Explaining what podcasts are, what they offer and why you should care

Explaining what podcasts are, what they offer and why you should care

I’ve been listening to this mom podcast and it’s really great. You should check it out.”

“He’s a great preacher. I listen to his podcast every week.”

“I get my news every morning from this great 15-minute podcast.”

Do you hear this kind of thing a lot? Wondering what the podcast train is and if you should be on it?

Well, plug in here. This is podcast 101 — everything you need to know.

What is a podcast?

It’s a little bit like radio. Just like you might listen to a talk show or a sermon on the radio, you can listen to that same sort of thing as a podcast.

But there are a couple of major differences and you can see them both right there in the name. The “pod” part comes from Apple’s iPod device, which plays songs and other electronic audio files. The “cast” part comes from “broadcast.”

But unlike a radio broadcast, podcasts are individual, on-demand audio files that either can be streamed via the internet or downloaded onto iPods and other digital media players. Once you’ve downloaded them, you can listen to them any time at your convenience without internet access.

Also unlike a broadcast, the audience appeal of a podcast isn’t as “broadly” intended — it’s often about a specific topic or aimed at a specific audience, like financial news or podcasts for moms of young children.

How do I access them?

There are a lot of options.

If you use iTunes on your laptop, you can go to the Podcasts section of the iTunes store. There you’ll find podcasts organized by topic, just like in a bookstore or on Netflix.

You can access this same sort of thing through the Podcasts app on your iPhone or through one of many podcast apps available through the Google Play store on your Android phone or computer.

If you use Spotify for music, you can also use it for basic access to podcasts, though not all podcasts are available there. An app called Overcast also comes highly reviewed, as does Stitcher. These are all free, though with some you can pay extra for premium features.

What kind of topics?

You can find topics from arts and business to news and politics. There’s sports, technology, games and hobbies. You can find educational materials and religious topics. And you can find serial dramas, interviews and comedies.

You can download podcasts a la carte, or you can subscribe to a podcast provider — for instance, a particular church or a topical show. Check out the list below for some popular Christian podcasts.

Why should I want to listen?

Podcasting continues to be a growing way that people are getting their information. A 2017 study by Edison Research and Triton Digital showed that 24 percent of Americans had listened to a podcast in the past month, up from 21 percent the year before. And six in 10 Americans are now familiar with the term “podcasting,” a figure that’s 22 percent higher than two years before.

Amy Cherry, a member of Shoal Creek Baptist Church, Deatsville, in Elmore Baptist Association, said she loves podcasts because she can listen while she works, cleans the house and drives.

James White, pastor of Lighthouse Community Church, Vernon, in Lamar Baptist Association, said he listens to about 20 podcasts regularly.

“These vary on topic,” he said. “For example, I listen to a marriage and family one, devotional ones, theological ones, ministry ones, political ones, etc. I feel that if they are done right, they can be a great resource for one to utilize to grow in their understanding of certain topics.”

Could I make my own?

You could if you wanted. Much like blogs have opened up written publication to anyone with a computer, podcasts have done the same thing for anyone with a computer and a microphone. Your podcast might be better with some investment in equipment (like a sound mixer or a quality microphone), but it’s possible to do it for free with software like Audacity, which is downloadable from the internet.

And if you are a church wanting to podcast your sermon, all you really need is a good way to make a digital recording of the message as it’s preached and then a place to host it.

Websites or blogs with a WordPress base, for instance, come with podcast hosting abilities, then you can register your podcast with iTunes.

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Wondering where to start listening?

You might check out some of these:

  • Next Level, a podcast created by the student team of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions, available at ymlink.org/category/podcast. It deals with topics that help boost student ministry.
  • ERLC, the podcast of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), which addresses trending issues in faith and culture. A related one is Signposts, a podcast by ERLC president Russell Moore. Both are available through most podcast apps.
  • Taking Route, a podcast for expatriates living overseas. It offers ways to take root wherever you are. Available through most podcast apps.
  • Rainer on Leadership, a podcast hosted by Thom Rainer, president of LifeWay Christian Resources. It offers practical training for church leaders and pastors. Available through most podcast apps.
  • The Briefing, a weekday podcast by Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. It offers commentary on religion and culture topics from around the world. Available through most podcast apps.
  • TAB News, coming soon from The Alabama Baptist.

Churches and pastors across the state and nation also podcast their weekly sermons. Here are some examples:

  • FBC Pelham, a podcast by First Baptist Church, Pelham, offers weekly sermons by Pastor Daven Watkins. Available through most podcast apps.
  • Vaughn Forest, which offers weekly sermons by Pastor Eric Smith and staff of Vaughn Forest Church, Montgomery. Available through most podcast apps.
  • Bellevue, which offers sermons from Bellevue Baptist Church, Memphis, Tennessee, by Pastor Steve Gaines, former pastor of First Baptist Church, Gardendale. Available through most podcast apps.
  • Radical, which offers weekly sermons from David Platt, president of the International Mission Board and former pastor of The Church at Brook Hills, Birmingham. Available through most podcast apps.
  • Beeson podcast, a weekly podcast hosted by Timothy George, dean of Beeson Divinity School, found at beesondivinity.com/podcast or on iTunes. Twice a month the podcast features an interview between George and a special guest; once a month a sermon and lecture are featured.