What is a podcast and why you should listen to them

What is a podcast

Podcasts - it is the audio files in the format resembling broadcast on a particular topic. To create them, you do not need the skills and expensive equipment - just a microphone and Internet access. Therefore, these records do both ordinary people and experts in some areas and celebrities.

In the world there are hundreds of thousands of podcasts about anything: about technology, cinema, fashion, sports, science, cars, humor, and so on. You will certainly be able to find something to his liking, whatever interested.

They appeared

In a form of audio is distributed to bypass the media, existed back in the eighties - in RussiaRostov ate "illusion of the independent radio"And abroadPeering Out a 'Real Time' Window. But podcasts in the modern sense of the word appeared in the beginning of two thousandth, in the wake of the popularity of the iPod growth.

In 2003, the program was created RSS-to-iPod, which allowed users to "apple" player to download audio is coming out periodically. By mid-2005, podcasts have become so popular that Apple has added them in iTunes. Over time, it became more and more podcasters and their audiences grew. Now the number of consumers of such content is calculated

Podcast Statistics (2019) - [Infographic] hundreds of millions.

What is the benefit

The greatest advantage of podcasts - they can listen to the background during some core activities. This is especially true of cases that do not require a lot of concentration: washing dishes, cooking, cleaning, travel around the city.

You can go to the subway and learn new facts about the area in which you would like to develop. Or just listen to the stories of the lives of different people, to relax and get away from everyday problems.

Podcasts allow time normally spent on routine, to good use.

And if it is recording in a foreign languageYou can study it better, to learn a new language or unusual occurrences familiar words.

How to listen to podcasts

Enable podcast can be both a desktop and mobile device. Here are some of the most popular programs.

Windows

iTunes

Application from Apple - one of the main sources of podcasts on your PC. In it you can find tens of thousands of programs on all possible topics. iTunes lets you subscribe to podcasts and remembers what issues you have heard, and which ones yet.

MusicBee

MusicBee suitable for those who prefer to receive podcasts RSS. There you can add links to your favorite programs: the program will check for new releases and download them.

Download MusicBee →

macOS

iTunes

Despite the fact that there is a classical player and a PC on a Mac it is much easier and faster - if only because it integrates better into the ecosystem. Another handy feature: the app does not even need to download, it comes with the OS.

iOS

podcasts

In the standard program the system has all the basic features: automatic download, history plays, and so on.

Overcast

One of the best apps for podcasts on iOS. In addition to the classic features, the program offers unusual things like smart increase in voice volume and automatic removal of pauses issues.

Android

Google Podcasts

In an embodiment, by Google Thousands of podcasts are available, although the configuration is not too much. You can subscribe to, receive personalized recommendations and listen to the issues directly in the search application.

Pocket Casts

For an extra charge, but rich in the player function. Allows you to adjust the playback speed, switch between audio and video on the fly, as well as create playlists and put the issues in turn.

web

Player FM

Convenient Web Player podcasts sorted by category and sync between multiple devices.

Player FM →

In contact with

Many Russian-speaking podcasts can be found in the "VC". In the social network has a special section where the latest transmission fall. There you can subscribe to and new authors, and see the podcast page for you already follow.

Podcasts "VKontakte» →

Yandex. Music

IN service "Yandex" yet not so many podcasts (about 500). But it's a great place to find good programs in Russian.

"Yandex. Music »→

From what podcasts start

To understand what podcasts you should listen to, you must first decide on the topics that interest you. Then hammer them into the search service or program that you use. The first line will be the most popular programs.

If you have difficulty immediately selectThen here are our recommendations subjective.

Russian-language podcasts

1. podcast Layfhakera

Who leads: Irina Rogava leading YouTube-channel Layfhakera.

Useful advice about relationships, health and productivity.

iTunes →
Google Podcasts →
YouTube →

2. Look who's Talking

Who leads: chief editor Layfhakera Pasha Fyodorov, director of business development Rodion Scriabin and leading the YouTube-Channel Irina Rogava.

Discussion of popular movies and TV shows, latest news and events from the simple life.

RSS →
iTunes →

3. KuJi Podcast

Who leads: stand-up comedian and journalist Timur Karginov Andrew horse.

The phenomenon of mass culture, the social agenda and a lot of jokes.

iTunes →

4. Zavtracast

Who leads: Timur Seyfelmlyukov marketing, technical director Dmitry Zombakov video producer Maxim Zaretsky.

One of the main Russian-language podcasts about technology, games, movies and TV shows.

Google Podcasts →
iTunes →

5. Arzamas

Who leads: historians, art critics and just enthusiasts.

Educational project about the history of culture.

iTunes →

English-language podcasts

1. Eat Sleep Work Repeat

Who leads: vice president of the European branch of Twitter Bruce Daisley.

Podcast about how to improve the working environment in the business.

iTunes →

2. How Did This Get Made?

Who leads: actors June Diane Raphael, Paul Scheer and Jason Mantzoukas.

create stories a very bad movies - the comments of actors and directors.

iTunes →

3. No Such Thing As A Fish

Who leads: the producers of the British comedy show QI.

The most surprising facts about the history and science.

iTunes →

4. TED Talks Daily

Daily performances of talented scientists and artists talk about their work, hobbies, ideas, and much more.

iTunes →

5. How I Built This

Who leads: Journalist Guy Raz.

The owners of successful companies talk about how they evolved business.

iTunes →

Share in the comments of your favorite podcasts.