I’ve been talking nonstop about podcasts over the past year. Fine, I can’t shut up about them. I mention one or two in each “Do Listen Read” post, and I try to discuss them in person whenever I can find someone as podcast crazy as I am. What is a podcast? Some are like talk shows and some are a bit more like episodic TV shows with cliffhangers. You can find podcasts about every topic. Some are better quality than others, and most are free!
Whenever the podcast subject comes up, I get the same two questions. #1. How do you listen to podcasts? (As in, how do you get those magical shows to come through the headphones?) AND, #2. How do you make time to listen to so many? So, there’s a technical question here and a deeper time-management/priorities question. I will tackle both.
HOW TO LISTEN TO PODCASTS ON AN iPHONE
#1. I don’t know a thing about Android phones. Sorry! Now find the purple podcast icon. It comes on every phone. You probably never noticed it before, but it’s there somewhere. It might not be on your front screen so scroll to other pages if necessary.
#2. After you press the podcast icon, you will see a screen where eventually some of your current episodes will sit. The screen that appears for you now will look different from mine because my phone is already full of downloaded episodes. To find some shows you might like, first press the “search” magnifying glass on the lower right of the screen. Then in the blank space on top of your screen type in a topic you can imagine listening to people chat about. Another option is to press the “top charts” icon next to the magnifying glass for ideas about what is popular in the podcast world. The little clouds with tiny arrows next to each episode is what you need to press to download a single episode. I highly recommend only doing this on WiFi.
#3. If you want episodes of a particular podcast to appear in your “my podcasts” section any time there is a new one, (“my podcasts” is on the lowest part of your iPhone screen), then the best thing to do is subscribe to the podcast. Click on any of the episodes on any single episode and it will bring you to a page listing all the recent episodes from that podcast with an option, on the upper right, to subscribe. (I have never listened to the podcast pictured below. It’s just an example. If I wanted to subscribe I would hit subscribe.)
#4. Here are some of the podcasts in MY “my podcast” section, which means I subscribe to them. The list is much longer, but this gives you a taste of how the screen will look with the podcasts you like. Most podcasts come out once a week or less frequently so that is why people subscribe to a handful. Other than what is pictured below, I also listen to Rabbi Sacks, Happier with Gretchen Rubin, Radio Lab, Tablet’s Unorthodox, Beyond Your Blog, Slate’s Double X, #Amwriting with Jess & KJ, and some others. Other than Unorthodox and Double X, I do not listen to every episode of every podcast. But you still might be wondering, HOW do I listen to so many podcasts and why? See my next point.
HOW DO YOU LISTEN TO SO MANY PODCASTS?
Well, I could ask you, how do you make time to attend so many yoga classes, or run so many miles, watch so many football games, or watch so many hours of CNN? I simply make the time because I enjoy it!
But why do you enjoy podcasts? Podcasts allow me to learn something new or hear something entertaining, and most importantly, they help make activities I find otherwise odious to be much more enjoyable. That’s more of a “why” answer. The “how” is this: I listen when I walk on the treadmill, walk outside, lift weights at the gym, when I’m alone in my car during a 20 minute school pick-up line 5 days a week, when I’m alone in my car any other time, and sometimes when I’m cooking if I happen to be alone in the house. (Though if alone at home while cooking I am more likely to watch Scandal, Downton Abbey, Younger, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, or something else on the DVR.)
There you go! That’s the big answer. I mostly listen while I workout and drive. This also means that I never listen to music when I’m alone, but I don’t miss it. I listen to plenty of music when the kids are in the car. If I happen upon a great audiobook, then the book will supersede the podcasts for a while. Oh! And this is an important point to repeat: I do not finish every podcast episode and I do not listen to every episode of every podcast. You will always see a description of the episode so if the topic doesn’t float your boat, delete it.
Have I convinced you to try? If you already listen to podcasts, what are you favorites?
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28 Responses
A. Thank you for this PRACTICAL post. I’ve been hearing about Podcasts from so many people (and you obviously) for a long time but never investigated HOW to make them a part of my life. This seems simple enough, even for someone as technologically slow as I am!
B. I love your generosity of spirit sharing Dana’s newsletter here. Seriously. You’re a great example to all of us of spreading the word for others. LOVE. (And I already subscribe to Dana’s newsletter – and yours – so yay!)
Awww, thank you for saying that!
This is a FAB post, Nina! I have always come to you for writerly tech q’s, and I’m sure this will prove super helpful to any reluctant or anxious podcast fans. I know for me, the tech side was my prime hesitation. But once I figured it out, I was like, wow this is too easy 🙂 Thank you SO MUCH for your kind (and hilarious) words about my recent podcast newsletter! I am a total nut, it’s the truth. I just sent the newsletter out this morning, but anyone new who signs up will receive a copy filled with my favorite literary podcast suggestions.
I added literary to my description of your newsletter!
Thanks for this practical look on podcasts. I haven’t got the podcast bug yet (other than Serial last year), but your post might be the inspiration I need to make room for them in my life.
I am looking forward to Dana’s newsletter as well. Podcasts all around!
Rudri Bhatt Patel @ Being Rudri recently posted..What Advice Would Your 80-Year-Old Self Give You?
Oh Rudri, I know you would love many of them!
Like you, I’m a pretty die-hard guest on the Podcast train, but I love reading your take on it and how you work them into your life. I almost always listen to them exclusively when in the car. Sometimes I have them on when I’m getting ready for work, but I’m not always able to consume information that early 🙂
I’ve mentioned some of these before, but I love the TED Radio Hour by NPR and Dear Sugar Radio (advice from Cheryl Strayed and Steve Almond). For writing, I love the Beyond Your Blog podcasts for tips for submitting your work. I see in your screenshot that there is a Grammar Girl podcast. I need to check that out!
It’s weird to reply to oneself, but had to a comment to my comment! I just received Dana’s newsletter and I’m so excited to explore some of her podcast recommendations, particularly the DIY MFA. Thank you both for sharing!
Okay, I am done now. 🙂
Yes! I know you and Dana are my fellow Podcast listeners. I think I learned about The TedTalk Radio hour from you.
Thank you for this step-by-step post. I love learning something new!
SO happy to help!
I am obsessed with podcasts! I don’t have wifi at home or a laptop (a year of unemployment will do that to such luxuries – the writer and story consumer in me is elated to be working again and getting back online!!!) so when my new job gave me an iPad, I started downloading the podcasts so I could listen on my commute to and from work.
Currently, I’m loving –
Anna Faris is Unqualified
Death, Sex, and Money
Here’s the Thing w/Alec Baldwin
Women of the Hour
Side Hustle Show
I’m so glad you commented! They’re all new to me.
Thanks for the post – I hope to launch my own podcast soon, and I will point my followers to this post as a quick-and-easy primer on accessing and enjoying my show (or anybody else’s, of course).
So, rally, thank you again!
Davide Mana recently posted..Wilhelm Grimm’s Birthday
I’m hope it helps people listen to your show!
I’ve been curious about podcasts but never took the time to figure them out before. Thanks to this fabulous, practical and step-by-step guide, I’ve now subscribed to 7 podcasts: several from NPR and one my daughter listens to “Stuff You Missed in History Class”. Guilty pleasure podcast – “Heather Dubrow’s World”.
Mo at Mocadeaux recently posted..A Letter To My Grandsons
I’m so happy I helped unlock this magical door for you!
I prefer an audiobook to a podcast, but I am open to adding a few to my list. Right now I listen to Beyond Your Blog and Serial. I’m hesitant to start searching for more because I know I’ll get hooked and won’t have time to listen to everything!
Dana recently posted..If you cross your eyes, they’ll stay that way
I’m like that with many TV shows that people swear by and I’m sure I’d love but just cannot start for fear of netflix addiction.
I listen to plenty of podcasts while I’m walking Reggie or even just walking to the subway. I agree — if the episode doesn’t interest me, I won’t finish it. Too many podcasts, too little time! Right now, I’m really enjoying Modern Love.
Nice thing about Modern Love is that it’s short and well produced.
Thank you so much, Nina! I, too, have heard so much about podcasts (Serial and Elizabeth Gilbert’s podcast specifically). This simple post is the push I need check them out! I feel a little late to the party but I see from the comments that I’m not the only one. ; )
Never too late!
I’m a podcast lover, too…there are so many interesting things to learn about! Thanks for more ideas.
I’m so addicted to audiobooks right now that I’m afraid of trying podcasts. If I like them as much as I like listening to novels (which I do during the same types of things as you listen to podcasts: driving, working out, coloring, cleaning, etc.), then I’m going to be in serious trouble. There’s only so many excuses I can find to listen to things…
Annie Neugebauer recently posted..Thoughts on Beloved by Toni Morrison and Horror’s Literary Problem
Thank you for posting this! I’ve been too embarrassed to ask anyone how to do it. #oldlady
Thanks so much Nina!