The Land Of Podcasts

Over a decade ago I listened to a few episodes of podcasts.  In those days I listened on iTunes and found it a bit clunky and lost interest.  Then a couple of months ago,  I discovered my iPhone had a podcast app.  It looks like the picture above.  Some people have told me  they had to download the podcast app.  But if I downloaded it I sure don't remember doing so. I am pretty sure it came with the app already on it.   Normally, I listen to audio books on my commute but I only subscribe to one audio book a month from audible.  I have two library services that I can check out either digital or audio books from but they require their own audio player apps.  Unfortuneately, I am not real comfortable with the library audio book apps.  So an alternative for me is to listen to podcasts during my commute between audio books.   I have found myself so drawn into the podcasts that I have been listening to them while I sew,  while I do housework, and while I walk.  In fact, I have been bugging everyone I talk to about what I heard on this podcast or that podcast.  I have even been sharing links to a podcast or two on social media.  Maybe it is just the older generation, which I am a part of,  that is not hip to podcasts but the response I often get is complete confusion.  Many people are not aware of podcasts.  They don't know what they are or how to begin to listen to one.  So I decide to write this blog to try to turn some folks on to podcasts.

Podcasts are like radio programs on demand.  They are free.  You subscribe to a podcast of your choice on the podcast app of your choice.  Then you listen to it when ever or where ever you want.  You put your ear buds in and listen.  To make it clear how to do listen to a pod cast I found two YouTube video tutorials that explain.  One is for those with iPhones and one is for those with droid phones.  Please select the correct one for your device below and learn how to listen to a podcast.   The first video is for people with iPhones and the second video is for everyone else that has a smart phone. If your  smart phone is not an iPhone it is a droid. (at least I am pretty sure it is)

Now that you have the ability to listen to podcasts on your device I would like to share with you some of the podcasts that I have found that I enjoy.  There are more podcasts than any of us can imagine.  You can search by topic or if you hear of a podcast from someone you are interested in you can search by the name of the podcast to add the podcast in your app.  I divided the ones I listen to into lists below because not all of us have the same topical interests.  Click on the name of the podcast and follow links to listen on your computer if you happen to be someone who actually still has a flip phone.  

Podcasts that are just fun and interesting: 

A Way With Words is a podcast about vocabulary that is just old fashioned fun.  Callers call in and ask about a word.  In between calls the hosts explain interesting facts about words.  It is a great way to add to one's minutia.  

Planet Money is one of the first podcasts I listened to years ago.  It is about the global economy and sounds like it would be dry.  But they use such every day examples that it is very entertaining.  This podcast really helps a person understand a lot about our modern world.  

Ben Franklin's World is a podcast about what life was like in Colonial America.  That happens to be one of my favorite historical periods.  I am sure each person can find a podcast about whatever their era of interest is.  

As a nurse, I find that keeping abreast with current events in the area of health care is important to me.  Two podcasts that help me do that  are: 

What The Health is a pod cast that covers a broad range of health care news and policy changes.  

Boom! Lawyered is a pod cast that is NOT G rated.  It is two female attorneys that cover the latest infringes on women's reproductive rights.  They are angry women and use some pretty foul language at times.  But they explain things in easy to understand terms.  

What first drew me to podcasts was my genealogy hobby.  There are many podcasts on that topic.  Four that I really like and that I follow are:

Generations Cafe is Amy Johnson Crow's podcast.  I have always enjoyed her blog and her podcast is just as wonderful.  

The Genealogy Guys Podcast and Genealogy Connections are both by the same two men.  I always learn  something when I listen to them.  

Genealogy Gems is Lisa Louise Cooke's  free podcast.  She also has a premium podcast series that costs to subscribe to.  But her free one is very top notch.  

Ancestors Alive is a fun podcast about family history.  

So now that  you know all about them welcome to the land of podcasts!  Enjoy!!  Soon you will be telling every one what cool things you heard on your latest favorite podcast.