Hello, I’m Stilgherrian, and it's time to record yet another special series of my inappropriate podcast The 9pm Edict. As of Friday 12 February we're halfway to Target One!

Target One $2900: Five episodes in March–April 2021

The core of this project is another batch of five podcasts like the recent End of Spring Series 2020 featuring special guests to discuss what's on their mind, current events, and whatever topics you choose for them.

Here's what those episodes of the End of Spring Series 2020 sounded like.

Already pencilled in for the Autumn Series 2021, and ready for dates to be confirmed, are:

• Carol Duncan, multimedia producer, former broadcaster, and Newcastle City Councillor.
• Cartoonist Cathy Wilcox, who was previously on the pod in 2016.
• NEW: Blockchain and crypotocurrency realist David Gerard, author of Attack of the 50 Foot Blockchain and Libra Shrugged: How Facebook Tried to Take Over the Money.
• Elise Thomas, "freelance journalist, OSINT analyst, and observer of internet weirdness".
• Artist and cartoonist Jon Kudelka.
• Philosopher and reprobate Patrick Stokes, author of Digital Souls: A Philosophy of Online Death.

And there's more guests in the pipeline. Consider this to be just part of the selection. If you have any suggestions, please let me know.

Target Two $4700: Three more episodes to wrap up April 2021

I'll add in more guests as this Pozible campaign continues. 

Target Three: To be announced

There may be more one-on-one guests episodes. Or if we can go to the pub again there might be a Public House Forum. Or maybe even a special and disturbing livestreamed episode. Stay tuned!

A Note on the Rewards

These are the standard rewards I offer for podcast projects. Further rewards may be added as the campaign progresses. Suggestions welcome.

Everyone who pledges to support the project will also get access to a secret stash of photographs and audio outtakes.

Your contributions will provide me with an income of $2400 while producing the first five podcasts. Pozible’s fees, bank fees, and other administration costs take about 9% of any total funds raised. On top of that there’s 10% GST, which brings the initial target to $2900.

The stretch goal is calculated the same way, and represents a gross income for me of $3840.

The Fine Print

All up, each regular episode of The 9pm Edict takes a little over a day to research, prepare, record, edit, and post. Based on the MEAA award rate for casual freelance journalists that's about $960 per episode. As a casual rate, that includes allowances for superannuation, leave, and the like, as well as equipment costs.

I discount it by 30% to $650 per day because some of the work involves copying and uploading files and other mechanical tasks. I can do other things at the same time. And because I love you all, I discount it another 20% down to $480 per episode.

If you want to see my working, check the numbers (PDF).