Advertising and Format of podcast

You've recently added (weeks now) advertising for Earthlink into your podcast, but I find that it really feels awkward. The blurb at the beginning and the ad seemingly randomly inserted and the poor lead-in and break after the ad makes it feel like you don't like the sponsership (like it was forced onto you) and that you don't know how to properly handle it.

If you are looking for comments on your format or the advertising, then I'll tell you that I like the 'Slashdot Review' http://www.slashdotreview.com/ format and the way they have integrated their advertising. The advertising is handled professionally and it seems that the podcast really cares about the sponser. I get the feeling that Mr. McCaskey has radio experience.

SDR's format includes an opening sequence that introduces the podcast and the announcer, a few headlines of some of the topics, and then a 'back after this' type of lead-in to a short advertising block. It flows nicely.

I think the current podcast advertisements (industry wide) are so funny, it sounds like they are re-inventing the advertisement wheel. There's a huge existing industry for designing effective radio advertisements and it seems that none of those companies have offered their services to the companies who want to advertise on podcasts.

Please don't take my criticism too hard, I like Buzz OutLoud, I like the hosts and the show works so well that it has replaced my morning radio show during my commute.

I also like that it is free; if advertising is necessary to keep me a consumer rather than a customer then I'll accept the ads, but please do your best to keep the advertisers. (And please ask Earthlink to come up with a better ad, and more of them so there is some variety - ''Do you believe that anything is possible? At Earthlink...'' What does my belief that the world will be taken over by giant mutant Twinkees have to do with Earthlink offering me a solution for all of my communication needs?)

._.

/So when will I hear a Coke ad on BOL?