So if you follow me on social media, you’d know that I post a lot about podcasts. They’ve been a steady form of entertainment for me over the past five years and of recent, I’ve realized that not many people know what they are.

So here I am, sharing with you folks, a simple podcast beginner’s guide.

What on earth is a Podcast?

Podcasts are internet radio talks and usually take the form of a conversation with a couple people or a monologue on a specific topic. Podcasts are usually genre specific, for example about sports, true crime, culture, science and so on. They’re so captivating that it’s no doubt over 100 million people in the US alone listen to them on a regular basis.

Because they’re conversations you will find both fact and opinion and that’s what makes them so interesting. And the best thing about them, is that you can listen on your own time, to whatever peaks your interest the most. Most are recorded and released in seasons and has an introductory episode giving insight into the podcast and its hosts.

They are easily addicting as they provide a wealth of information and isn’t difficult to find a host and a topic that you can either relate to or want to learn more about (such as the host of Casefile True Crime that’s anonymous and has become quite the heartthrob because of it).

Where do I find them?

I use a podcast player but you can find them anywhere you listen to music. These include Google Play, Itunes, Spotify etc. I prefer podcast players because they have more features and are quite easy to maneuver. Most podcasts are free, but there are paying options as well. Some of my favorite ones have Patreon accounts where you pay a subscription fee monthly and you get access to additional episodes, earlier releases and other insightful information. This helps monetize the podcast and keep them going.

How do I listen?

This is the awesome thing about podcasts. Just like listening to your music, you can listen in to podcasts on any medium that allows it. This includes your phone, laptop, ipod, tablet, smart speaker or other portable device. You can stream, download or subscribe. Simply search for them in your podcast player (which you download from your app-store) or on your streaming service and either listen straight away or download for another time. If all else fails, check their website. I have changed my settings to download or alert me of new episodes. This way it’s easy to keep up.

You don’t need to be tech savvy nor always equipped with internet to listen. As mentioned before, just download and enjoy whenever you can.

When’s the best time to listen?

They don’t usually require your undivided attention so i play them as background noise often. I listen to them most when doing chores, exercising, during my commute and when i have a bit of down or quiet time. Mornings, evenings and late nights are the best times I’ve found.

Why should I listen?

Because they’re fun! And that aside, they encourage learning, focus and building imagination. Not to mention just simple and light background noise to keep you company. They’re also free (most of them), you can listen on your own time and you have tons and tons of content options. There is no room for boredom. They even have communities on Facebook and Message Boards so you can get your talk on.

Where do I start?

A simple search on the internet would do you just fine. Simply choose a topic you like and search for ‘best — podcasts’ and a myriad of options will pop up. The ones I listen to have ads (short and sweet thank goodness) and they usually recommend other podcasts of similar nature. That’s where I come across new ones. I use Podcast Addict (available free in app-store) and Google Play Music.

Who knows, maybe I’d start my own podcast in the future! Would you listen?

What are your thoughts on podcasts? Do you listen to them?

Thanks for stopping by!

Ps ~ 10 Awesome Podcasts for 2017 and 10 Amazing Documentaries on Netflix right Now.