Listening Show
How to Listen to Podcasts Easily on any Device, for Free! Here's how to listen to podcasts, in really simple steps. We cover listening on phones, in cars, on computers, and all the apps you need! Podcasts are everywhere, these days, and there are so many topics to choose from. In recent years the quality has risen dramatically, as the podcasting space has grown up. Many people still cant quite figure out how to listen to podcasts, though. That's where we come in! Here we look at the different ways that you can listen to a podcast, from smartphone to smart speaker, and everything in between. Read more of our Listener's Guide to Podcasting. Related Article What is a Podcast? An Explanation in Plain English What is a podcast? Our plain-English explanation, with examples of what they sound like, what's popular and how to listen.Find out more » How to Listen to a Podcast on your SmartphoneThe most convenient way to listen to a podcast, long term, is through your smartphone. Practically every device on the market has at least one way to listen, and most phones have many! So, if you have a smartphone in your pocket, you already have an ideal podcast listening platform right there. iPhone Podcast AppsIf you've got an iPhone, then you have a head-start, because iOS comes with a podcast app built-in. Just look around your apps for one called Apple Podcasts (or swipe down and search for it). It's a great app for the average listener, allowing you to search the directory, find new shows and subscribe easily. Then, you just have to fire up the app each time you want to listen, and pick an episode for the day! Automate Your Podcast Production & PublishingAlitu is a tool that takes your recording, polishes it up, adds your music, and publishes the episode, all automatically. Learn More about Alitu Alternative apps on iOS include Overcast, Pocketcasts and Spotify, but you can see our full guide to Apple Podcast Apps here. Android Podcast AppsAndroid users have their own podcasting app built-in Google Podcasts but it's far more limited than Apple's offering, and I wouldn't recommend it right now. Instead, download Pocketcasts, or Castbox and start listening right away. Or, if you already use Spotify for music, you can get your podcasts on there, too. Again, you can see our full guide to Android Podcast Apps right here. Related Article Best Podcasts Apps for the Ultimate Listening Experience What are the best podcast apps for your needs? Lets find what you want on your smartphone.Find out more » Headphones for Podcast ListeningOf course, if you're listening on your smartphone, you'll need a set of headphones if you ever plan to leave the house. Most new smartphones come with a decent set of earbuds, so that's a good start. It's pretty handy having controls on the cable, too, to start and stop the show, as you're listening. Then you won't miss anything when you pull your earbuds out to talk to the friend you bump into in the street. To get even more from your favourite shows, it can be worth upgrading to a better set of headphones than your standard earbuds. It doesn't need to cost a fortune to get a great set, either. You canread about our favourite headphones here. Over-ear headphones are ideal if you'd like to listen to some immersive audio drama, ASMR, or Binaural Beats. How to Listen to Podcasts on Your ComputerListening on your smartphone is definitely the most convenient, long term, because of how mobile it is. But, technically, the easiest and most obvious way to listen to a podcast is to play it directly through your computer. The downside is that you're stuck to your desk, but sometimes that's OK. This can also be a great way to find new shows and get a taster before you subscribe on your phone. How does it work? Nearly every podcast has a play function directly on their episode pages. Navigate to the podcast page, look for the play button, and listen. Similarly, you can play any show right inside one of the directory apps on your computer. The most popular examples are iTunes and Spotify. If you have either app on your computer, then navigate to the podcast section, browse around and hit play. Even better, if you use the Spotify app to listen on your phone, then the subscription carries right over to that platform. Seamless! Sadly, iTunes and Apple Podcasts don't tie up the same way. As long as you have speakers or headphones connected up, this method of listening to a podcast works a treat. You can find agreat range of computer speakers on Amazonthat'll suit just about any budget. Of course, long term, the disadvantage is that you're stuck sitting in front of your computer, which can be a bit of a chore when it's an hour-long show. But, if it's a short episode, or you can play the podcast through your PC speakers while doing something else around the house. In this instance, this method can be quick and reliable. How to Listen to Podcasts in the CarThe car is the most common place to listen to a podcast, according to the latest podcast stats. It makes sense it was always a big radio listening space, and podcasting is the new radio. But, how do you listen to a podcast in the car? The first option is via Bluetooth connection. Most modern cars are set up to connect to your phone so that you can make hands-free calls. That same connection can also play audio from your phone. So, connect via Bluetooth as normal, and then play something from your podcast app. Does it play over the speakers? Great! No Bluetooth? Go Old-School-CableIf that doesnt work, then an even more common car feature is an aux in or a line in port. It looks just like a headphone jack and all you need is something like this3.5mm to 3.5mm cableto connect your phone to your car. As a last resort, some people useradio devicesto basically broadcast your phones output on a particular frequency, then you can tune into that on your car radio. Or, remember thosetape deck connectorsfor the really old school? How to Listen to Podcasts on a Smart SpeakerYou can't have missed the smart speaker craze, powered by some of the biggest companies in the world. Google has the Google Home,Amazon has the Echoand more are being announced every month. Any Bluetooth speaker will allow you to play from your smartphone, so both the Home and the Echo can play that way. But, the Echo, in particular, is great in that it ties in with TuneIn Radio and with Spotify. Tell your Echo, Alexa, play The Tim Ferriss Show on TuneIn or Alexa, play Podcraft on Spotify and the Echo will automatically play the latest episode. It's so easy! Read how I'm using the Echo here. How Do I Subscribe to a Podcast?Subscribing is where the power of podcasting really kicks in. When you subscribe, shows start automatically coming to you.Next time you load up your app, the latest episodes are all there, ready to listen to. It's amazing! If you're listening on your computer, then the easiest way to subscribe is through the iTunes app, or the Spotify app. Both are available for Mac or PC. If you're on your smartphone, then simply use your mobile listening app (our favourites here)! The Apple Podcasts app on iPhone allows you to subscribe, super easy, and the other types of phones have similar apps. Related Article How to Subscribe to a Podcast (& Why you Should!) Learn how to subscribe to a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and many more apps, right here.Find out more » How to Find Podcasts to Listen ToThere are over a million podcasts out there today. So where do you even start when you're looking for something new? We ran a survey recently about podcast discovery. We wanted to find out more about how people found new podcasts to listen to. It turns out, the most common way of browsing for new content is to search your listening app of choice. We've already talked about which apps you might want to use to listen to podcasts. Some of them have charts or featured sections, but the easiest way to find podcasts to listen to is to type in a keyword or two. For example how to build muscle, learn Spanish, or gardening. You can also find podcasts to listen to by asking others people who you know have similar tastes or interests. This might be friends you know in real life or people in online communities. Or, you can use a little-known online search tool called Google to find your next podcasting binge. A lot of your results here are likely to come in the form of roundups and recommendations. This can be great for downloading a few episodes of established podcasts with decent-sized back catalogues. Related Article How to Watch a Podcast: Visuals in an Audio Medium Wondering how to watch a podcast? We've got you covered with this handy little guide it's time to embrace video content!Find out more » Two Great Tools To Help You Find PodcastsThere are a couple of novel tools out there designed to solve the problem of how to find podcasts to listen to. They're both created by Rephonic.
Podcast RoundupsWe also have our own podcast directory, which is designed for busy people looking for their next top listen. That means we curate the top 5 to 10 podcasts in a variety of categories, so you can find the best comedy podcasts or the best sports podcasts. Check out Best Space Podcasts,Best Podcasts for Kids,Best Fiction Podcasts,Best Movie Podcasts,and Best Health Podcasts, depending on what sort of stuff you're after! Finally, now that you know how easy it is to listen to podcasts, you might be shocked at how easy it is to actually make your own. Bookmark our free step-by-step guide, below, and come back to it once you've been inspired by your new favourite listens Related Article How to Start a Podcast: Every Single Step for 2022 Learn how to start a podcast, and launch your show! This complete step-by-step beginners guide goes from initial idea to going live.Find out more » Still wondering, what is a podcast? More goodness on listening to pods? What is a podcast? What is a podcast? Our plain-English explanation, with examples of what they sound like, what's popular and how to listen. How do listeners discover podcasts? Get the lowdown on the podcast discovery and listening habits of 780 listeners. How to subscribe to a podcast Learn how to subscribe to a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and many more apps, right here. Share this article Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email |
