About Podcasts
- What is a podcast?
- Why listen to podcasts?
- Do I need an iPod?
- What devices can I use to listen to a podcast?
- How do I listen to a podcast?
- How can I find more podcasts to listen to?
- Need more information?
What is a podcast?
Podcasting is often described as “radio on demand”. Artists (called “podcasters”) record a show about any subject that interests them. New episodes are recorded on a schedule they choose and then uploaded to the internet as the shows are finished.
Unlike radio or TV, podcasts are not streamed over the internet at a particular time. You can download and listen to them whenever it’s convenient for you. And since the recording is in your possession, you can pause, fast forward, or rewind as you desire. In this regard, podcasts are a bit more like CDs than radio shows.
Podcasts are recorded in a sound file your computer is capable of playing back. The most common type of file is called an “MP3″, though some podcasts are released in other formats. If you don’t know much about computer sound files, don’t worry. All you need to know is that when people say “MP3″, they’re talking about the files that hold the recorded shows.
There’s also a breed of podcast that includes both video and sound. This tutorial focuses on those that are sound-only. However, many of the exact same principles can be applied to either type of podcast.
Why listen to podcasts?
There are many reasons to listen to podcasts. Here are just a few.
- Convenience. After the show is created, it’s delivered right to you. It then sits and waits until you’re ready to play it, guaranteeing you’ll never miss an episode. If something comes up while you’re listening, pause and come back later. If the show is boring, you can just skip past it and go directly to something better. And if you’re joining the show late in its life, you can always go back and download the earlier episodes you missed.
- Customization. There are many podcasts available, covering a wide variety of topics and presented in diverse styles. You can find the shows that fit your taste, cutting out everything that doesn’t.
- Open access. Unlike radio or television, it doesn’t take a lot of money or clout to make a podcast. Just about anyone can create one, almost guaranteeing the views and topics you’re interested in are being covered somewhere.
- Close association between listeners and hosts. Most podcasts have a website that features forums and/or a link to an email address. Every host I’ve ever talked to loves hearing from their listeners and getting feedback regarding the show. This relationship helps the hosts tweak their show closer to perfection while offering you (the listener) a way to make yourself heard.
Do I need an iPod?
This question causes a lot of confusion for first-time listeners. The name “podcast” obviously bears a resemblance to Apple’s famous “iPod”, so people assume they’re related. Though there’s some debate over the origins of the word “podcast”, the words no longer have anything to do with each other. You can listen to podcasts on iPods or similar portable MP3 players, but you do not need any such device to enjoy a podcast. In fact, you can probably start listening with nothing more than the hardware you’re using to browse the internet right now.
What devices can I use to listen to a podcast?
You can listen to a podcast on any device that’s capable of playing an MP3 sound file. Not sure what an MP3 is or which devices can play one? Don’t worry, because even if you’ve never heard of MP3 sound files before, you probably have regular access to devices that can play them. Any recent Windows or Macintosh computer can play MP3s, as can most sound-capable portable devices such as the iPod, iRiver, Zen, and even some cell phones. If your computer doesn’t have an MP3 player, there are plenty of free ones out there such as Windows Media Player.
How do I listen to a podcast?
There are two primary ways of listening to a podcast. If you go to the podcast’s website, you’ll likely see direct links to the MP3 sound files. You can click on those to stream them over the internet or download them for local play. While this is certainly an easy and viable method of listening to podcasts, it takes away some of the convenience. Instead of having all of your favorite ‘casts brought to you, you must remember to visit each site independently and download all of the recent shows whenever they’re released.
A better option is to use a “podcatcher”. A podcatcher is software that was written specifically for listening to podcasts. They allow you to subscribe to the show. Whenever a new episode comes out, your podcatcher will see the update and download it for you. All you have to do is look at your inbox of sound files and click the ones you want to listen to. As of the writing of this document, the most popular podcatcher is iTunes. However, there are many different software packages out there, so shop around until you find one that suits you best. A sample listing of podcatchers can be found at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcasting#Receiving_and_using_podcasts
Please keep in mind that MP3 files can be rather large. So when you click on a podcast episode or queue it up for download, be patient. It may take a while to load.
How can I find more podcasts to listen to?
If you’re reading this tutorial, you obviously have my web address in hand. We hope you’ll check out our show, but we’re certainly not the only game in town. What if you want to hear other gaming podcasts? And what about shows that aren’t even about gaming at all?
Finding podcasts can be a little daunting at first. Here are four methods to at least get you started.
- Podcatcher programs like iTunes often have directories built into them. Try hunting around those lists for shows. If you’re not sure how to locate those directories in your podcatcher, contact the company that made the software and ask.
- Just as there are sites like Yahoo or Google that help you find webpages, there are also online lists for podcasts. Unfortunately, there are simply too many for me to list here, but I’ll give you a few of the well-known ones:http://www.odeo.com
http://www.podcastpickle.com
http://www.podcastalley.com
http://www.allpodcasts.comAnd if you’re interested in more gaming shows, check the RPG Podcasts lists.
There is no single list that has all of the podcasts, so you may have to check multiple lists if you can’t find what you want on the first one. Imagine if, instead of one phonebook, your city had 100 phonebooks that had only some overlap. That’s exactly what podcast directories are like.
- If there are organizations you’re particularly interested in, you may want to check their website — they may already be running a podcast. If they are, they’ll likely have a link to it on their site.
- Head over to Google (or your favorite search engine) and just type in the topic you want to find and add “podcast” to the end of it. For example, try “pet owner podcast” or “RPG podcast”. As with all searches, you may not see what you want on the first search, but it’s still a great place to start.
Need more information?
Did we not answer your question here? Are you still stuck trying to get your first podcast to play? If that’s the case, here are a few steps you can take to get moving again.
- If you can’t get podcasts to play using a particular program (such as iTunes) or on a particular device (such as an iRiver), contact the manufacturer. They likely have staff devoted to answering your questions. If this isn’t the problem you’re having, keep reading.
- There are many communities on the web devoted to helping folks like you get started on their podcasting adventure. For example, many podcast directories (such as the ones I linked in the previous topic) have forums or groups you can sign up for to ask for help.
- If all else fails, contact the podcasters who made the show you’re trying to listen to. In the interest of gaining another listener, they will likely offer a few pointers to get you moving again.
