From My Left Wing
Podcasting is the new thing, and like blogging, it's pretty user friendly. This will be a basic introduction to podcasting and then provide some instructions for those inclined to learn how to listen to podcasts.
First things first: What are podcasts?
Podcasts are basically segments of audio (but sometimes video) that are posted online at a certain interval. The interesting thing about podcasts is that there are shows/segments on a whole variety of subjects. It's a wonderful way to become familiarized with a subject that you haven't studied.
Furthermore, there are all different levels of production done with podcasts. Like blogging, some large corporations have taken up the format of podcasts, while there are also some done by regular citizens. Some podcasts are also longer than others. I typically listen to shows that last from a half-hour to an hour, but there are some out there that are as brief as a minute long.
If you have a portable mp3 player, like an iPod, you can then listen to these segments outside on a walk, on the way to work, anywhere. However, you can also listen to them on your computer, which I will explain shortly.
How do you listen to podcasts?
Well, first you need a program. I simply use iTunes. It's free, I use it with my iPod, it has a nice directory to search for podcasts, and it's user friendly. If anyone else uses a different program, please let everyone know about it in the comments.
Here is a link to get iTunes: Link (download the appropriate version for the computer you are using)
Once you have the software, you can then find podcasts which you find interesting and subscribe to them. Many of the subscriptions are free, but it's worth knowing that some cost money.
You can find podcasts in a few different ways. An easy way of doing this is using iTunes. iTunes comes installed with a link to the iTunes Store in the left hand column. To get to their podcast directory click on the iTunes store and look in the left hand column for the Podcast link. There you can browse through what subjects interest you. Once you see one that might be interesting simply click on "Subscribe" and it will be added to the list of Podcasts in your Library under "Podcasts."
Once you have a podcast in your Library, you can right click it to update it and see if a new episode has been released. To get an episode, new or otherwise, simply click on the "Get" button and it will be downloaded to your computer until you delete it.
Alternative means of subscribing to a podcast.
Another way of subscribing to a podcast is to add it manually. Using this method you simply find the address of the website, e.g. on the Democracy Now! website there are the "XML feeds" listed. You can add this, for example, to your iTunes by copying the link you pick and then opening up iTunes, clicking on Advanced up top, and selecting Subscribe. Then you simply paste the link there and give the okay button a good click.
Briefly, I'll mention that there are other ways to discover new podcasts such as alternative directories. One I'm familiar with is Podcast Pickle, there are a bunch of podcasts to weed through there.
Deano's picks
Here are some podcasts I have listened to in the past. This list is by no means exhaustive.
BBC Self-explanatory? The BBC continuously produces less cringe worthy news, at least in how it's presented.
Democracy Now Amy Goodman is a fearless host, who asks the real questions that are often ignored in the mainstream media. While the news is clearly from the left, Amy often has a healthy or not so healthy debate between people of opposing view points. It was on her program where the guys from Loose Change debated the editors of Popular Mechanics (Link). Agree or disagree with Goodman's politics, she's having some discussions that others aren't.
Point of Inquiry This is a discussion hosted by D.J. Grothe where issues of skepticism are discussed. From the website:
Point of Inquiry is the premiere podcast of the Center for Inquiry, drawing on CFI's relationship with the leading minds of the day including Nobel Prize-winning scientists, public intellectuals, social critics and thinkers, and renowned entertainers. Each episode combines incisive interviews, features and commentary focusing on CFI's issues: religion, human values and the borderlands of science. Point of Inquiry explores CFI's three research areas:
- Pseudoscience and the paranormal (Bigfoot, UFOs, psychics, communication with the dead, cryptozoology, etc.)
- Alternative medicine (faith healing, homeopathy, "healing touch," the efficacy of prayer, etc.)
- Religion and secularism (church-state separation, the effects and proper role of religion in society, the future of secularism and nonbelief, etc.)
Guests on this show have included: Salman Rushdie, Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and Daniel Dennet. I find myself often unsure about how I feel about the ideas of a given guest, but rarely unprovoked.
Skepticality Not a different beast than Point of Inquiry, the subject matter is similar, but I must say the hosts, Dereck and Swoopy, are more casual. This podcast has gained significant momentum recently becoming the official podcast of "Skeptic" magazine. It's a lot of fun.
My Left Wing Any explanation needed here? There are a bunch of My Left Wing podcasts you can get your hands on, appearances of Maryscott on John Gibson's show as well as Pyrrho talking with our fellow bloggers. Check it out if you haven't already!
Zencast Lastly, I'll mention zencast. It's a Buddhist podcast that is released pretty frequently. It's pretty approachable and interesting if you are interested in spirituality, consciousness, or just curious about Buddhism.
Have fun!