Subscribing to Podcasts

Podcasts are one of the best things about iTunes. Most are free and  are available as either audio or video and some are even available in HD.  There are podcasts dedicated to broad topics, like parenting. Others focus on more specialized subjects, like the one that’s dedicated to news and information about that Farmville game that keeps taking over my Facebook news feed. Good podcasts publish new episodes on a regular basis and  provide great advice, information or entertainment. Sometimes you’ll even get all of that in one package!

Alright, so why would a mom want podcasts on her iPod? First of all, they are usually free. If you pick one up and you hate it then you’re not out a cent. If you love it then you’ve made a killer investment. Secondly, podcasts can be helpful. There are podcasts on cooking, do-it-yourself projects, couponing and parenting. And last, but not least, you can find great podcasts for your kids. Podcasts = free entertainment for my  kids = a little alone time for me.

So you’ve decided that you’ve just got to grab some podcasts, how do you do it? The easiest way is to make a visit to the iTunes store and browse through the podcast section. Here you’ll see lists of podcasts that iTunes is spotlighting. You can also follow the quick links at the top right of the screen. If I’m looking for a podcast on a specific subject I usually use the search feature in iTunes. I type in my key word and it will pull up everything (music, apps, TV shows, podcasts, etc.) that applies. Then I’ll view the list of podcasts and decide if any look worthwhile.  When you’re looking at a podcast’s description you’ll see a box that says “Listeners Also Subscribed To:” and then a list of more podcasts. I’ve found this is a great resource for finding additional podcasts on the same subject. Podcast description pages will list all of their episodes, the length of each one, a release date and episode description. If you see a TV icon next to the episode’s name that means it’s a video podcast. If the TV isn’t there you’re looking at an audio podcast. 

Ok, you’ve found the absolute perfect podcast – now what? You’ve got two options. The first is to click on the “Get Episode” button next to the podcast episode that you’ve chosen. Do this and that one episode will download into your iTunes library.  Your other choice is to click the “Subscribe” button that appears at the top of the screen, under the Podcast’s name. If you do this then you’re subscribing to the podcast. The most recent episode will download into your iTunes library and each time a new episode is published it will download automatically. BUT, you don’t get the previous episodes automatically. To download those you’ll either have to click on each episodes “Get Episode” button or look at the podcast in your iTunes library. You’ll see a list of all the previous episodes and a button that says “Get”, Click on that to download past episodes. It’s also possible to directly get podcasts from the iTunes app onto your iPhone/iPod Touch. However, you’re only able to download episodes, you cannot subscribe from there.

Podcasts just sitting in your iTunes library aren’t going to do you a whole lot of good. You can watch them there but you really ought to get them onto your iPod. You can drag and drop them onto your device or you can set things up so they’ll sync automatically when you connect your iPod to the computer. Here’s how I manage that on my iPhone. I go to the “Podcast” tab that shows up when I double click on my iPhone in iTunes. Next I check the box “Automatically include” and get specific about what podcasts I want syncing up with my phone. You have tons of choices for what to sync – all unplayed episodes, the five most recent, the three most recent unplayed and so on. Personally, I have things set up so that some podcasts automatically sync and others (the ones I don’t watch regularly) I keep in my library. I’m still set up as a subscriber for them but the new episodes collect there instead of on my phone. I can go into the library and drag and drop the episodes that look interesting. It’s just my way of trying to keep my iPod from becoming too cluttered. Got to save memory for other stuff!

Hopefully all that rambling makes sense. It takes a little bit of time in the beginning to search out worthwhile podcasts but once you subscribe to a few you’ll have  terrific, free resources that will automatically come to you.

Here are some of my favorite podcasts.

Sesame Street Podcast – these are mini video episodes that are put out once a week. They run between four to six minutes long and are great entertainment for the kids. Free Sesame Street!

Fetch! with Ruff Ruffman – an audio podcast that my girls find hilarious. I’ve got this one set up to sync with their iPods. The episodes are published less frequently but they’ve got all the humor from the PBS show Fetch! 

Family Fun TV – video podcasts featuring projects from Family Fun magazine. The magazine that I love to get in the mail but makes me feel like a bad mommy because I somehow never get around to doing all the projects that’d make me one of those “fun moms”.

The Mighty Mommy’s Quick & Dirty Tips for Practical Parenting – I haven’t listened to many of these but I like what I hear. Everything from safety proofing your bathroom to battling boredom to making it through the school parking lot safely.

The Dealista’s Quick & Dirty Tips for Getting More for Less Money – The title of this one says it all.

My husband likes the podcasts for How Stuff Works, Discovery Channel and Ted Talks. What about you? What podcasts do you like?