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Podcasts are all the rage now. There probably isn’t any topic that is not already covered in a podcast. According to Podcast Insights, there are over 2 million podcasts right now and over 48 million episodes as of April 2021.
So what is a podcast?
How are podcasts different from radio stations?
Why are podcasts such a popular format for information and entertainment?
And most importantly, how do you start your own podcast?
We will be answering these questions and more in today’s article.
In a nutshell, podcasts are audio files that can be downloaded or streamed online (using a platform such as Apple Podcasts) by an audience. If you plan to start your own podcast, you will need to use a podcast hosting site to get started.
Let’s get right to it!
What is a Podcast?
A podcast is an audio file (similar to a radio show or a TV show) that anyone can download or stream online using different Podcast apps like Google Podcasts or Apple Podcasts.
The term podcast was coined from the words iPod and broadcast.
Podcasting has quickly become one of the most consumed forms of audio content, with podcasts available on literally any topic you can think of!
What is a Podcast Episode?
Now that we’ve answered the question “What is a podcast?” Let’s talk about podcast episodes.
Podcasts are a series of episodes that are released or uploaded on a regular schedule. Depending on the niche and target audience, a podcast episode could be published every day, every week, or even every month.
Podcast hosts can choose to offer podcasts free of charge for a subscription. Listeners can subscribe to the podcast of their choice using a podcast app and download each episode onto their computer or mobile device.
Listeners can also choose to stream one episode online if they do not want to keep old episodes of the podcast.
In a nutshell, podcasts are audio files that can be downloaded or streamed online (using a platform such as Apple Podcasts) by an audience. If you plan to start your own podcast, you will need to use a podcast hosting site to get started.Click To TweetWhat is an Audio File?
If you plan to start your own show on a particular topic, you will need to know what an audio file is.
A podcast episode is technically an audio recording, and thus is an audio file.
The only difference is that a podcast episode is an audio file that is available for download from a podcasting website. Podcast websites allow users to download podcast episodes to their computer or mobile device on a subscription basis.
To create podcasts from your audio recording, you need to use podcasting software and other podcasting tools. You can even create video podcasts and add in music and other sound effects.
What is an RSS?
An RSS (or Really Simple Syndication) is used to distribute your podcast episodes to your audience. Just like radio broadcasts, an RSS feed ‘broadcasts’ your podcast series in audio format to Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcasting platforms where your listeners can access new episodes.
An RSS feed contains all the information of a podcast and gives your listeners a platform to subscribe, download, and listen to your podcasts.
When you submit an RSS feed to a podcast directory like Apple Podcasts, it will be able to retrieve your most recent podcast episodes and send all your podcast data to your subscribers.
This includes your podcast title, description, cover art, and links to the audio files.
What Are The Different Types Of Podcasts?
There are different types of podcasts depending on the format of each podcast episode. In this section, we’ll talk about three types of podcasts: Interview Podcasts, Solo Podcasts, and Multi-host Podcasts.
1. Interview Podcasts
These are podcasts that are organized in the form of interviews with guest speakers in each episode.
The TED Interview with Chris Anderson is a great example of an interview podcast. You can listen to it here on iTunes.
2. Monologue/ Solo Podcasts
In solo podcasts, there is just one podcast host that delivers the podcast content in the form of a monologue. There are many podcast topics that can be delivered in this format.
If you listen to podcasts that talk about historical events, then Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History is one of the most popular podcasts in a monologue format. You can listen to it here on Spotify.
3. Multi-host Podcasts
Multi-host podcasts are, as the name suggests, podcasts that have two or more people as the hosts. Most podcasts follow this type of format as it gives the podcast a friendly and conversationalist tone.
The Boagworld UX Show is an example of a podcast with more than one host. You can listen to it here on iTunes.
Do You Want To Start Your Own Podcast?
We hope you enjoyed this article and by now have a clear answer to the question “What is a podcast?”
Podcasting can be a profitable business if you plan well and stay consistent. You can start a podcast on literally anything in the world from a news-related podcast to a comedy podcast for pure entertainment.
Test things out and see which topics and formats you are most comfortable talking about and start recording!
If you found this post useful, feel free to share it! 🙂
Bio:
Tracy Jackson is the Content Officer at marketingamateur.com. You’ll often find him doing something in Digital Marketing. He loves to write about marketing strategies and always tinkering with the latest in software technology!
