Phew. With the constant changes in technology, it’s tough to keep up with the latest apps, programs and changes to smartphones and computers.
You’ve heard about podcasts (and if they sound like newscasts or sportscasts to you, you’re halfway there) but what exactly are they? Something you should care about? And if so, how do you get one?
A podcast is a digital audio broadcast that’s made available over the Internet, and can be downloaded to your personal computer, tablet or smartphone.
An audio broadcast can consist of anything: radio programs, motivational speakers, meditation podcasts, mystery shows, Sunday sermons, sports programming, documentaries, authors reading short stories, authors reading long stories….well, you get the picture. (Or not, since it’s a podcast.)
Why should you care about them?
Because there are a lot of good podcasts available.Very, very good podcasts. They can be downloaded to your smartphone and listened to when you take your daily walks (motivational podcasts like Mindset Zone are great for that).
They can also be handy if you’re spending too long in your doctor’s waiting room and need a good laugh (check out Terrible Parents).
Most podcasts are made available as a series of installments that are automatically sent to subscribers (sort of like NBC sending you the latest episodes of their shows every week). Some of the best podcasts are free; others you have to pay for.
Podcasts aren’t just for smartphones. Downloading a podcast to your personal computer or tablet is great for those times when you’re at home relaxing or cleaning the house.
How to Download a Podcast
It’s easy, even if you’re not a whiz on the computer.
For Android Users:
1. Find a podcast you like. Do a search for it on the Internet. (Not sure where to start? Check out our favorite meditation podcasts.) When it comes up, there should be a download link under the podcast heading.
2. Click ‘download’ and the podcast will be saved to your computer’s Download folder.
3. Want to listen to it on your smartphone? Connect your phone to your personal computer via a USB cable. Your USB cable is the long cord attachment on your phone charger. Disconnect the wide part of the cord and plug it into the USB outlet located on the front of the hard drive. A box will pop up. Choose the option for Mass Storage.
4. Go back to your Downloads folder and drag the selected episode directly to the Android icon (it will look like a small green robot) located on the desktop screen. The podcast will automatically be copied to your phone.
5. If you want to avoid all that copying and pasting or if you’re unsure of how to download to your phone, there’s an Android podcast app for that. Users can subscribe and listen to downloads anytime. It’s just one simple click to download the app directly from Google Play.
For iTunes and iPhone Users:
1. Open up iTunes and go to the iTunes store. Choose ‘Podcasts’ from the menu bar directly under the player icon. The podcast library will load, letting you browse any topic and download.
2. When connecting your iPhone or iPad to your desktop, use the USB cord and an icon will show up in the right-hand corner of the iTunes menu. The icon will look like a speaker on your desktop.
3. Click on the icon of your iOS device and choose Podcasts from the device menu. This option will allow you to sync podcasts automatically, when you select the box ‘Sync Podcasts’.
There you have it. Give it a go. After your first podcast download, you’ll be a pro in no time. For starters, take a look at this self-improvement podcast.
