What Is A Podcast?

Answer: Podcasts are audio or video shows using software and apps such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and others to automatically download to a computer, smartphone, internet-connected TV, and more.

Now, let’s be clear – uploading your audio or video online is not podcasting. To make your posted audio and video files a podcast, the right technology needs to be in place to allow automated content downloading and syndication.

With the ability to download new content to your phone or computer, you have fresh content to check out whenever, and wherever, you are. This is the power of walk-away content – the ability to feed your brain with audio and video content that interests you.

What Is An RSS Feed?

Podcasting uses a process called Really Simple Syndication (RSS): a format or specification of XML used to create feeds for consumption by podcast users. This is also the technology used in subscribing to blogs. RSS is familiar through the orange icon found in web browsers, blogs, and news sites.

Many podcast hosting sites let you listen or watch right from the website without having to subscribe, download or sync anything. Consuming a few podcasts will help you understand the heart, soul, breadth, and depth of podcasting. Blubrry.com is a great place to find, host, and maintain podcasts, too.

Next: Basic History of Podcasting