Podcasts are commonly described as on-demand internet radio talks. The word “podcast” is a combination of the words pod and broadcast, Pod refers to iPod devices and implies that this content is portable so you can listen to it anywhere you go. A broadcast is inspired by the medium of radio as podcast content can be consumed exactly the same way. These tracks are typically audio recordings of a conversation between a host and a guest speaker, just like the ones you can listen to on the radio, or a single monologue of a person sharing his or her thoughts.
How to listen to a podcast?
Apple Podcasts
If you have an iPhone, this app comes built into your phone. It might not have the biggest feature set, but it gets the job done. It lacks the more powerful features found in other players like "voice boost" and the ability to skip silence in a podcast. However, you can stream and download shows, skip ahead or rewind in 15-second intervals, and set your favorite shows to download automatically as soon as a new episode is released.
Google Play Music
If you're on Android, Google's music streaming app, which comes preinstalled on your phone, also supports podcasts. It lets you subscribe to podcasts, download episodes, and skip and rewind during playback, However, there's also a version of the app that runs in the web browser, so you can listen from your computer.
Pocket Casts
If you want the full podcast experience, Pocket Casts is for you. Unlike the above options, it goes well beyond the basics. You can quickly see new episodes available for download, keep track of your unlistened episodes, set custom skip/rewind intervals to jump past ads or catch something you missed, and turn on voice boosting and silence trimming for an improved listening experience.
Overcast
The clean interface is easy to navigate. It also has the advanced features like voice boost and silence trimming. Overcast supports playlists so you can make lists of your favorite episodes. It'll notify you of new episodes for your favorite shows, and if you're low on storage you can set limits for how many episodes the app will download for offline listening. These features are all free.
How to find something to listen
Every podcast app has a section filled with recommended shows you can browse. Start there. Some apps have better suggestions than others, but at least you'll be able to find a few things you might like. When you find a show you're sure you'll enjoy, subscribe to it which adds the title to your list of favorites in the app. If you want, you can set up your app to download each new episodes as soon as it's released. Most apps will also let you listen to an episode of any podcast without subscribing, so test out as many shows as you want.
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