How Do You Podcast?

by Emily Price | More from this Blogger

01 Feb 2007 02:52 PM

This morning during some random web surfing I came across an "official podcasting kit" for sale on the Internet for around $300. The kit included some decent podcasting software and a studio quality USB microphone. I was first appalled at the price of the kit, considering I think I can create pretty decent podcasts using the included software on my computer and my $15 microphone from Target.

The more I think about it, the more sense it made. Podcasts have become more and more popular in recent years; to a point that I think they could legitimately be a "job" rather than a "hobby." If you're going to do something as your job, or if your going to start charging people money for something then it needs to be a decent quality, thus the need for a studio quality microphone.

When I first downloaded the version of iTunes where you could subscribe to podcasts I listened to an overwhelming amount of them. It was a new toy, and I needed to play with it a lot. I think at one point my daily podcast subscriptions had gotten to a point where there was no possible way I could listen to them all, I just liked knowing they were there.

I pondered about this whole podcast thing all morning. It looks like podcasts are here to stay. Some people even think they are marking the end of television as we know it. Why would you tune into the news at 6pm when you can download a podcast whenever you want and scroll through stories you're not interested in? The internet is changing how we operate as a society, and podcasts are one of the ways it's going about it.

How many of you have ever downloaded a podcast? Even better, how many of you regularly download podcasts? What types of podcasts do you listen to?

• Podcast Basics

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Emily is a freelance writer and video editor in Raleigh NC.

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Jeff Bogle (1022) 01 Feb 2007 02:22 PM

I too love podcasts. I have subscriptions to ESPN's PTI, Grammar Girl writing tips, KEXP song of the day, live in studio performaces, KCRW live performances, NPR's Wait Wait Don't Tell Me and This American Life. Oh, and the New York Times Book Review. Way too much, but it is cool to put one on well I am writing or designing late at night.