his/her readers know about it and help spread the word.

 I'm not one of those shy conservatives by the way. I don't actually know anyone thats ashamed to vote conservative but I know many who regret voting the other way. It's hard to find many people to admit to voting for Gov. Granholm here in Michigan, and those that do seem to regret it. But I digress.

Please take a well deserved break, hope to hear you all again soon.

Just wanted to say that I love the podcasts.  Your Shire News is by far my favorite podcast.

Thanks for all the hardwork you guys put into your podcasts.  I think some of the previous commentors are correct in that you are hard to find and that might be the limiting factor in your audience size,  I can't remember how I found the podcast :)

Humble SNN feedback from a U.S. listener who chucks $5 in the PayPal tip jar on occasion:

As soon as a new episode of SNN is posted I put it to the top of my MP3 player queue for aural absorption during my commute.
The production quality of SNN has always impressed me (even moreso after a couple of commentators replaced their Pfisher Price microphones).
The biting humor is spot on.
The guest interviews are top-quality but I would listen to SNN just as devoutly even if guest interviews were rare.
And part of the attraction to the podcast is that our English and Down-Under brothers are represented.
Lastly, the podcast is devoid of political correctness and gets at the root cause of issues and news without fear.

Some feedback:

 First, this is a fantastic podcast with some of the best satire around.

 To echo some comments above, see if you all can get in with Hot Air or PajamasMedia. More people should absolutely be listening to SNN.

The conversation of contributors was a good part, and if possible it'd be good to get together more, even if not in person or everyone at once.

 For the feature interviews, they are great to listen to but probably shouldn't take up quite as much of the show, and perhaps be less frequent. Spreading one long interview out over multiple shows might be a good way to keep the segment from dominating but still keep people interested and coming back. I know this has been done in some capacity before, but shortening it even more might be an answer.

The satirical and deadpan humor of the contributors is often the best part, so hearing more from you all would be great. The previous "Vote for McCain" podcast was actually one of my favorites precisely because it had a healthy heap of entertaining yet meaningful commentary.

To agree with Tom Paine, this struggle we're in will be won or lost through confidence in ourselves, our western culture. It doesn't mean we should engage in jingoism or tacky demonstrations of hubris, it means that we should be proud of our heritage, educate people about why the west is so great (not just that other cultures aren't as great), and celebrate the genuine advantages of western civilization. Emphasizing this cultural battle is ultimately more important than highlighting the insanity of radical Islamists. That being said, don't stop mocking the jihadis. We can laugh at them and ourselves - they can laugh at neither.

The production quality of SNN has always impressed me (even moreso after a couple of commentators replaced their Pfisher Price microphones).

I heard that!  :)

One thing you don't want to do if you want more listeners is to not post anything during your break.  At least put together a montage of old interviews, or post entire past shows that you think were particularly good or are relevant to today's news in some way.  I know we can dig on your website and find lots of this, but most of us have your podcast automatically updated on itunes....and yes, we are too lazy to search old podcasts.  Some of us have not been SNN listeners since the podcast started, and this also might bring in new listeners during your hiatus.

Thanks for your hard work.

Tim - libertyoverequality.blogspot.com

To add my 2 cents:

I love your podcast and look forward to each and every installment. My favorite segments are blog news and the interview. Yes, I know they are the most time intensive to produce which is probably why I also appreciate them so much. I love your dry wit. And, I think Tom is one of the best interviewers I have ever heard.

I also think that your "Anglosphere" perspective is both unique and refreshing. I wouldn't change that. Just yesterday I read that the Catholic Bishops in the U.K. are calling for the installation of prayer rooms and special washing facilities for "non Catholics" inside Catholic schools! This stuff practically writes itself!!!

I agree that the disease in the west is cultural suicide and the secondary infection is Islam. It seems that the cultural suicide part of the ledger is gaining fast and furious. Both need to be addressed.

Some ideas for future interviews:

Claudia Rosette - You could probably make it into a two part with all the info she has on the U.N.

Also, you might ask the blog host of Gates of Vienna for an interview. He assembles news and commentary from almost every country in Europe for his site and has the unique advantage of a small army of translators that bring him news an English reader would not be privy to. One of his regular contributors is Fjordman who recently published an on line book about Islam and Europe.

Carolyn Blashek, founder of Operation Gratitude. She might give an interesting opinion on western cultural values.

Dr. Sheldon Reaven, one of the only conservative university professors I know. He teaches at SUNY Stony Brook and has for years taught a class in the spring titled WMD's and the War on Terror.

With the exception of Claudia Rosette, the people I just mentioned would be more accessable than the big names out there so, probably less work on Tom or Brian's part to get a hold of. If you would like me to help you in contacting them just drop me an email.

I also wish for the return of the Israeli and the Kiwi nutter!

Thank you for all the work you do. I certainly appreciate it.

Babs, there is a serious problem with interviewing Gates of Vienna or Fjordman. They're on the other side of the divide over Vlaams Belang. Tom and Brian almost broke the podcast over talking to Filip De Winter (only Meryl saving the day by threatening to bash heads together).

They are interesting but a little too close to the sort of "right" that we don't want to be associated with - as Charles Johnson from LGF puts it - We're not going to throw away the little credibility we have by associating with fascists. It will only give the multi-cultural PC Left ammunition.

"Charles Johnson from LGF puts it - We're not going to throw away the little credibility we have by associating with fascists."

Charles Johnson's small amount of credibility was totally lost the day he banished Robert Spencer from his kingdom... Mr. Johnson has devolved into a crank and his Lizzard Nation is a joke. I stopped reading the comments on LGF years ago because the majority were so asinine. I stopped reading his site altogether when he started with the banishments.

As a news aggregator LGF is fair but, I place no importance on who Mr. Johnson thinks is or is not a fascist. It has been down hill since the Dan Rather memos for Mr. Johnson.

As for GOV, the administrator of the site has a wealth of knowledge about events in Eastern Europe not made available to english readers in any other venue that I know of. If SNN wanted to interview this man they could just say that the discussion should not stray to the VB. I suppose you would also want a caveat not to mention the BNP as well? They were also declared fascist by the king lizzard.

I just went through the second message on the board, so I just want to say, I am planning a comeback.  Suffered through some personal stuff, most of it had to do with coldhearted bureaucrats.  The type of people who would only do their jobs if they'd get phone calls from other people in the same establishment.  Anyway, all of this time I've still been on the SNN "staff", even though I didn't do much.

 Thanks for your kind words, Yannai.

First of all, who ever told you that you have to be marketing experts in addition to being thinkers, writers and podcasters? Why do you think that you alone, with no training, much less time, are capable of doing an effective marketing campaign to raise listenership? You need a marketing person. If you can find someone free, great. I bet there are even some conservative M.B.A. students who would be willing to intern. Having marketing in non-traditional media on a resume would be an asset to them in job seeking and a help to you. Someone, even one of you, HAS to attend podcasting industry events and conventions on SNN’s behalf. You’ll get far more useful information than by asking listeners for suggestions. Most of all, you’ve got to hire a marketing consultant.

Yes, all that takes money. Have any of you written grant applications? There are people everywhere who will give you money of you know how to ask for it. What about charging for the podcast? I know you want to keep it free. I see the value in that. But would you consider a two tiered listenership? I’d be willing to throw some bucks your way every month, kind of as an “investor” in the podcast. I know you have the donation button, but I’m talking about something regular, billed to me, that I don’t have to remember to donate to when the whim strikes. And lastly, advertising is not evil. A few bucks for a “brought to you” tag line at the beginning of the podcast is not the end of the world. Get some cash and hire a marketing person.

BoL had best analysis in “the left right doesn’t make sense any longer” and that the podcast is really about promoting the superiority of Western Judeo Christian values. Over the past few months it seems like to podcast has been (nearly) totally about the American election. There are a million and one places to hear about the American election. Why are you trying to compete with all of them? This is an international podcast. That’s something others don’t do. I really want to hear more from international members of SNN, but not about what they think of the American election, I want to hear what’s going on locally, where they are. I miss Tomer Israeli. I really liked the guy from Wales. I want to hear what’s going on in Australia, not what an Australian thinks of BHO.

I’m not sure if you were fishing for compliments or were serious in questioning your comedic skills. If it was the latter, rest assured you are DAMN funny. One of the most humourous segments is Blog News. Please keep it, no matter what the changes to the rest of the podcast. It’s short and has been more international (lately) than the other segments.

As for the Featured Interview, scale it waaaaay back. Once a month is fine. That keeps it going in case you have the opportunity to book a desired guest. You can pitch it as a regular segment (just that it will be regular every month instead of every week) without having to do a tired segment each week just to do one.

The roundtable discussion (episode #152) was entertaining and thought provoking. It reminded me of Slate’s Cultural Gabfest http://media.slate.com/media/slate/Podcasts/Culturefest/culturefest1.xml blended with Slate’s Political Gabfest http://www.slate.com/podcast/id/2142718/ I suggest you listen to a few weeks worth of those to get a feel for their structure and flow. A similar SNN “gabfest” would be a nice addition, and easier for you to produce than the current format.

Other than to point out the obvious, like you need to promote the brand with a dedicated URL that includes “Shire Network News” (the bolgmatrix url makes the show look low rent and without its own identity) I don’t want to get too deeply into marketing. But there are a few essential things you need to do:

1)     Identify your target audience. Guessing that it’s comprised of people ashamed to admit they did or didn’t vote for BHO (WTF???) or that it’s made up of all 9/12 conservatives is merely wild speculation, not fact based research. And you are attempting to make programming and marketing decisions based on that?

2)     Quantify your goals for listenership. If you don’t put a number on it, you won’t be able to see progress.

3)     Above all, qualify your mission statement. Even in #152, TP ended it by saying first that the podcast clings to western civilization better than anything out there, but then confused the issue by immediately saying the podcast would poke fun at the left and stand up for what’s right. Which is it? Are you a left-right podcast (a lot of those out there already), or are you an international stand-up-for western-civ podcast (something you do well and that gives you more programming latitude). You can make yourself THE western civ podcast. With left-right, you’re lost in the crowd. Pick one and stick to it.

I know, this has been tough love, but be assured that it is love for the podcast. Have a Merry Christmas and come back soon!

Say, dm60462... weren't you in a writer's workshop with me a long time ago?

You make some good points. We will put on our thinking caps during the break.

I like the idea of a best-of show while we're taking the end of the year off, and I have an idea for (short!) new segments for it. I'll go email the crew.

Guys

It's about bloody time you returned.  I have been swearing at iTunes for a week over its refusal to download the latest podcast.  I love the show, and have been spreading the word.

I will not repeat what others have said, so I am down to one suggestion - is it possible to move away from phone interviews?  My partner has a hearing problem and she can't understand a word when you do a phone hookup, which means I can't listen to the show in the car when she is with me.  That, understandably, sucks.

dm60462 - I like the thought of making the interviews a monthly feature instead of a regular feature. While the interviews themselves are superb, not all of the interviewees are necessarily as interesting as we'd like, so it makes sense to pick the best one and focus on him\her once a month instead of exhausting yourselves on a weekly basis (poor Tom. I can't imagine he's going through). The rest of the month can be devoted to humorous segments, special contributors, or what have you. I'm also with you on the left\right vs. Western civ. thing. While there's no shame in declaring yourselves every now and then to be, on general, center-right and in endorsing a particular candidate, maybe you should really focus on your unique angle as flag-carriers for Western values. That was the hook for me and I bet a lot of people from various ends of the political spectrum listen in for that reason as well, even if they won't admit it. You don't have to be right-wing to see that the West is in danger. You just have to have your eyes open.

Tomer - you're quite welcome, and as you can see lots of other people miss you as well. If you're ever short of material please feel free to contact me and I'll give you my two agorot's worth.

Trite, perhaps, but appropriate at times such as these, eh?

"You cannot tell from appearances how things will go. Sometimes imagination makes things out far worse than they are; yet without imagination not much can be done. Those people who are imaginative see many more dangers than perhaps exist; certainly many more than will happen; but then they must also pray to be given that extra courage to carry this far-reaching imagination. But for everyone, surely, what we have gone through in this period - I am addressing myself to the School - surely from this period of ten months this is the lesson: never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never-in nothing, great or small, large or petty - never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy. We stood all alone a year ago, and to many countries it seemed that our account was closed, we were finished. All this tradition of ours, our songs, our School history, this part of the history of this country, were gone and finished and liquidated.

Very different is the mood today."

- Sir Winston Churchill, October 29, 1941, Harrow School

Carry on my friends.  We are all devastated.  A major battle lost in the Culture War.  But it rages on, as it has for centuries and will for centuries more.  Your work has been enlightening and heroic. Rearrange your production schedules as you must, but do please carry on.

Cheers,

Charlie

Hi Guys,

Kinda sad to hear that you're taking a short break after our joint defeat in the US election - gonna miss ya all! Ah well perhaps you deserve the break - I guess. But please come back soon.

What to do in future Shire Podcasts? Well much of the same I would say - only better if you can. Poignant interviews like the one with Ezra Levant were simply breathtaking especially when he reported the web had come to his rescue regarding funds for his legal defense. Its you and I folks fighting for what's right in this world - and that, after all, is exactly what SNN is all about. Nothing wrong with a bit of history here and there if you can find the "right" people to interview which I am sure you can. How about John Voight? Hey! How about some meaningful music here and there beyond "Rule Britannia".

I enjoyed listening to your chatty comments in the last cast but really I think your Hamlet like pessimism is totally unwarranted. C'mon guys snap out of it! What kind of warriors are you anyway to mope like that? Especially now after the murderous Mohammedan bullies of Mumbai wreaked their shameful evil on innocents. He who hesitates is lost.

In reading most of the comments here, I found it particularly interesting that almost all of them were highly literate and intelligent. Feel flattered guys you've done something special to earn such a quality audience. Your voice will grow because it unfrocks the liars at the NY Times, the BBC, Sky, The Guardian, CNN  et al.

We love ya - It is your DUTY to come back soon.

Swordman

First time I heard your podcast ... and really enjoyed it.  A Twitter connection recommended it, and glad she did.

Your search for ideas and ways to expand your audience and reach:  this is in my wheelhouse, and I'd be happy to chat.  I have deep experience in traditional (radio) and New (social) media.

Jeff

Some feedback from a rabid fan of your show.

Don’t doubt that you are doing amazing journalism.  Jawdroppingly original is not enough for you guys to be, you then calmly blow our minds with your breadth of knowledge, maturity, sanity and freedom from the straightjacket of political correctness.

One person commented that she gets both news and entertainment from your show, let me echo that sentiment.

I have been listening for years, found you on iTunes by searching “conservative podcast.”   You were podcasting before podcasting was cool and exploded inside iTunes.  However, your podcast is categorized as  “News and Politics.” Nowadays you no longer come up within any of the first few pages of a search for “conservative podcast.”  Even searching your exact category “News and Politics,” page after page is dominated by NPR and tv network podcasts (bleh.)  Today I wouldn’t find you guys were I to again run screaming, clutching my head, to iTunes looking for something thoughtful, savvy and funny that revered Western Civilization and spoke of the GWOjihad to rinse out my mind from big media drek.

So, at iTunes, you are hard to find except by name.

A note to all these folks leaving comments.  Go to iTunes and review the podcast.  We appreciate the hard work and professional results Tom Paine and the others produce, so go to iTunes and say so... There are only a few, maybe five, reviews.  Come on.  I know on Google a site raises up in search results the more it is linked, so perhaps a podcast will become more prominent the more comments and reviews it has.  It’d be worth the effort to try.  Go review the podcast.

Oh, and speaking of iTunes, where have all the old shows gone?  You were podcasting before 9/03/08.

So, the show.  Perfect, so great, as is.  This show’s round table is an amazing new twist.  I like it. Sure, that can take the place of a “Feature Interview.”  Occasionally, though, only, because as another has commented the “Feature Interview” is the hard news.    Wee, teensy little bit of constructive criticism here, I hate to do this, I really do, you work so hard and are doing such a valuable service and I don’t want to complain...  the sound quality on the interviewee during the “Feature Interview” makes it a challenge to get what they are saying.  Drives me insane too as I realize this is the important stuff.  How much would you need for a more powerful telephone microphone?

Ok, now back to the praise.  Your humor is delightfully intelligent.  You all treat your listeners so well.  I cannot bear to hear you think otherwise.  And although I realize it must be a Herculean effort, you do make it seem effortless and so sophisticated.

Great work.  I must say that I am still recovering from the shock of hearing you guys say that your audience is anything but staggeringly huge.  That. Can’t. Be.  So, I am shooting off this comment while I try to digest this unbelievable concept and think, think, think if I can help.  Because, have I mentioned that you are amazing? The advice on market research'd be a good start.  Identifying your show as the last bastion of unabashed deovtion to Western Civilizaiton could be good.  Keep fighting the good fight, your generosity staggers the imagination.

Have wonderful, well deserved, holidays.  Can't wait to have you back.

Meryl, I want to hear more about your guns.

Thanks so much for all you are doing.

 Jayne in Massachusetts

#49 - Swordman, you can get rid of "Rule Brittania" from the podcast when they pry my iPod from my cold, dead hands.

Hey guys!

 I just want you to know that I love your podcast, and whenever I see it appear I get excited.

I listen to my IPod when I am out walking.  It has been known to happen that your podcast arrives when I am not working (I am a freelancer, my work is feast-or-famine), I will find excuses to go out of the house just so I can listen to your podcast.

 One thing I need clarification on: just why are you discouraged?  Not enough people downloading?  Not enough people hitting the tip jar?  Not enough e-mailed thankyouverymuch's?

 I enjoy all aspects of the podcast, and find it has a perfect blend of humour, seriousness, intelligence, and insight (but enough about Evan Sayet...).

What would I change?  Very little.  My biggest complaint has been solved (a very tinny microphone on one of the contributers).

The interviews (Sayet excepted - he's my fave bit) are a mixed bag, but I would not lose them for the world.  But I would like more roundtables with the regulars.  I recently had the honour of meeting an interviewee...can I admit to gushing about SNN to that person?

You inform my point of view.  You have a great balance, and are slickly (in the best sense of the word) produced.

I love what you do.

Shire Network News is truly excellent. I have listened faithfully and enjoyed every single episode.

And though I never missed listening to an episode of SNN, the election provided so much "real time" news and gut-wrenching events that the spoken commentary that are podcasts became less must-listen for awhile.

Now that the election is over and I got a new 16GB Zen X-Fi player with built-in speaker or earphone for direct listening, I look forward to Shire Network New's excellent content more than ever.

Keep up the good work!

And you guys really are quite funny, whether you think so or not. The dry English, er, Australian, er, New Zealandian wit is simply hilarious.

I even liked the "Hitting Metal With A Hammer" guest host! Obviously, you can do no wrong in my book.

Hitting the tip jar now.

Somebody above made a comment about how you focus on American politics a lot, maybe too much. To a point I agree that we do hear a lot about our politics from many other sources and its good to hear more opinion from you about the culture war internationally. However, one thing I rarely hear is what non-American conservatives think. When we hear foreign news stories and opinion its virtually always negative toward us. I for one like being stood up for. I'll thank you to continue doing that!