Podcasts let you align content to your interests

TALK RADIO BUT BETTER

The days are long and entertainment is mostly remote and digital these days. Along with TV and talk radio, it’s a perfect time to explore the world of podcasts. Simply put, a podcast is an audio program, similar to talk radio, but you subscribe to it on your smartphone and listen to it whenever you like.

Podcasts give you a lot more control. They are a series of audio episodes, all focused on a particular topic or theme, like the latest in politics, interviews with favorite celebrities, serial dramas, true crime, book reviews or economics. The list is endless.

All of this programming is available for free; just install an app on your phone and download the shows you want to hear.

The first step is to pick a podcast player. Here are four suggestions that will get you in the door and straight to listening.

Apple Podcasts

If you have an iPhone, this app comes built into your phone. It might not have the biggest feature set, but it offers a quick and easy way to jump into the world of podcasts. It lacks the more powerful features found in other players like “voice boost” (which is great for listening in loud environments like a subway train or an airplane) and the ability to skip silence in a podcast. However, you can stream and download shows, skip ahead or rewind in 15-second intervals, and set your favorite shows to download automatically as soon as a new episode is released, free Google Play Music

If you’re on Android, Google’s music streaming app, which comes pre-installed on your phone, also supports podcasts. Like Apple’s Podcasts app, Google Play takes a simplistic approach to podcasts. It lets you subscribe to podcasts, download episodes, and skip and rewind during playback. However, there’s also a version of the app that runs in the web browser, so you can listen from your computer when you’re at your desk and save your phone’s battery, free.

Spotify

Spotify’s mainly known as a music streaming service, but in 2015, the company added support for podcasts. Again, you’ll just get the basics, but that’s enough to get you started. If you’re a regular Spotify user already, this option gives you a podcast player with a familiar interface. As a bonus, you can flip between podcast episodes and your usual songs and playlists, so you never have to switch apps to listen to something different. There are a couple caveats, though: Spotify hand-picks which podcasts are allowed on its platform, so it may not have everything you’re looking for, and without a premium subscription you’ll have to listen to ads between episodes, free.

Now Find Something to Listen to Every podcast app has a section filled with recommended shows you can browse. Start there. Some apps have better suggestions than others, but at least you’ll be able to find a few things you might like. When you find a show you’re sure you’ll enjoy, subscribe to it—this adds the title to your list of favorites in the app. If you want, you can set up your app to download each new episodes as soon as it’s released. Most apps will also let you listen to an episode of any podcast without subscribing, so test out as many shows as you want.

Examples of a Popular Podcasts

With more than a million podcasts out there, you will have no trouble finding some to interest you. Here are a few favorites:

• Serial: This award-winning podcast blends investigative journalism with non-fiction storytelling and tells one story—a true story—over the course of a season.

• This American Life: It is the most popular podcast in the United States, with around one million people downloading each episode.

• Dr. Death: Reported and hosted by reporter Laura Beil, Dr. Death is a story about a charming neurosurgeon surgeon, 33 patients, and a spineless system.

• Radiolab: A two-time Peabody Award-winner, Radiolab describes itself as “a patchwork of people, sounds, stories and experiences centered around One Big Idea.”

• Stuff You Should Know: Listen to Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant explore everything from genes to the Galapagos in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.

• S-Town: S-Town is a new podcast from Serial and This American Life, hosted by Brian Reed, about a man named John who despises his Alabama town and decides to do something about it.

• Planet Money from NPR: From the producers of This American Life, Planet Money describes itself as a fun evening with a friend discussing the economy.

• TED Talks Daily: Listen to more than 2,000 TED Talks from remarkable people, including expert speakers on education, business, science, and beyond.

• Talk Easy: Founded in 2016, Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso is a weekly podcast of intimate, long-form interviews with people from all walks of life: filmmakers, comedians, activists, politicians, actors, and once, my mother. The show is hosted by writer/director Sam Fragoso, new episodes every Sunday morning.