The estimated reading time for this post is 5 minutes
Q. I really liked your article on Overcast and it got me thinking that I should try podcasts. I want to keep current on a lot of topics but I don’t have much time to read. Podcasts sound like a great way for me to learn more, stay up-to-date and be entertained.
How can I find podcasts that are relevant to me? No offense, but I’m not a tech fan. I like The Wonder of Tech, but that’s about all the tech I want to hear about.
I have my own business so I’d like podcasts for entrepreneurs. I also do yoga, but I’m thinking that may be too visual for podcasts? I have a special needs child and I’d love to find podcasts about parenting. Also, I like “Guilty Pleasure” TV, like Pretty Little Liars, Game of Thrones, and reality shows. Hearing podcasts about the latest episodes could be a fun escape from my world.
I have no clue where to find podcasts about my interests. Any suggestions on where to begin?
A. Excellent question! I’ve heard from quite a few Wonder of Tech readers since Overcast: My Favorite Podcast App Just Got Better! Like you, they’re wondering how to find podcasts on topics other than tech.
No worries, many, if not most, Wonder of Tech readers aren’t tech fans. The good news is that there are plenty of ways to find podcasts on any topic!
About Podcasts
Podcasts can be a current and convenient source of information and entertainment for you. Thousand of podcasts are available for you to listen to at your own pace on your own time.
Podcasts are generally free, so try out some episodes to see if you like them, then subscribe to your favorites. Sample podcasts to see if you like the content, pacing, personality of the host(s) and sound quality.
Listening to Podcasts
You can listen to podcasts on your iPhone, Android phone, tablet and/or computer. You can listen to individual episodes or subscribe so that you get every episode when it’s released.
You can also stream or download podcasts, depending on how much space you have on your device and whether you have Internet connection when you want to listen.
[note]Check out => Streaming vs. Downloading Videos — What’s the Difference?[/note]
Audio vs. Video Podcasts
Many podcasts come in both audio and video formats. You may be able to find video podcasts that are helpful to you, if you want to watch and listen.
Note that video podcasts can use up more storage space on your device and use up more of your monthly data if you stream or download them when you’re away from Wi-Fi.
Searching for Podcasts
Searching for Podcasts can be different from searching for other things. You may want to search by keyword, category, or most popular. Plenty of resources are available to help you find the best podcasts for you, including apps, directories and search engines.
You can search for podcasts using apps, they can be a source of information about new podcasts, and use a different app to listen to them. The app with the best source of information about podcasts may not be your favorite app to listen to podcasts.
Once you find a podcast you want to try, search for it in your favorite podcast app to download episodes and subscribe.
iTunes
You can use iTunes to find podcasts of interest. You don’t need to have an iPhone or use Apple’s Podcast app. You can download iTunes onto any computer and then search for podcasts.
iTunes can show you podcasts recommended by Apple, New & Noteworthy podcasts and podcasts that are the most popular each week.
See which podcasts and episodes make the top 10 or search by category. You can also check out the New to Podcasts section in the menu on the right. There you’ll find podcasts arranged by categories such as:
- Business
- Kids & Family
- Fitness & Nutrition
- TV & Film
You can download iTunes to your computer free from the Apple website. If you don’t want to bother downloading iTunes, check out Podbay.fm which shows you the most popular podcast rankings on iTunes.
Podcast Award Winners
Podcast fans recently chose the Best Podcasts of 2015 at the Annual Podcast Awards. You can find a list of the 10 best podcasts in each category and see which podcasts won the top awards.
Categories include:
- Business
- Entertainment
- Health/Fitness
- Education
and more. Each podcast listed has links to its website so you can find the podcasts easily.
You can check out the award winners and nominees at the Podcast Awards website.
Overcast
Overcast, my favorite podcast app, has a helpful discovery section. Tap the + in the upper right corner of the screen to see recommendations from Overcast in various categories. If you’ve linked your Twitter account to Overcast you can get recommendations from people you follow on Twitter.
Overcast will also recommend podcasts for you based on podcasts you’ve listened and subscribed to using the app.
Overcast is available for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch in the iTunes App Store.
Podcasts Directories
To discover popular podcasts and some hidden gems, check out these podcast directories:
- Stitcher
- Podcast 411
- This American Life
- Podcast Thing
- Podcast Pickle
- Podcast Alley
- iPodder
- Frogpants Studio Network
- DiamondClub.TV
Search Engines
When in doubt, you can always search Google for:
Best ________ Podcast
Also try Pinterest Guided Search to find podcasts of Interest. You can even start a Pinterest board with pins of podcasts to check out later or to share with others.
[tip]See => Pinterest Guided Search – A New Path to Pinspiration! for more information on using Guided Search.[/tip]
Your Thoughts
Have you tried podcasts? Which ones do you recommend? How do you find new podcasts? Share your thoughts with us in the Comments section below!
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* Podcast image (edited) courtesy of Colleen AF Venable via Flickr and Creative Commons
Hi Carolyn,
I keep listening to podcasts every single day, and now that I’m using Overcast (thanks to you) I’m even more satisfied with how I listen to them. I find the podcasts I listen to via blogs or that they mention them on the podcasts I already listen to.
Hi Jens, I’m so glad you’re enjoying podcasts even more now using Overcast. Such a brilliant app!
Great point. Getting recommendations from friends, blogs and other podcasters can be a helpful resource. Do you have any podcast recommendations for Wonder of Tech readers?
Yes, I do have three and that’s three I’ve just discovered:
– Time Hackers Podcast
– Read to Lead Podcast
– The James Altucher Show
Thanks for sharing those, Jens. I’ll have to check them out!
Just what I was looking for. I am looking for podcasts on Big data.
Hi Latha, Very cool. I hope you find awesome podcasts on Big Data and other topics.
Hi Carolyn, I am new to podcast and do not know about it. I just heard online that it is very powerful tool to get visitors and conversions.
Is it paid to use or a free service?
How can I get this to use for my blog?
Can you help in this so that I can get benefit from starting a podcast for my blog?
Hi Mohinder, Yes, if you run a blog you can add a podcast to drive more traffic to your blog. Listening to podcasts is free, but running your own podcast can involve hosting fees, just like blogging. Check out this Lifehacker article published this morning about how to start a podcast:
How to Start Your Own Podcast
Good luck with your podcast, Mohinder!
Hey Carolyn,
Well that was a very handy post and I had just read Jens post the other day about loving Overcast and that he found it from your post.
You know I don’t really listen to podcasts, I just can’t find the time since all my spare time during the day is spent with my Mom and boy can that woman talk. I really would love to listen to some though and I know they’re so popular. Maybe one of these days I can set some time aside but at least you’ve given me several ways to find good ones if I am not already eager to hear what someone in particular has done.
Thanks as always for keeping us up to date with the “how to’s” of tech.
~Adrienne
Hi Adrienne, Yes, the good thing about podcasts is you can listen to them almost any time, such as when you’re brushing your teeth in the morning, making your bed, folding laundry, organizing your closet, etc. I even got an inexpensive Bluetooth speaker and listen to them in the shower!
As you know, keeping up with information can be challenging, but podcasts can help keep us informed while saving us time.
Yes, the response to my Overcast article was much stronger than I predicted. Jens wrote a wonderful article about Overcast and I got many reader questions about how to get started with podcasts. I’m glad so many people are interested in podcasts, even if the subject isn’t tech! 🙂