Podcast and Portable Media Expo by Jason Lee Miller

The first day of the Podcast and Portable Media Expo in Ontario, Calif., kicks off today with an all-star lineup of speakers and experts on the new media form of podcasting. WebProNews made the 2,100-mile trek to glean all we can from this emergent medium. Podcast and Portable Media Expo Day 1

Once I unfolded myself and got off the plane (thanks, Delta! Did you buy that plane from Japan Airlines?), I caught up with our videographer, Richard, Thursday afternoon and we hoofed it to the convention center to check out the set up, and to mingle with sponsors, speakers and exhibitors at the pre-show meet-and-greet.

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Podcast and Portable Media Expo

A casual and friendly Larry LaCost, of the Daily Journal, a small newspaper outside of Chicago, met us at the door. Larry has produced over 150 podcasts in conjunction with the newspaper, and will be speaking today, alongside other newspaper representatives, about how to intermix podcasts with print news.

The striking thing so far about the convention is the sheer variety of people and interests represented. A myriad of industries are utilizing the medium to further their companies' and organizations' presence on the Web, for interactive promotional purposes, for entertainment (or "infotainment"), or for educational purposes.

For example, one of the first to approach us was Kathleen Gilroy, CEO of The Otter Group in Cambridge, Mass. The Otter Group focuses on professional development through its blog, and has adopted the podcast as well. In our interview with Kathleen, she beams about the unexpected success of it. Expecting just a couple of hundred downloads, the podcast has reached the tens of thousands.

Over the course of the next two days, we'll hear from Ron Moore, executive producer of the latest incarnation of Battlestar Galactica, Leo Laporte, of the popular TWiT podcast, Andrew Baron (and if we're lucky, Joanne Colan) of Rocketboom. Also, stay tuned for video interviews with former Microsoft blogger Robert Scoble, who recently joined up with PodTech.net and launched the ScobleShow, and also Shel Holtz, of Holtz Communication.

In addition to a bevy of articles based on conference sessions, where the experts educate on the finer points of podcasting, tips and tools for those interested in exploring the medium, and what that means for e-business professionals, we'll also be chronicling the event via vidcast, with yours truly as the host.

It should be a very informative and fun weekend, so stay with us in the days ahead for the latest in the podcasting world.