The wonderful thing about technology is how it brings people together. If you have a niche interest in something, chances are there is a YouTube video, blog, Instagram page or podcast created by people that love the same things you do.
And if there isn’t, you can easily create your own and find an audience of like-minded individuals to connect with. All it takes is some recording software and a knack for talking, and you can create your own podcast in a matter of hours. In fact, there is one being recorded in my living room at this very moment!
Old school radio
100 years ago, the first radio ‘broadcast’ in Australia was organised by George Fisk – he played the National Anthem from one building to another during a lecture on radio, and for the longest time, radio was the nightly entertainment and bringer of news for almost every household.
And it has continued to be a mainstay for many Australians. It’s easily accessible and can be listened to while doing other things – driving, cooking, relaxing, and with the release of digital radio and smart phones, there is now more choice than ever.
But what if you want something more than the top 40, talk back radio or the ABC?
This is where podcasts come in! With more than 550,000 podcast series currently live, and more being created every day, there is so much fantastic content that is available to anyone, at any time, and all you need is a smart phone or desktop computer.
The last decade has given consumers a multitude of choices about what they listen to and when. Spotify and Apple have your music needs covered and iTunes, Acast and Anchor make it easy to create and distribute content.
A million stories at your fingertips
There is such a diverse range of content out there in podcast land, but here are a few of our favourites:
StartUp – the podcast about the making of Gimlet, the podcasting juggernaut. Co-founder and CEO of Gimlet Media, Alex Blumberg is the host and takes you through the triumphs and trials of starting a successful podcast. An oldie, but a goodie.
Serial – the podcast that helped popularise the medium for many people, in part due to host Sarah Koenig’s beautiful storytelling. Now into its third series, Serial has covered the case of accused murderer Adnan Syed (and was instrumental in his gaining an option to appeal), investigated the case of Bowe Bergdahl who walked out into Afghanistan and deserted his post in the US Army, and most recently, taken a look inside the Cleveland court system and some of the inequities within it.
Rooster Teeth – the team at RT are prolific content creators. Their podcast now has well over 500 episodes and covers off everything gaming and film as well as discussing any other projects the team are currently working on. If you enjoy this one, they also have a huge library of other podcasts to binge on.
Radiolab – hosted by Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich, is described as a podcast designed for listeners who ‘demand scepticism, but appreciate wonder’, this podcast covers off topics including evolution, sex appeal, discrimination, conversion therapy, legends and much more.
So, in the mood to download a podcast or two for your commute home this evening?
Here's a list of free or paid podcast listening apps, which will make your daily commute or morning runs more entertaining or educational than ever before.
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