Generally Speaking Production Network
The Generally Speaking Production Network (GSPN) is an online media production company founded by Cliff and Stephanie Ravenscraft on December 16, 2005. Background. History. A fan of the television series "Lost", and inspired by Leo Laporte and his "this Week in Tech" podcast, Cliff Ravenscraft began with a "Lost"-discussion podcast after only finding one other on the subject in 2005. Ravenscraft began the podcast as a hobby with no experience in broadcasting, radio, or television; in a June 2007 interview with "Podcast User Magazine", Ravenscraft confessed that "he didn't put a lot [of] preparation into  the show at first, and that his audio was poor, but [...] the content was in high demand." Ravenscraft gathered thousands of listeners in only a few weeks, and quickly added his wife Stephanie to the podcast. Soon thereafter, they launched a second "Lost" podcast, followed by podcasts discussing faith and family issues, and one about Cliff's life (originally titled "My Crazy Life"). In December 2008, Cliff Ravenscraft had worked in the insurance industry for eleven years when he left his job to begin podcasting full-time. In 2008, he claimed that, since October 2009, GSPN was producing "more money  every month that [he'd] ever made in [his] life." Personnel. Cliff Ravenscraft (born "c". 1972/1973) grew up in Erlanger, Kentucky and graduated Conner High School in 1992. In 2001, Ravenscraft was an associate pastor of a Highland Heights, Kentucky church for which he blogged about his faith in his "Almost Daily Devotional". Building upon a childhood interest in CB radio, and after he began the "Weekly LOST Podcast", Ravenscraft switched from blogging to podcasting. Cliff and his wife Stephanie have three children, Meagan, Matthew, and McKenna. The elder two Ravenscraft children have produced their own GSPN podcasts, "The World  According To Meagan" and "Gaming With Matt" respectively. Products. Podcasts. GSPN only advertises on two of its podcasts, and has strict requirements as to where and how advertisements will be implemented. GSPN previously offered a subscription service for US$10 a month which removed ads for subscribers, and gave them access to additional podcast material and a daily blog. GSPN scrapped the Plus Member program on January 17, 2011, and has since produced all content with no advertising. The PodcastAnswerMan podcast however sells products where the product itself is a video tutorial. Cliff Ravenscraft also offers a 4-week online  podcasting course for a fee. , GSPN currently lists 24 separate podcasts, divided by subject matter: Section::::"Weekly LOST Podcast". Cliff Ravenscraft began GSPN and his podcasting career with his "Lost" podcast. Stephanie Ravenscraft introduced her husband to the series and, after watching the first season finale in May 2005, he was hooked. Seven months later, Cliff recorded the first episode of the "Weekly LOST Podcast" for 30 minutes, the first official GSPN production. , there are 261 episodes of the "Weekly LOST Podcast", and over 50,000 subscribers. On May 23, 2010, GSPN hosted watch party for the series finale of "Lost". Cancelled  podcasts. GSPN produced a podcast dedicated to the TV series "Drive", but stopped after the show was canceled in April 2007. On December 29, 2011, several shows were cancelled including "Balanced Living Weekly", "Full Time Mom", "Business Tech Weekly", "Social Media Serenity", "Help I Got a Mac", "Almost Daily Devotional", and "About The Church". Related services. In addition to producing and publishing their podcasts, the Ravenscrafts offer consulting for others interested in beginning podcasting, as well as setting up a website and all the amenities necessary to begin podcasting. Podcasting AtoZ is a regular course, founded by Cliff Ravenscraft, to  provide a start for aspiring podcasters.