Podcasts: A quick guide to your new favourite hobby
Published on Mon Aug 6 2018 in Lifestyle
Looking for a way to entertain yourself whilst doing chores, taking a walk or on a long commute? Podcasts may be the perfect way to catch up on the news, have a laugh or maybe even learn something new. This popular audio format continues to grow, with professionals and amateurs uploading new shows to the internet every day.
So, what is a podcast, and how can you start listening? Find out a bit about these great programmes, and why they’re taking the world by storm.
What is a podcast?
Think of a podcast as a type of radio programme, but with a little more freedom. Rather than tuning in to a station at a specific time, listeners can download episodes of their favourite podcasts and play them whenever they like. There are over 525,000 podcasts currently available,1 covering a range of topics. There’s a programme to match just about any interest—from news to fiction, family-friendly fare to comedy, and almost anything else you can think of!
Podcasting started in 2004, when software was written to automatically download internet radio broadcasts to an iPod.2 Developers started building on this idea, and podcasting as we know it today was born. The popularity of smartphones helped podcasts gain a wider audience. Now anyone could easily download and listen to episodes at home and on the go.
Not only are podcasts easy to get, they’re relatively simple to make too. Unlike traditional radio, no special licenses are needed to start broadcasting. Anyone can use their computer or smartphone to record a podcast, upload it to the internet, and make it publicly available.
How can I listen to podcasts?
Listening to a podcast is easy. All you really need is an internet connection and a device to store or stream the episodes.
Free apps, like iTunes or Google Play, allow users to subscribe to and play podcasts on their smartphone, tablet or computer. Each time a new episode is made available, the app downloads it and adds it to a queue. When you’re ready to listen, just select the episode and hit play! You can also stream podcasts through apps like Spotify or Stitcher (This may require a paid subscription to the app).
Podcasts themselves are usually free, making it easy to sample programmes and listen to previous episodes. Many shows now feature skippable ads, and some offer paid bonus content (such as special or expanded episodes).
Listening recommendations
With so many podcasts out there, it might be hard to know where to start. Apps sort podcasts by category, making it easier to discover shows you might enjoy. You can also search keywords to find podcasts or individual episodes on topics that interest you.
Radio NZ is leading the way when it comes to local podcasting. They offer a variety of programming with a Kiwi focus, including series covering news, sport, fashion, history, technology and more. Australian talent is also lighting up the podcasting world, with hits such as the true crime series CaseFile and storytelling podcast All The Best.
There are also many long-time favourites, many of which have been recording episodes for over a decade. These include shows like This American Life (storytelling), Stuff You Should Know (educational), Radiolab (science) and Freakonomics (money).
If you’re still not sure what to listen to, ask family or friends for their recommendations! Podcasts are incredibly popular, meaning you likely know someone who listens to them regularly.
Happy listening!
Now that you’re in the know about the world of podcasting, go ahead and give it a try. We’d love to hear your favourite series and episodes—share with us and our community on Facebook!
About Author: Momentum Life is a leading provider of Life insurance and Funeral insurance in New Zealand.
1. Fast Company, Apple’s podcasts just topped 50 billion all-time downloads and streams
2. How Stuff Works, How podcasting works
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