So I made a half comment about this in the chatbox and thinking about it more I felt like it'd be better to have a discussion about it here.
We all love this podcast and want it to do well, its definitely the best podcast in terms of content quality and how long it's been around.

Not sure about you guys but for almost every podcast I listen to the entire thing (including the blooper reel at the end). With that said, I can't help but wonder how much time Amin (or whoever does it for the episode in question) spends into editing the podcast to make it into its usual format before they upload it for us to listen to. If listeners are going to listen to the entire thing and enjoy it regardless, would be nice if there was less of a load on the hosts in terms of having to format the episode before releasing it.

Specifically with regards to the Game of Thrones episode reviews -- I definitely feel like the earlier the podcast comes out, the better it would be in attracting potential newbies into the podcast. In general, you would probably enjoy the discussion of a show right after watching it as opposed to X days later. So yes, even though this is the best podcast for ASOIAF, that point does stand. It is obviously going to be delayed if there are problems or if the hosts are busy and that is completely okay, but given that the hosts take out time to edit the audio feeds before putting it up I'm sure its later than possible.
I only realized this recently since I started watching the Survivor podcast (which an ex-Survivor does LIVE 15min after the episode airs) and watching one of the older podcasts (days after seeing the episode) or watching the podcast an hour after watching the episode really made a difference -- so I'm assuming the same principle would carry here. Again, I realize because there are several hosts on here and they have busy schedules we aren't going to be getting LIVE podcasts, but just trying to give feedback that could help you guys out in getting more viewers whilst simultaneously lowering your work load for the podcast.

I want to see you guys kick the WiC podcast's ass, they already have the advantage of having their podcast on that site.
So I guess what I wanted to ask the other listeners is:
- Do you guys watch the entire podcast too (including the edited out stuff that comes in the end?)
- Would you guys mind an unedited raw podcast esp if it meant less work for the hosts and a quicker release?

i appreciate the input, and i agree generally that the sooner we can get an episode out the better. but i'm a big dickhole and i haven't edited an episode in a while so i get no say in the speed of production. i think amin is doing his best, and hopefully i'll be able to help him out in this department after mid-may (FINALLY FINISHING GRAD SCHOOL 4EVER WHAT'S UP).

it's been my experience that the raw and uncut episodes are the worst products we've ever put out. maybe it'll be tighter for an episode recap, which allows for less meandering and downtime during the discussion, but then again i would have to rely on common sense and a mental filter to stop calling people "horsefaced bitches" so that will suck.

How about releasing an uncut version early, but only posting it through the forum here so that dedicated addicts can get their fix, and then cleaning it up for official release on the main page and itunes?

Personally, I'm not too concerned about waiting for however long you guys need, but if others are desperate and will listen to hours of filler and rubbish, then what is the harm of giving the people what they want (other than certain hosts rashly and unnecessarily infuriating and alienating listeners with their unchecked opinions and ill-advised phrasing)?

Hey Silent. Thanks so much for the comment. It's great to have you around these parts.

We, of course, would like to record and release each podcast as soon after the episode airs as possible. There's no question about that. We have and continue to discuss recording right after the episode airs, but because of our different schedules and different time zones and different accessibilities to HBO we've been unsuccessful.

We're not professionals. We just play them online.

We've done unedited episodes in the past and they've been....rough. At least 25% of our Episode 4 review was Skype dropping one person or another from the call, the rest of us asking them questions before we realize they're not there, and then me getting up to put my laundry in the dryer while we wait for Skype to work again. While this may be funny to our die hard fans, I highly doubt it would be that amusing to newbies. We want new listeners. We love new listeners. We love you guys. We love House Manwoody and the bigger the better. (House words?) But there's a charming level of unprofessionalism and there's an annoying level. The majority of our episodes if aired unedited, I'm afraid, would lean on the annoying side. Perhaps I'm mistaken, but I don't want to scare away potential listeners for the sake of speed.

We have been on a pretty regular mid-week release schedule this season, but this week is an obvious exception. Amin edits 99.9% of our episodes these days and he and Ashley are attending the Ice and Fire con this weekend in Ohio. Last I heard from Amin he was editing the episode on the plane ride there. Now it sounds like they have truly gone back in time since there is no available internet connection where they are. No internet means no upload. I've no doubt that he (like myself) is just as disappointed about not being able to release this episode right away as all of you are to not be able to listen to it.

There is one small advantage to recording our episodes after everyone else. We get to read, hear, and listen to what the ASOIAF/Game of Thrones community has to say about the episode, digest it, and discuss it in addition to our own thoughts. For example, Varys box in this past episode. If we had recorded as soon as the episode finished airing I would have never thought to talk about the Marwyn the Mage is the Sorcerer theory. But because I had time to read tweets and comments about it I was able to look up the theory and discuss it. Typing this made me feel like the TV news compared to the Social Media News. Slower but usually informed or faster and full of holes.

Woah I'm a slow typer. By the time I finished writing that, Mimi and Pod had already commented.

@Pod, I think the unedited version would depend on just how much downtime there is in the podcast. I wasn't aware that there have been unedited ones released in the past that didn't end up doing so well.

If the edited version is a significant improvement from the raw feed, then the current setup is probably the better route to go. Agree with Kyle there that too much downtime/unprofessionalism within the call could scare away potential new listeners.

I have another idea I'll just throw out there in case it isn't half bad (it would require one of the hosts to have a decent internet connection), but you guys could keep a post up on the forums or a box on the main page about a tentative date/time for when you plan on having your skype conversation to record the new episode. You could then stream the call via Twitch.tv or Google Hangouts (even if its just audio).
- Die-hard fans could tune in to hear you guys while you converse if their timezone allows it.
- Stream would allow fans to interact with you guys during using the chat panel or twitter/anything.
- The interaction could decrease downtime (if someone drops from Skype) since you can just start answering fan Q's or something.
- Extra die-hard fan could even supply the editor with certain timestamps which could aid in the editing process of the episode.

Of course, this might not be feasible since the hosts are probably just do real life stuff with their Skype on if say someone drops from the call -- and generally allowing for fan interaction would probably increase the episode time which again might not be feasible if the hosts have other things to do! But I thought I'd throw it out there anyway.

Keep up the awesome work guys! Look forward to seeing the new episode when Amin finally gets internet.

Hey I appreciate the listener feedback and dedication (wanting to hear the podcasts asap) and also the posts by Mimi and Kyle.

In regards to this week, I edited the podcast between flights and also the way there, only to be surprised about the lack of internet connection. I can say it was a freaking awesome Ice and Fire Con and nobody had time to miss the internet beyond me uploading the podcast episode. We will chat about it next episode and also do an episode release similar to Days of Ice and Fire.

As for my own view on unedited podcast episodes (beyond what Kyle and Mimi have said already). When I chat with the other hosts and I know the podcast will be edited, I speak more openly and more freely than I would if it is were going to be a raw release or broadcast live. Then we can decide what to keep in and what to keep out, but I think that's what the best that comes out of that (even if only 50% or whatever percentage is kept). If I know it is going to be raw or live, then I will have to self-censor or control on the spot which means I'll probably not say something or not go into something because it is all or nothing right at that point. So that's why it is another reason the quality would go down, at least on my end, not sure about the others.

As for getting it out in time for gaining listeners, that is a valid point, though I think a lot of listeners listen to these episodes months later when 1) they read the books for the first time or 2) discover the podcast afterwards. We still get tons of feedback for our season 1 reviews, both positive and negative. So my only concern on getting the episodes out as quickly as possible is for current listeners, which is enough of a focus than trying to gain more listeners by keeping at pace with other podcasts or commentary.

Now I am going to go sleep and probably dream of Ice and Fire Con

I appreciate the responses guys!

Sounds like you guys have a pretty optimal setup in terms of schedule. If tons of people listen to the podcasts way after episode release then it's probably fair to make sure you nail it in terms of quality even if it means sacrificing a bit on time. Though hey, I'd have no problem listening to no-filter real talk with any of you hosts, I hope you don't cut too much of that out

So I haven't actually listened to the WiC podcast, but are those ones TV-only friendly or do they contain book spoilers? Either way, you guys probably gain more listeners down the line than on the week of episode release, so keep up the good work!

just want to add, the things that get cut need to be cut. social media is becoming a scary place and saying the wrong thing, no matter how off hand or jokingly, can bite you in the ass.

I don't think there is a need to get a quick review of the Episodes. I mean we use reviews to decide if we want to go see a movie, or buy a game. So time is critical there. With the show , either your already have access to entire season or not. If the hosts say Ep2 was crappy, we are not going to skip it.

What I get from these review podcasts is analysis, point out critical things and such. I rather have the hosts rewatch the episodes and think on it a bit and then come to us. A podcast 15 mins after the show would lack these things.

hence me being crucified on tumblr for "promoting rape."

I still can't believe that happened.

so mimi you must be bff's with linda then?

That sucks -- it'd be fun to hear you guys rant about the things most of us think about internally anyway, too bad certain people have to ruin the fun for all of us

I have no idea HOW that happened since the ability to comment/discuss on tumblr eludes me.

On the other hand, doesn't editing to avoid the wrath of the 'promoting-rape' accusers sort of let them win?

I can teach you tumblr! I am one of the podcasts tumblr assistants/runners of the BoK page