Video didn’t kill the radio star
22 Mar 2018
It seems that time of death has been called prematurely on radio. The podcast has revived the art of the spoken word with compelling and creative stories freely available at the touch of a button.
A podcast is a radio program that you can download for free, so you can listen to them anytime.
Types of podcasts
Topics range from economics, to history, politics, pop-culture, music and more. Whatever your interest, there’s certainly a podcast for you. In fact, there are probably several.
Some podcasts are similar to traditional radio shows, with the host interviewing guests about their career or life. Others, including the infamous Serial take their structure from serialised radio programs, featuring in-depth investigations over a number of episodes.
But some podcasts are a genre all of their own. A widely-acclaimed podcast, Freakonomics uses economic principles to examine modern life. Meanwhile, Pod Save America is hosted by a team of Barack Obama’s top aides, and while they discuss politics, the format feels more like being a fly on the wall.
Here to help
Podcasts serve a variety of functions. In addition to entertainment, they can be a valuable educational tool.
News programs provide valuable, candid commentary on current affairs. Others examine historical events, literature, film and more. How Stuff Works, for example, is a heavily researched podcast which unpacks obscure and fascinating topics, from horoscopes to accents.
How to download them
There are a number of ways you can listen to podcasts for free.
If you own an Apple device, the podcast app comes already installed. Simply open it and tap the magnifying glass icon to search for the podcast that you want to listen to, or tap the star icon to see a selection of popular shows. Then, tap subscribe to automatically receive new episodes.
Android users can download the Stitcher app from Google Play. Once you find a podcast, tap the plus sign to add it to your favourites list.
Most podcasts also post episodes on their website and some have transcripts online if you prefer.
Top five podcasts
1. Revisionist History by Malcolm Gladwell
Journalist, author and academic Malcolm Gladwell revisits overlooked events, people and ideas from the past.
2. This American Life
Host Ira Glass makes the ordinary extraordinary, exploring a different theme each week through conversations with everyday people.
3. You Must Remember This
The secret or forgotten histories from the golden age of Hollywood.
4. Serial
One of the most famous podcasts remains a must- listen. Journalist Sarah Koenig investigates a claim that a young man has been serving life in prison for a murder he didn’t commit.
5. Modern Love
An adaptation of the popular New York Times Modern Love column, where readers submit stories about all kinds of love. The stories are beautifully read by notable actors.
®