Podcast addicts... how many do you listen to a week?

[ipanemagirl]

I can't do household chores without my ipod now.

[Nettiespagetti]

What do you listen to? I've never found much in podcasts or am I not looking hard enough?

[NetworkGuy]

The BBC certainly knows nothing about how to handle podcasts - there are hundreds of them worldwide, and various software has been developed which downloads them for you when new podcasts are released.

Have a bit of variety and download some from Canada or USA - the BBC idea is based on anything being available for a week or so (longer if they have a technical problem, or some items which are produced in association with others, such as a few O.U. series).

Others keep as many as possible online, some keep all of them online, so you can download podcasts created a year ago for some radio shows or independently made podcasts.


PRI PRI (Public Radio International) includes various BBC World Service material

eg World Book Club interviews, approx 1 per month back to 2007

Also "The World" (daily show in association with the BBC World Service and a Boston station - been going over 10 years - used to have Eddie Mair on from London end)

Plenty of other shows eg Whad'Ya Know, a 2 hour variety show with archives online of around 10 years (no these aren't strictly podcasts, but with a bit of cheap software you could play programmes and record them to make your own MP3s... sure, some American humour might not sink in but there are no similar shows on British radio these days, as far as I know.

Even with no podcast download software you can just download the MP3 files they list.

A second US network is [[http://www.npr.org/rss/podcast/podcast_directory.php NPR] - National Public Radio - which carries daily news shows, plus interviews ("Fresh Air") and while the web site has features on food, I'm trying to remember which stations carry 'A Chef's Table' or similar sounding programme. There's even a couple of Italian guys who answer questions from listeners in a witty manner, on their show 'Car Talk' - I have sometimes listened, and I don't even have a car, nor interest in them - but hearing about the extremes of climate, whether on Car Talk or a show on gardening, makes me consider how much variety the show hosts are expected to cope with!

Something I can personally recommend is "Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me" (US news quiz)

CBC from across Canada

Podcast Alley all sorts of topics, independently made, language guidelines "nil" (so a few are not ideal family listening, if someone decides to let off steam about a topic dear to them).

If you have a PC, then a bit of cheap or free software can download podcasts for you overnight (or whenever) - see a list here.

I have used "Juice" (previously known as iPodder though I ran it on Windows). Have moved PCs around and the PC with Juice on currently not online, but will be getting this PC set up ASAP as you have rekindled my interest in podcasts (I go for mostly IT-related).

[meltedmarsbars]

Blardy 'ell, do you have time for anything else!!

[NetworkGuy]

Work self-employed in IT and have had broadband since 2001 (and a gap of 30+ months with no TV, so did have time to fill). Years ago was an avid short-wave listener, and seem to be awake up to 18 hours a day, every day, also pent many a happy weekend listening to some of the live shows from US stations before Podcasts went very popular.

The podcasts can be downloaded for you automatically so I have lots I have still not heard!

I have perhaps 100 GB of music and maybe 25-30 GB of podcasts. Have had computers recording 24x7 from a DAB radio, so I could easily go back to listen to a once-only broadcast. In future will do this to a greater degree, recording music (R1X, R2, JazzFM) and talk (R4, R5, R7). Last year found 8 GB of "I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue" - must go out walking more [with my MP3 player] as I have only heard one set of broadcasts so far.

[meltedmarsbars]

But if you go out walking with your MP3 player, you miss the whole point of walking - the wildlife!! you don't hear any of the birdsong or animals rustling in the undergrowth!

[NetworkGuy]

Ummm, walking an hour into town I would only hear the rumble of traffic, sadly.

[ipanemagirl]

OMG, I am seriously in awe of the podcast grasp displayed here! Thanks for the tips, I'll have to go check some of these recommendations out!

I'm a bbc podcaster mostly and I listen while I do chores.
The Film Programme
Film Weekly
Kermode and Mayo
Arts and Ideas R3
All the book programmes
The Food Programme
Excess Baggage
Front Row
Women's Hour
Medicine Now
Midweek (despite dreadful Libby)
And a few others

Itunes had an excellent reading by Hilary Mantel of an extract from Wolf Hall.

I'd love to listen to audio books but my ipod is pathetically small, only 4gb, I just had to delete all my music because I couldn't fit anymore podcasts on.

Also we're surrounded by traffic noise so I don't miss the sounds of the countryside. Don't listen if I'm in proper quiet country!

[NetworkGuy]

Look on Ebay or ebuyer.com (4GB player for 20 quid) and you should find something for under 20 quid with a further 4 GB of storage (ignore the one at 5.99 as it uses memory cards - MicroSD might be cheap but the 'micro' makes them far too easy to lose, in my view, else I would have suggested considering one so you could have a micro SD card for speech (podcasts) and keep music on a separate one, without spending a small fortune.

However, on Ebay I saw a small 4 GB Samsung player, and separately, at under 15 quid, an 8 GB player (I'm extremely tempted but just had Gas and Electricity bills so I will have to wait!)

[NetworkGuy]

Samsung 4 GB MP3 and WMA player with FM radio at under 20 quid.

[queenceleste]

I have to come back later and read all this carefully...
It's all sweeping right over my head, I barely understand what you are all saying! I'm totally out of my league....

I have an imac and an Ipod and all the rest is uncharted waters! But can I use any mp3 player with my Imac?
Thanks for all advice.
prolesworth good advice thanks, will look for the forum.

[NetworkGuy]

QC - if you have a USB v2.0 port on your iMac, then you should have no problem pushing MP3s from the iMac into pretty much any MP3 player. Some of the latest MP3 players also have Wi-Fi so no wire except to charge the player!

If someone uses an iPod, they probably need to use iTunes. Sorry, have no iPod and never touch iTunes, but have an MP3 player (18 months old, cost a tenner, and stores 1 GB, but has radio and shows photos and video too), and just use the 1 GB storage like it is a memory stick.

[GrendelsMum]

Just for the other insanely keen Podcasters - I've discovered 'This American Life', which I heartily recommend. Like magically getting an extra hour of Radio 4 each week. Also enjoying 'The History of Rome'

[NetworkGuy]

'This American Life' - I'd certainly second that!

Something to listen ut for on a Saturday from 1800 (UK) is "West Coast Live", a 2 hour variety show from San Francisco, via www.KALW.org

It is followed by Whad'Ya Know, a comedy quiz, also worth a listen.

They play "This American Life" at 2100 (UK) on Sunday evenings.

[Birchos]

Hey i've just started my own podcast, it's me and two other women talking about what's we've enjoyed reading, watching and listening too this month. With a whole heap of nostalgia thrown in - eg this month we talk a lot about Judy Blume!

Have a listen, I'd love to hear what you think.

You can download it here so you can play it on your mp3 player.

truffleshuffle.podbean.com/feed/

Or you can listen on your computer by streaming it here

www.mixcloud.com/birchos/word-up-its-me-margaret/

[Acekicker]

Lots of BBC stuff, also the Bugle and Newspod for my night time listening as I go to sleep (I love me my speaker pillow).

We've got a Squeezebox and I'm trying to widen my internet radio listening so some good ideas for stations there too - thanks!

[Longstocking2]

forgive me but what's a squeezebox? Thanks

[FranknCock]

Lots from the U.S.
-Wait Wait Don't Tell Me (news quiz type thing)
-Savage Love (sex advice columnist Dan Savage's podcast)
-Real Time with Bill Maher
-NPR: It's all politics
-This American Life
-Slate daily podcast
-Slate Political Gabfest
-Slate Culture Gabfest
-News from Lake Wobegone

From the UK
-BBC Friday Night Comedy (either Now Show or News Quiz)
-Kermode & Mayo
-Phil & Phill's Perfect 10

I used to listen to more, but I'm way behind at the moment. Good for the gym, I never listened to music much anyway, I find people talking keeps me more distracted!