Simply Tech: Podcasts
Published January 7, 2025
You’ve probably heard about podcasts, and — if you’re not already familiar with them — you might know they’re something you listen to, but not much more than that.
Let’s fix that.
A podcast is, essentially, a radio show. Think of anything from vintage classics like “The Shadow” or “Amos ’n’ Andy” to today’s NPR or talk-radio programs. That’s what a podcast is, and, like those radio shows, they’re free to listen to.
The difference is that you listen to podcasts via the Internet instead of an AM radio — you can use a smartphone, a tablet, or a computer. (They’re called “podcasts” because they were originally designed to be listened to on iPod music players, back in the Long-Long-Ago before smartphones.)
Creating a podcast doesn’t require expensive radio equipment and a radio station to broadcast, which means a few things.
First, anyone (and often his mother) can record and “broadcast” one. All you need is a microphone and a computer or phone to save your recording. Then there are free and inexpensive services that will help you share a podcast with the world. Even if someone decides to invest in some better audio equipment, they can start podcasting for less than $100. The point is, making a podcast is — for better or worse — easy and inexpensive.
That means that, unlike radio shows (then or now), there are literally thousands of podcasts to listen to, from big-name media companies to a couple of guys in a basement. And that means you can find podcasts on every subject you can think of. True crime is a hot topic, but so is history, technology, the supernatural, politics, sports, fiction, and every hobby you can imagine.
The Internet is a radio with an infinite number of stations.
Some podcasts have episodes only 5 or 10 minutes long. Others can be more than an hour each. Some, like those covering news or sports, are daily; others might be weekly, monthly, or even come out irregularly, whenever the podcaster feels like it. You can subscribe to a podcast (free, of course) so you’re notified every time a new episode comes out.
So: Podcasts are essentially radio shows you listen to via your smartphone or computer. They’re free, cover every subject imaginable, can be long or short, and come out (or “drop”) on some kind of schedule.
But how do you find ones that interest you? And how do you go about listening and subscribing to them?
Finding and listening
Conveniently, the way you listen and subscribe to podcasts — whether through a smartphone app or website — is the same way you discover the ones that interest you. They all have libraries of ’casts you can search or browse. You’ll find the same podcasts everywhere because most podcasters make sure they’re accessible on every app and site. (That’s why we say The Reporter’s podcast is available “wherever you listen to your podcasts.”) Once you find one you like, you can subscribe to it so you’re notified of new episodes.
And there are a lot of apps and sites. In the interest of simplicity, though, I’ll just share some of the Big Kahunas. All three are available as either free apps for Android and Apple devices, and also as (free) websites to listen through your computer. They all let you search for podcasts, browse categories, and subscribe to whatever interests you.
- YouTube Music, formerly Google Podcasts (music.youtube.com/podcasts).
- Amazon Music (music.amazon.com/podcasts)
- Spotify (spotify.com)
Special mention 1: Apple Podcasts (podcasts.apple.com). The website is available for everyone, of course, but Android and iPhone users need different apps. There’s also Apple Podcasts for Mac computers, but Windows users need to get iTunes, which doesn’t always play nice. Still, if you’re an Apple person, Apple Podcasts is a great choice.
Special mention 2: Pocket Casts. Available for both Android and iOS devices, it’s arguably the best smartphone/tablet app for finding, listening to, and subscribing to podcasts. There’s a bit of a learning curve, but it’s worth it. Find it on Google Play or the Apple App Store — the free version is all you need.
When you start to browse what’s available, it’ll be a bit overwhelming. Your best bet? Look at the “top” lists to get an idea of what other people are listening to. Then look at the list of episodes and pick one or two that spark your interest. Listen to ’em and then decide if you want to subscribe — or maybe just listen to a handful of episodes before moving on.
If you’ve got a long drive coming up, want something fun to listen to before bed, or even want to try gathering the family for a fireside chat, chances are you’ll find a podcast that’ll fit the bill.
—30—
