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Article: Podcasting-For-Fun
by Ray Murphy
Podcasting is about listening to an audio program when and where you want.
I know what your next question is. It was mine, too. So what? Who cares? I don’t listen to the radio all that much so why would I listen to this radio program.
It’s not a radio program. That’s what makes it great. Let me explain it this way:
If you have cable or satellite television, like most people do, you probably enjoy a number of specialty channels that are focused around one theme. Perhaps it’s a certain type of music channel. Or a channel about history. Or a channel about books.
If it’s a channel of your interests, are you more likely to enjoy it?
Sure you are, because it’s something you’re interested in.
It offers more focused and in depth coverage of the kinds of things you have a passion for.
Even if you pay for it, you will still enjoy it more than the free television you got from your antenna, right?
Absolutely. Because it’s focused on topics of interest to you.
And that is the next exciting thing about podcasting. Podcasting is not just a bunch of radio programs that are like every other radio program out there.
Podcasts are focused programs that are geared to very specific niche markets.
Got an interest in historical figures? There’s a podcast audio program about that.
Got an interest in the air force? There’s a podcast audio program about that.
Drink too much coffee and love it? There’s a podcast audio program for that.
There are thousands of podcasts out there and there’s bound to be something of interest to you. Whether you like to laugh at comedians or learn from experts, there’s something of interest to everyone.
And they take different formats, too. Some are trivia shows. Some are interviews. Some are lectures or single-person rants. Some are full-fledged production-quality shows with effects and special guests, like a late night talk show.
Okay, I know your next question, too, because I asked it as well: Satellite television can be pretty pricey, how much does podcasting cost? Nothing.
That's Right, Zero, Zip, Nada - Poscasts are totally FREE!
This is where I grew very skeptical because there are very few things in life that are free. But it is free and here’s why.
Podcasting is done by people with an interest in the area that they are podcasting on.
Anyone can podcast, and even though it’s picked up by your computer and transmitted to your MP3 player, you don’t actually need to have a computer to be a podcaster; you can just do it over the phone.
As well, podcasting is so new (the word podcasting was coined in 2004) and there is no regulatory body overseeing the industry so people are trying all kinds of things to figure out what works and what doesn’t in the world of podcasting.
The accessibility and “newness” and lack of rules has meant that it has become a primary form of self-expression. The result is that there are thousands of podcasts out there. And they’re free.
But in spite of the variety and the low cost of zero dollars, that’s not why I like podcasting.
I like podcasting because it’s an automated system. Like when you subscribe to a magazine, you don’t give it a second thought until it reaches your mailbox. Then you remember that you’ve subscribed and you read it.
Podcasting technology allows you to subscribe to a podcast that you like (for free), have it downloaded to your computer (for free) as often as it is updated (for free), and from there you can listen to it on your computer or on your MP3 player (for free).
If the podcast you want is updated daily, like a podcast covering the news headlines of the day, your computer will pick it up every day. If the podcast you subscribe to is about major league baseball and it is updated once a week, your computer will automatically get it once a week.
Whenever a podcast is updated, your computer gets it automatically. So it’s convenient.
I put it the latest podcast on my MP3 player to listen to when I take my dog for a walk. That’s convenient as well. That’s why I like podcasting: continual updates on my favorite shows so that I can listen whenever and wherever I want.
And it sure doesn’t hurt that it’s free!
So why am I telling you all this? I want to share with you three exciting things.
First, that podcasts are an exciting new medium that give you convenient, free programming that you will enjoy.
Please visit http://www.podcasting.ebookdomaine.com for the full picture.
Ray Murphy is a writer and author of numerous books on subjects such as health and making money.
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