By Jenelle DaSilva-Rupchand

Calling all online A/V junkies — podcasters, vloggers, and even bloggers, and all those listening, watching and reading new media. PodCamp Toronto wants you to spend a weekend sharing, discussing and learning all things podcast.
A podcast, in case you didn’t know yet, is a downloadable audio or video file, often syndicated through blogs. On February 24 and 25, everyone from podcast amateurs to connoisseurs are welcome to participate in the “unconference” held at Ryerson University. It’s fully volunteer operated, and therefore free. All you have to do to join is add your name and information to the wiki and just show up. Not only can anyone attend the seminars and workshops, but anyone can lead one. Among the 35 sessions that will be offered are “Podcast 101,” “How to Get 2,427 People to Podcast for a Common Cause,” and “Live Interactive Podcasting.” You just might learn how to host your own personal “radio show” or how to fund your podcasts with A/V advertisements. The schedule for the weekend is available here.
It’s speculated that CityTV’s Amber MacArthur, Linda Mills of Podcast User Magazine and Julien Smith, who hosts one of Canada’s most listened-to podcasts, In Over Your Head, are some of the many podcast mavens who will be at PodCamp Toronto.
If you can’t wait until Saturday to meet people as obsessed as you are about podcasting, there will be an optional PodCamp Toronto meet-up this Friday at 7 p.m. at the Imperial Pub & Library. Or you can schmooze at the PodCamp Toronto concert night featuring Uncle Seth, nurse, and Sean McGaughey at C’est What on February 24.
Take a look at the PodCamp Toronto blog (complete with podcasts, of course) and the Google group for updates.
Photo by mr brown.