Podcasts
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According to Wikipedia, “a podcast is an episodic series of spoken word digital audio files that a user can download to a personal device for easy listening. Streaming applications and podcasting services provide a convenient, integrated way to manage a personal consumption queue across many podcast sources and playback devices.”
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In short, it’s a recording of people talking and just another way to share information with like-minded folks. It’s an alternative (or addition) to writing as a means of getting what you have to say out into the world.
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Creating a podcast is relatively simple when it comes to the necessary equipment you need.
You’ll need:
A recording device of some description. That can be something as simple as using the voice recording function of your smartphone.
A computer with digital sound editing capabilities. There are many software packages around that you can use, such as Audacity which is free.
Somewhere to upload and share your recorded podcasts. That can be on your own website if you have one, or one of the many podcast sharing services available on the net.
In order to create an interesting podcast, you first need to have an idea or story that other people will want to listen to. You’ll need to do your research to make sure that what you’ve got to say is accurate. Ideally, you’ll have a script with questions to ask whoever it is that you’re going to be speaking to or interviewing. You should only attempt non-scripted podcasts if you’re highly skilled in the subject the podcast is going to be about and can think quickly on the fly.
If you’ve never listened to a podcast, give it a try. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but there are many places you can find them on just about any topic imaginable. The Google search engine is your friend. Use the topic name you’re interested in followed by the word podcasts. I.e., If you’re a car enthusiast, try something like “Car Podcasts” as a search term, or “Pet Podcasts” if you’re interested in hearing people talk about pets. Explore – there’s a ton of material available to you, and most of it is free.
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