What Are Podcasts?
If you’ve been subscribing to the feeds and posts, you’ve seen references to podcasts and web shows. But what are they exactly?
Essentially podcasts are regularly scheduled shows (audio or video) that are distributed through the web. Despite the name, you don’t need an iPod to listen or watch them. Just like mp3s or videos (on Hulu, Amazon, etc.), podcasts are available on a range of mediums. Today, you can consume them on your portable music player (iPod, Zune, etc.) , smartphone (iPhone, Blackberry, Android, etc.), personal computer and set-top box (e.g. Roku).
But why commit to yet another form of entertainment? Since podcasts and web shows are fairly simple to set up, there aren’t too many barriers to entry, meaning that just about anyone and everyone can set up a show to post on the web. There’s a whole ocean of web shows with a wide range of topics, ranging from Glee show recaps to daily tech news to language learning. It’s a great way to find topics for niche interests you may have. Depending on the show size and support (web pages, chatrooms, etc.), there may even be a supporting community to meet and connect with. In fact, several shows may take part in related conventions and shows – car podcasts may meetup at the LA Auto show, gaming podcasts at E3 or PAX, and a slew of pop culture ones at Comic-Con. If you have an interest in anything, no matter how obscure or random, there’s a good chance you’ll find a podcast for it.
So how does one go about finding a podcast? This is the trickier part. You can Google search it (“[topic] podcast”). iTunes is actually a pretty good place to look things up. Just make your search on the top right and filter down to podcasts on the left hand side of your search results. Most podcast apps and marketplaces will have a listing as well including the Zune marketplace and Google Listen.
Now that you’ve found shows you’re interested in, how do you listen to them? Well that’s up to you. If you have an iPhone or iPod, simply sync to iTunes after downloading your podcasts. If you’re using an Android device, there’s plenty of apps available although Google Listen (where you “subscribe” to the shows you like via RSS), is among the best of what’s out there. For most shows, you can visit their site and listen/watch the show directly from the computer. Some shows, such as those of CNET and TWiT (for technology) even offer live streaming and chat for a more interactive experience. While most shows are in audio formats, there are video podcasts as well, although the file sizes are much larger and would require a video player (computer, iPod Touch, etc.) to consume.
Hopefully this sheds some light into the world of podcasts. Below is a list (and links) of some of the top podcasts to check out, although there’s plenty more out there.
Technology
Tech News Today : TWiT’s daily news show on tech news
Buzz Out Loud : CNET’s daily news show on tech news
TechStuff : HowStuffWork’s show on technology
Gigawhat : Weekly tech news recap for the everyday consumer
This Old Nerd : DIY tech upgrade of the house
Engadget : Engadget’s tech podcast
News
The Economist : News stories and articles from around the world
BBC Global News : Top global news stories from the BBC
NPR It’s All Politics : Weekly roundup of American politics
Gaming
Podcast Beyond : IGN’s PS3 focused gaming podcast
Joystiq Podcast : Joystiq.com’s gaming podcast
Entertainment
Current Geek : Random geek stories from around the web
Geeks on Glee : Recaps and discussions on the Glee episodes
Pandoricast : Recaps and discussions on Doctor Who episodes
Random
Stuff You Should Know : HowStuffWork’s podcast on random subjects
This American Life : Chicago Public Radio’s broadcast on a collection of stories from around the nation
Stuff You Missed In History Class : HowStuffWork’s podcast on historical events and figures
The GMen Show : Podcast on random (and at times ridiculous) gadgets and tech
Fourcast : A show of two hosts and two guests who make predictions about the future