Why I started podcasting


I’ve been listening to podcasts for at least 13 years. It may surprise some that podcasts were even a thing back then, and really, they were just something that really keen internet users were aware of. Even most keeners didn’t know what to do with them.

Smartphones weren’t a thing yet, so if you really wanted to subscribe and listen to a podcast, you needed to be dedicated. You needed to have something like iTunes and an iPod—lest you just listen to the shows online in your browser. It was still a very manual process.

Some of the early podcasts I was subscribed to:

Smartphones definitely moved the needle. Now with a phone and bluetooth you could listen to podcasts anywhere—like in your car during your commute—just like terrestrial radio. But if you mentioned the word ‘podcast’ in mixed company you’d often still get blank looks from the majority.

Logistically, it was more accessible than ever to find a show and subscribe, but what was missing was that one game-changer that would bring podcasting to the masses. That would make even the most casual user of technology want to learn how to subscribe and listen. Until that happened, podcasting was doomed to be a sub-culture of a sub-culture of a sub-culture.

Then Serial happened…game changed…

Serial made podcasting a buzzword. Never before had the word been mentioned so many times on mainstream media. It was on the news, talk shows, it even appeared in an SNL sketch. You know you’ve made it when…

Thanks to Serial, there has been a huge surge in podcast listeners and creators. Your options are virtually limitless. If you want a podcast about knitting, or origami, or your favourite TV show or sports team, you’ll likely find multiple podcasts on that subject. That’s the beauty of podcasts…because anyone can create one, you can get as niche as you want.

That’s also the downside of podcasts…they’re not all created equal. Many are lacking in sound-quality or content. It may take time to weed through a bunch of garbage to find a gem that you can stick with.

There are many companies popping up that continuously create quality shows. Companies like Gimlet Media, Transom.org, Howstuffworks, Carolla Digital, SModcast Podcast Network, and many others.

Also, more traditional media outlets have been in the podcasting game for awhile, leveraging their many existing shows and even creating new ones specifically for the medium. Outlets such as BBC, CBC, NPR, American Public Media and many, many others.

I listen to a mix of both mainstream and independent podcasts. Here is what I have on my podcatcher right now:

Sports:   • Prime Time Sports   • Tim and Sid   • Baseball Central @ Noon   • Blue Jays Talk   • Free Association, Sportsnet’s Toronto Raptors podcast   • Hoops
Storytelling:   • This American Life   • The Moth Podcast   • HowSound
Educational/Investigative Reporting:   • Planet Money   • Science Vs   • Criminal: A Podcast   • Mystery Show   • Reply all   • Sampler   • Serial   • StartUp   • Surprisingly Awesome   • Twice Removed
Arts, Leisure & Entertainment:   • Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me   • The Dinner Party Download   • Toronto Mike’d Podcast   My Own Podcast   • The Monday Lunch Podcasting Club

Personally, ever since I discovered the medium, I’ve wanted to try my hand at podcasting, but I’ve never had the time, equipment, or—more importantly—the idea. That’s all changed now. I have a little time and some equipment and the idea…well, it’s an evolving thing.

The Monday Lunch evolved from lunch discussions at work. I’m sure many people who work in a team environment where you spend a lot of time with your coworkers—including lunch hours—have said something similar to the following, “Man, if only we could record our conversations!”

Well, that’s exactly (kind of) what I’m doing. Whether or not it will result in something entertaining enough for others to want to listen in…I don’t know. But I’m finally trying out this podcasting thing…and I can see why people enjoy it. It’s kind of fun!

I hope some people will have fun listening as well.

Al


Comments

One response to “Why I started podcasting”

  1. […] I wrote about my journey with podcasting. […]

What are you thinking?

Discover more from Al Grego

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading