Welcome to Ron’s Amazing Stories – The Blog. How does Ron find it? This time we are going to take a look at how I pick the programs you hear on the podcast and how I find these gems. I get emails asking these two questions so often, I decided to give you a mini-guide on how it gets done.

How do I pick the shows you hear?

This is actually harder than finding them. When I pick the programs I use on air I have to think about a quite a few things. The most important one may surprise you. I have to make sure that series and episode are not copyrighted. Most of the OTR programs are either public domain or creative commons, but there are a few still owned by the original holders or someone has bought the rights.
The second aspect I look at is. Could anyone find this subject matter offensive. Why this check? Simple, something’s in the 1940s have a completely different meaning then they do today. (Example: The word Gay). Also, I try to avoid shows that promote cigarette smoking.
Another thing I look at is. Does the program translate well to our century? This one is a judgment call, but I think I have done a pretty good job of picking stories that are as good today as the were eighty years ago.

How to find these great programs on your own?

Ever wonder if you could do your own podcast? Have you ever wondered, “Where does Ron get all those great old stories?” I can safely say that everything comes from two basic websites.

LibriVox.org: This site is simply amazing. They provide 1000’s of audiobooks, shorts and stories for free. They are read by volunteers who do their very best to make what you hear, fun to hear. Virtually any book that is in the public domain can be found on their site. Also, if you can’t find it you can even request it. I take a lot of the short stories you hear on “As Read By” from Librivox.org.

Archive.Org: This site has a fascinating history that I might tell one day in another blog. What you can’t you find on archive.org? Music? Check. OTR Programs? Check. Old news broadcasts? Yes! You can uncover just about any recorded material on the planet that is in the public domain. It is supported by us, operated by us and should be used by us. Nearly everything you hear on Ron’s Amazing Stories was found on this site. Start by typing archive.org into your browser and hang on.

This Week’s Podcast:

On the podcast this Thursday we will have a crime and punishment edition. It will tell the story of Theo and Dianna’s roadtrip turned bad, one from Phillip Marlowe and a short story about a truy desperate group of folks.
You can listen to this podcast this Thursday (12/10) at Ron’s Amazing Stories, download it from iTunes, stream it on TuneIn Radio or listen on your radio Friday night at 8pm Eastern time. Check your local listing or find the station closest to you at this link.

The Calendar:

November 26, 2015 – The Psychic Bystander (Horror Express 10)
December 03, 2015 – Science is fiction (RAS223)
December 10, 2015 – The Green Flame (RAS224)
December 17, 2015 – (RAS225)
December 24, 2015 – Christmas break 2015
December 31, 2015 – An Interview with Major Wayne Smalls US Army Retired. (RAS226)