Podcasting 101
What is podcasting?
Podcasting is much like radio, but it is distributed via the Internet and can be played on your computer or a portable media player (such as a MP3 player or iPod). Podcasts are available on all sorts of topics, from education related topics, like District Leader’s Podcast, to entertainment, technology topics, music and everything between and beyond.
Some people describe podcasting as “TIVO for radio” because you do not need to “tune in” to a broadcast at a predetermined time. Instead, like TIVO you can listen to it when you want to!
However a major difference in this comparison is that you do not need to pre-record a podcast. You can go out and search for one on a topic whenever you need it.
How does it work?
Listeners sign up for most podcasts for free and then whenever they open their podcast listening program, like iTunes, it updates with the newest episodes automatically. All they have to do next is select the episode they would like to hear at their computer.
If they would like to take the podcast episodes with them to a different location, such as on a commute, to work, to the gym, etc, they can connect their portable media player to their computer. Once this is configured whenever they plug in their device and a new episode has been received it is immediately transferred to their player!
Podcast audio files are in the same MP3 format that people download and listen to on many portable media players. Related episodes/audio files are linked together in a series with a scripting language called XML this provides an RSS feed that listeners can subscribe to with their podcast listening program (also called a podcatcher).
District Leader’s Podcast is an example of one of these podcast series. If you want to enter the information directly into your own podcast listening program, our RSS feed is http://www.districtleaderspodcast.org/feed.xml
How do you get started?
You have several options listed below from most basic to more detailed:
- Listen on your computer from our direct link - Basic Computer Listening
- Go to the District Leader’s Podcast Episodes site http:/blog.districtleaderspodcast.org/
- Select the episode to which you would like to listen and it will open the default media player on your computer to play the podcast. (Examples of media players that will play the District Leader's Podcast are Windows Media Player, iTunes, Real Media Player, Rhapsody, Music Match, etc.)
- If you need to download a media player, we have provided links below from which you can choose.
- Listen on your computer with iTunes - Itunes Listening
- Go to the District Leader’s Episodes website http://blog.districtleaderspodcast.org
- Click on 1-click iTunes and it will download and open iTunes
- It will automatically subscribed you for free to the podcast and start to download the latest episodes
- Click on the episodes you want to listen to anytime!
- Take your podcasts with you –Mobile Listening
- Do the same steps as #2a through 2d
- Now coordinate your portable media device with iTunes
- Connect your device to your computer for the latest updates to your favorite podcasts and take them with you to listen anytime...anywhere!
- Use your own Podcatcher - Addng to Your Favorite Podcatcher
- If you already are using a podcast listening program, just add our feed to it: http://www.districtleaderspodcast.org/feed.xml
PODCATCHERS
Itunes:(For Windows and MAC) http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/
FireAnt: http://getfireant.com/
MEDIA PLAYERS
Windows Media Player: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia
RealPlayer: http://www.real.com/
Itunes: http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/
Musicmatch: http://www.musicmatch.com/download/
