The Love of Podcasts

Whether you listen through Google Play, iTunes Podcasts app, or Spotify, podcasts are easy to find, encompass an incredibly broad range of topics, and vary significantly in length. Listening to a podcast is like listening to the radio in the car, but you have more control over what you listen to. As we move at an increasing pace as a society from landlines and flip phones to smartphones--and smart refrigerators--and traditional forms of transportation to ride-sharing and driverless cars, there is something beautiful about the rising popularity of podcasts.

Before the year 2005, podcasts did not exist, and it was largely due to Apple that podcasts caught on in the beginning. By making these portable, diverse radio shows easy to access, the company made people aware of this new form of media, as reported by Wired. As of 2015, according to Medium, around 5,000 podcasts were being launched each month. And how many people are tuning in? According to HuffPost, in 2016, through Apple devices alone, an estimated 10 billion people listened to podcasts.

With so many options--and so many opinions from the people creating, and listening, to content, it can be hard to know where to begin. Here are 4 to get you started.

1. The Gadget Lab Podcast.

This is likely the podcast that I mention the most. Arielle Pardes, David Pierce, and Michael Calore discuss technology news with a great sense of humor and fascinating perspectives. Episodes tend to run over an hour.

Link: https://www.wired.com/tag/gadget-lab-podcasts/

2.When to Jump.

Mike Lewis, who wrote the book of the same name that is due out early next year, took a leap of faith when he quit his job to play professional squash. On his podcast, he speaks with truly inspiring individuals about how they made jumps in their lives. The podcast premiere features Sheryl Sandberg, who was followed on subsequent episodes by Arianna Huffington and Manoush Zomorodi. Most episodes run between 30 and 40 minutes.

Link: http://www.whentojump.com/podcast.html

3. Note to Self.

Manoush Zomorodi's podcast is one that, if you aren't already tuning in, you will definitely want to start listening after downloading her When to Jump episode. On Note to Self, Zomorodi discusses with her guests how technology impacts our lives. Most episodes run between 20 and 30 minutes.

Link: http://www.wnyc.org/shows/notetoself

4. TED Radio Hour.

I'm sure that I'm not the only one who has thought, "I wish this TED talk was portable, so that I could listen to it on my morning walk!" TED Radio Hour episodes have specific themes that group together different speakers with expertise on a given topic. Episodes run around an hour.

Link: https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510298/ted-radio-hour

5. The Vergecast and Too Embarrassed to Ask

Both podcasts within the Vox Media podcast network, The Vergecast and Too Embarrassed make for informative and fascinating listening material. Recent episodes of The Vergecast have covered net neutrality, phone reviews, and other tech announcements. Too Embarrassed, with Kara Swisher and Lauren Goode, discusses topics from meatless burgers to learning to code to tech recommendations and privacy in the modern world.

Link (The Vergecast): https://www.theverge.com/the-vergecast

Link (Too Embarrassed to Ask): https://www.recode.net/too-embarrassed-to-ask-podcast

How To Listen:

If you're new to podcasts, you may not be sure how to listen to them. There are many ways to listen to most podcasts, but the golden rule is: download the podcast in advance (unless you're listening on your desktop or laptop at the links above). Downloading the podcast in advance--while you have a WiFi connection--means that you won't use data and you won't be struggling to get a podcast up and running while on the road or the trail.

Listening on an iPhone:

Open the purple Podcasts app and search for the podcast. Download the podcast and start listening.

Listening on a Pixel or Android phone:

Open Play Music. Click the left sidebar, select"Podcasts," and search for the podcast. Download the podcast and start listening.

Didn't Work?

Some podcasts might not come up when you search in the app. If this is the case, follow the links included above from your phone, select an episode you want, and select download. Many podcasts also include podcast-specific information on how to download and listen.