What is a podcast?

• How do I listen?
• What do podcasts sound like?
• What's the difference between a podcast and an episode?
• Can I listen without subscribing?

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Transcript

WHAT IS A PODCAST?

Simply put: a podcast is a FREE audio show, just like Talk Radio, but you subscribe to it on your smartphone and listen to it whenever you like.

In a little more detail, a podcast is a series of the spoken word. Audio episodes focused on a particular topic or theme, like wellness or comedy. You can subscribe to the show with an app on your phone and listen to episodes whenever you like, on your headphones, in the car or through speakers.

The majority of shows tend to have entirely original content, brilliantly original approaches and completely niche subjects. For example:

·        They can be any length, from a 1-minute news snippet to a 3-hour in-depth interview.

·        They can be any frequency, from daily to monthly

·        They can be any format, from simple solo shows up to mammoth, multi-person audio dramas

·        They can cover ANY topic, many of which would never make it onto radio

No matter what you're into, you'll find a show that suits the topics you love and the time you have.

HOW DO I LISTEN?

Most Podcasts today are audio-only, even though video podcasts do exist. Podcasting has really grown out of a need for background content. That means something that can entertain you, educate you or inspire you in the background of other boring or rote activities.

For example, one of the most common ways people listen is in the car. You can't watch video there, of course, so audio content is perfect. In the same way, podcasts are great for listening at the gym, while you're mowing the lawn, in a waiting room, or on your journey to work. Any moment of wasted time can be a moment for audio!

Of course, that means you need something to listen on, so you might need to get yourself a set of headphones to connect to your smartphone. Otherwise, connect up to your car via Bluetooth, or start listening on Echo or another smart speaker!

WHAT DO PODCASTS SOUND LIKE?

When you listen to a podcast, you'll discover that many of them are quite familiar. You'll have heard similar types of content over the years, from the radio to a TV talk show. On the other hand, you'll also listen to podcasts that are completely new and entirely different from the norm, thanks to the freedom that podcasting allows.

Most podcasts will be themed around one particular topic. The host or hosts will talk about that topic on every episode. Sometimes it's really specific, like ageing or dog training, and other times it's more general, like how to lead a happy life.

Next, each episode of that podcast will talk about something specific within that topic – nutrition tips for retirees or how to stop your dog from fighting with other dogs.

 Typically, each episode is run by one or two regular presenters talking about that subject. They'll often get outside guests to contribute or to be interviewed.

Many podcasts are straightforward, just a few friends chatting about something they're all really passionate about, like movies, knitting or running a business. But some are really polished and super professional, including theme music, sound effects, professional editing and more.

Most people listen to a bit of both types. The most significant factor in most podcasts is the host or hosts, and you'll gravitate towards topics and hosts that you like more than the approach they take.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PODCAST AND A PODCAST EPISODE?

The terminology is confusing! A podcast is a series of episodes and refers to the show as a whole. Then, a podcast episode is just one recording from that entire podcast.

It's just like TV, really. A TV show is made up of a whole series of episodes.

So, think of 'Friends' as the series and 'The One where they Got Married' as the episode. In this case, Friends is the equivalent of a Podcast and 'The One Where They Got Married' is the Podcast Episode.

CAN I LISTEN WITHOUT SUBSCRIBING?

The short answer is: Yes, and you can listen to an audio file on the podcast website here: http://ownthegray.ca

When you listen to an audio file, you are downloading just that episode.

If you choose to subscribe, you will automatically get notified of new episodes from that podcast when they become available.

So, when you use iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast listening app, it'll keep track of all of your subscriptions. It'll automatically download new episodes as they're available. This is much easier than accessing audio files, where you would have to search them out on the web and download them yourself.

Some people open up their podcast listening app and scroll through what's trending. Others want to hear their preferred podcasts right away.

If you like what you hear in a podcast, subscribe to it. You can always unsubscribe if it doesn't live up to your expectations.

Now that you know what a podcast is, BE THE FIRST TO LISTEN TO MY NEW PODCAST at http://ownthegray.ca