Introduction
Podcasts are digital audio recordings that can be downloaded or streamed online. They have been around since the early 2000s but recently have gained more popularity. For the uninitiated, podcasts are like talk shows where the hosts discuss topics ranging from politics to pop culture, economics to entertainment, and more.
The increasing popularity of podcasts can be linked to the rise of smartphones, the availability of affordable audio equipment, and the growing awareness of the value of audio content. As a result, podcasts are becoming a favorite pastime for people of all ages, backgrounds, and interests.
With podcasts, you no longer have to wait for a specific time or a particular day to tune in to your favorite programs. You can listen to them on demand, whenever and wherever you want. Moreover, they often offer great insights into interesting topics, helping you to learn something new while you go about your day. Additionally, podcasts are perfect for multitaskers who want to squeeze learning or entertainment time into their schedules without compromising productivity.
Suggestions of Podcasts to Listen
If you’re a beginner, you may be overwhelmed by the vast selection of podcasts available. Here are some suggestions for popular and well-known podcast series that align with the interests of most people:
- The Daily by the New York Times – this popular podcast covers the news cycle, with episodes released every weekday.
- NPR’s TED Radio Hour – hosted by Guy Raz, this podcast features several segments that explore innovative ideas and thought-provoking stories.
- How I Built This – hosted by entrepreneur Guy Raz, each episode of this podcast dives into the story of a successful company or business leader, how they got started, and the obstacles they had to overcome to achieve success.
- Comedy Bang Bang – described by many as the funniest podcast around, this improvised comedy show features actors and comedians in various roles and scenes.
- Serial – this true-crime podcast explores a different case each season, with each episode building on the previous one as the story unfolds.
By selecting the right podcast based on your interests, you can make the most of your listening time and boost your productivity.
How to Listen to Podcast
To listen to podcasts, the first thing you need is a mobile device or a computer with internet connectivity. Here are some steps to help you get started:
- Search for your favorite podcast on Google or Apple Podcasts, which are available on all Apple devices.
- Another way to find a podcast is to search on Spotify, a popular music streaming app that also features a vast library of podcasts. Many other apps beyond Spotify serve as podcast aggregators and make it easy to browse and stream multiple podcasts organized by category and popularity.
- Once you have identified your preferred app, subscribe to the podcast so that new episodes are automatically downloaded to your device when they are released.
In addition to subscribing to podcasts, mobile apps provide advanced features that create a better user experience as follows:
- Playlists: You can create personalized playlists, which allow you to play the episodes in the order you want, similar to creating a music playlist.
- Playback speed: Many apps allow you to change the playback speed, so you can listen to shorter podcasts during your free time or speed through a long podcast that you don’t have much time for.
- Notifications: You can set reminders where you are notified when there’s a new episode.
Advantages of Podcasts
While podcasts aren’t for everyone and should be enjoyed to the degree that each person chooses to, the advantages of Podcasts are worth immensely more than simply being witty conversational or inspiring. Here are some of the benefits of podcasts:
- Personalized listening: podcasts aren’t bound by network or government limitations, which allows them to cover a vast array of topics and reflect different viewpoints, providing listeners with a diverse range of perspectives on issues that aren’t necessarily found in traditional media formats like cable news networks and radio.
- Available in specific niches: many podcasts are focused on very specific topics, from sports to relationships to true crime, ensuring you can find a subject you like and get in-depth on that particular theme.
- Informative: podcasts are often more in-depth and comprehensive than traditional radio coverage, which is often limited to short segments. Podcasts provide a space for experts or enthusiasts to delve deeper into their topics.
- Efficient: it’s easy to catch up on missed episodes by searching through backlogs and archives, and you can often find similar or related content to what you’ve enjoyed before.
There are tremendous benefits to podcasts, but as is true for all things, they hold value primarily based on how much the listener chooses to value them.
Conclusion
Podcasts provide a convenient and portable source of entertainment, information, and education. There’s something for everyone, and subscriptions are easy to manage. Whether you choose to listen while walking, driving, or jogging, there are a wealth of interesting podcasts that can truly keep you entertained and informed. Who knows? Maybe this article has convinced you to start your podcast journey! To begin exploring the vast world of podcasts further, perusing the listening apps can provide an even broader range of possibilities.
