Dave Winer, creator of the RSS 2.0 standard on which podcasting is based, offers some interesting comments on the state of podcasting at his blog:

“What if the energy that went into Chumby, for example, went into designing a podcast player? The player might actually look more like Chumby than it does an iPod. The interesting thing about the Chumby is that it is connected but not tethered to the network. The ideal podcast player would be even more loosely connected.

1. It would directly read its feeds over wifi, it would not have to synch through a desktop or laptop computer. The iPhone has enough connectivity to do this. The iPod Touch does. A Nokia N800 does as well. Most cell phones do.
2. You could use it to create a podcast. We’re basically there with Twittergram and BlogTalkRadio. Just call a number, and we not only shoot your minicast at Twitter but we also maintain an RSS 2.0 with enclosures feed. In other words, in every way, it’s a podcast.
3. It must be open, so users can have a range of choices of catcher software. I don’t think a one-vendor approach has a chance of working.

When we get this device, podcasting will work better.”

He also responds to people suggesting that podcasting hasn’t achieved its promise:

“A lot of people hoped they could make podcasts and quit their day jobs. I wasn’t one of those people, and I never encouraged people to believe that. I see podcasting, for bloggers, as just another way to communicate with a few people who are interested in what they know and think. I also see it as a way for professional news organizations, esp non-profits, to flow reports to people in a very convenient and powerful way. As a consumer of podcasts, I am in heaven. I am a regular listener of: Meet the Press, Face the Nation, This Week, Fresh Air, Nightline, NYT Tech Talk, and numerous NPR shows. I have far more content than I have time to listen. Thanks to podcasting I am a much better informed person, and it gives my mind something to do as I get my exercise.”

While Winer hasn’t hyped the idea that podcasters would be able to quit their day jobs, it’s happening anyway. Just like a small percentage of the people blogging have been able to turn their blogs into careers, a small percentage of the people podcasting have been able to turn their podcasts into careers.

For a few examples, check out the article Secrets of Viral Video Hits, or listen to Elisabeth’s interview with the Ask A Ninja guys. People are beginning to make their livings from podcasting – it just takes talent, a great idea and a lot of hard work.