The recent death of James Kim has made an impact on the world of podcasting like none other to date. Here is a young guy, technically proficient in these new technologies and active in podcasting via his position as a senior editor at CNET.

James was a host of the MP3 Insider audio podcast and Crave video podcast, both featuring the latest news on technology that podcast aficionados really love.

I got to know a little bit about James by checking out both of those shows, listening to and watching him express his thoughts on the Zune and gadgets for the holidays. The process reminded me of something I had thought about before but tucked away in a corner of my mind.

The thought was innocuous enough but takes on a whole new meaning when you consider our fleeting mortality. The thought was, "Who will be experiencing these podcast shows when I'm gone?" I was thinking like thirty or forty years from now, but that could also mean next week or month.

I've created enough content in the past year and a half to fill up many hours of listening and viewing time. There's music, interviews, travel tips, soundseeing and lots more available for consumption. The content really makes up the sum of my true passions in life. And it really is a window into who I am, or was if someone is experiencing it after I'm dead.

So when people ask me about reasons to podcast on a personal level I have to remember these thoughts. Create content about your passions. Creat content that you're moved to create. Heck, you don't even have to distribute the content via a podcast. But you might be surprised at how many people enjoy what you're doing.

At the very least, family and friends will have a window into who you are and great memories once you've moved on to the next life's operating system.