Podcast, Schmodcast!

Podcasts: What are they, why do I care, and how do I listen?

I just got back from a long road trip, and boy, I am thankful for podcasts. 

What's a podcast?

Podcasts are essentially radio shows distributed over the Internet. Joe Sixpack records a podcast, uploads it to a web site or distribution service, and anyone can download it to their computer. You can listen to a podcast on the computer, you can burn a CD of it, or you can transfer it to a portable music device like an iPod or a Creative Zen.

Why do I care?

Since anyone can post an audio file on a web site, these shows are often about niche subjects and are done with less polish than traditional radio shows broadcast over the airwaves. In many cases, that lack of polish is refreshing; in other cases, it's unbearable. As a technophile, I love all the niche tech shows that are available: my favorites are This Week in Tech, Cranky Geeks, and Buzz Out Loud.

How do I listen?

Some podcasts are posted as downloadable files on web sites. Most commonly, podcasters use distribution services like iTunes or Podshow.com.

If you are new to podcasts, iTunes makes the process of downloading and listening to these shows incredibly easy. 

If you already have the iTunes software installed on your computer, click on the iTunes store and in the upper-left corner you'll see a link to podcasts. Once on the podcast page, click on a show you want, then click "Get episode."

The podcast will then download to your computer. On the left hand side of the iTunes software you'll see the "Source" column, and "Podcasts" will be in that list. Click on it and you'll find your podcast ready and waiting. You can play it on the computer directly from iTunes, you can drag it onto an iPod and listen to it on the go, or you can burn a CD of the podcast.

If you like talk radio but wished that they talked about something besides politics or current events, podcasts may be for you; give them a try.