OK on to one of my favorite subjects: Podcasts.Podcasts are small FREE audio shows or video shows that you can download and watch in iTunes.
You can load them on to your iPhone, iPad, Android phone, your laptop, desktop PC or Mac it doesn't matter, where you listen to music or radio you can listen to a podcast.
Podcasts turn that unproductive time of standing in lines or waiting rooms, of running around town listening to the crap on broadcast radio into pure pleasure. NPR has always called these "driveway moments" (which is also a podcast). Its where you get to where you are going and don't want to leave the radio because what you are listening to has captured your attention.
I love these things, I do not listen to radio any more, none, zero, zip. My iPod and phone have all the songs I want to hear and a library full of podcasts on a huge range of subjects. I CHOOSE what I want to listen to and look forward to the time I can listen.SO to discover podcasts go to the iTunes store and in the black menu bar at the top you will see "podcasts" click it. On the right hand side you will see the categories for now lets stay with "audio". Click it and there are all sorts of thumbnail pictures of different podcasts that are available FREE. Check out the staff favorites or NPR or if you want to learn spanish there is a button that will bring up about 30 sites giving free spanish lessons, or Japanese or French...
Pick one say WNYC's Radiolab. (Highly recommended, Highly!) Click it and you get a list of shows, pick one, any one like Curious Sounds. Then go all the way over to the right and click free. The podcast will automatically start to download to iTunes on your device.
After that all you have to do is go to the podcast section in your iTunes browser and there the show is. Select it and sit back, sit down, start your car, start walking, or jogging or making a meal whatever. I guarantee that somewhere you will say to yourself "WOW" that's cool.
SO now that you know how to download a podcast here are some recommendations.
RadioLab is almost as must - interesting, well produced, award winning just try one episode, you'll be a fan. Shows run from 15 minutes to over an Hour.99% Invisible - I just found this one and I literally have listened to every episode. It is about design. Now don't be put off by that and think this is some foo foo interior decorating deal, it's not. It is really how good design is almost unapparent because it works so well. The episodes are only 5-10 minutes long so grab one. You can search for it in the iTunes store's search bar and make sure you download the podcast. Oh Its by a very talented producer named Roman Mars who does these for a radio station in California
OH MY GOSH, the thing that got me into podcasts and these are mostly video podcasts so not good for driving, jogging etc but great for waiting. TED Talks. These are 17 minute presentations by experts on every subject imaginable. From treating ADD children to The Pulsars in the Galaxy, from photographing cells to how to bring commerce to inner cities. TED Talks was founded with the idea of getting a bunch of smart people together for a conference and giving each 17 minutes to present something to the audience. The result is amazing. Past Presidents, poets, acrobats, philosophers, scientists, teachers, the lists of shows is in the hundreds. Got to the TED Talks site and scroll through the offerings and download any title that appeals to you and get ready for one of those "Wow" moments. Pick one any one.
NPR has a host of good podcasts that will appeal to every one not just the left wing advocates. Try "All songs considered" or "StoryCorp" there is a ton of content from them.
"Marketing over coffee" is another favorite of mine for the business interested.
A very entertaining independent political opinion can be found at Dan Carlins "Common Sense" Dan also has a very entertaining look at History in his "HardCore History" podcast.
And one more of my latest finds "The Memory Palace" by Nate DiMeo. Fantastic little 10 minute or less "Wow" true stories.If you like any of these podcasts you can click the "Subscribe" button and new shows will automatically download to your device when available. And if you can't find one in all the above that made you smile or say "WOW" then I will stop this blog the day you report that to me. Try anyone and you'll secretly thank me.
IT Occurs to me that there may be some folks who don't use iTunes? I don't understand it but for those folk that want to go directly to the podcast website here are the links for the above mentioned shows:
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