Thing 19. Podcasts

Blog Prompts

• 1. Which podcast(s) did you listen to?

Having a Mac, I've been using iTunes for years, and learned about podcasts (great word) then. Podcasts are wondrous things for studying a language. I've been teaching myself Spanish which is great since I can work at my own speed (or slow, as the case may be). The Internet has many sites that offer Spanish lessons, study tools, quizzes, and, yes, podcasts. I don't have anyone to speak Spanish with, so all my learning has been focused basically on memorization. Until I found Spanish podcasts. Now, I can see and hear the words.

2. Which of the directories did you find easiest to use?

• 3. Has this Thing inspired you to do any podcasting yourself or to subscribe to a podcast to listen to it regularly?

MPR's program, Selected Shorts, is excellent, and now I can subscribe to it using iTunes and hear it any time I want, as well as keep selected Selected Shorts.

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There are many ways to find podcasts. This Thing introduces you to some popular podcast directory tools. Do some exploring on your own and locate a podcast that is of interest to you. Once found, you can easily pull the RSS feed into your blog reader (i.e., Bloglines or Google Reader) account, so that when new podcasts become available you’ll be automatically notified of their existence.

1. Take a look at one or two of the podcast directories listed in Resources to find a podcast that interests you or listen to a local podcast in the list. Find some interesting library-related podcasts like book reviews or library news or a podcast on anything else that interests you.
2. Listen to one more of the podcasts. Link it in your blog if you would recommend it to others.
3. Add the RSS feed for a podcast to your blog reader account.
4. Try this simple, telephone-based tool that let's you "phone in" your podcast. Gcast says it's so easy your grandma could do it.

Resources
Local Podcasts

• St. Cloud State University Memoirs for School Library Media
• Minnesota Public Radio's podcasts
• On the Road With MINITEX are podcasts produced by MINITEX Reference staff.
• Podcast Alley offers a directory of Minnesota-produced podcasts, too.

There are many, many podcast directories and finding tools out there. Here are just three of the more popular ones that don’t require a software download:

• Directories
• Podcast.com
• Podcast.net
  
• Podcastalley.com
• Yahoo Podcasts
• Educational Podcast Directory

iTunes recently added iTunes U. College and university faculty post content they create for their classes. Students and others can download what they need, and go.