In today’s world, it seems like everybody and his brother has a podcast. It’s the new and innovative way to express one’s opinions or present an explanation of a topic and disseminate them over the internet to anyone who will listen. It has become so popular that listening and viewing audiences have grown exponentially, and that one popular podcast was credited with being the stimulus that influenced the outcome of the 2024 Presidential election.
The term podcast comes from a blending of the terms iPod and broadcast. So, “a podcast is the digital audio and/or visual program available on demand over the internet for streaming or downloading.” Technically speaking, an iPod, introduced by Apple October 23, 2001, is not usually the medium through which the program is broadcast, but it lends understanding to the independence and simple method by which the public accesses content. The iPod was discontinued by Apple on May 10, 2021.
Anyone can do a podcast. You don’t need fame, fortune, of corporate backing. You don’t need a license or a permit. There are no limitations most clearly shown by the graphic, crude, and profane language many podcasters use. Anything and anybody are fair game for being called out. Some contain advertisements, which are a huge income source, some do not. All can be viewed free of charge. I know ads pay for the podcast, but they interrupt the flow of the program.
Podcasts can be found very easily by just doing a Google, or a Safari search. There’s a plethora of podcasts on “You Tube,” a source I’ve known about, but until recently had accessed infrequently. Now, numerous podcasts consume a great deal of my time. Podcasts can be found within a website as a promotion for some product or an interview with a product advocate. They’re the new infomercial so popular in past years.
Podcasts are available on the internet on demand, ie. anytime you want to view or listen. They are usually produced daily or weekly, but can be viewed whenever it’s convenient as long as you have the necessary hardware. They come in five (5) types, or formats, depending on the subject and purpose. The five types are:
- Scripted fiction ie. a theatrical production.
- A monologue—one individual expresses his thoughts, does a lecture of facts, or has a rant.
- An interview, one-on-one, with a person or group.
- A conversation between individuals or a panel discussion.
- Non-fiction storytelling
Over the past 2 or 3 weeks, on “You Tube” I have watched podcasts by multiple Indiana and Arizona real estate agents who were pointing out their recommendations for prospective buyers from out-of-state. Others rank the desirability of communities in Indianapolis and neighborhoods to choose in the Phoenix suburbs. Another ranked golf courses in AZ and Indiana. I’ve also listened to full length concerts by several bands and musical artists. It’s very entertaining.
I have spent the most time, however, on sports opinion podcasts talking about the WNBA and Caitlin Clark and most expressing strong opinions on solutions for the problems of the sports world. Another podcast listed the virtues of Cave Creek, AZ, while still others rated retirement communities, gated communities, the best and worst chain restaurants, the best burgers, and the safest and most dangerous cities to live in in AZ.
I also have found numerous podcasts and opinion pieces on IU, Big Ten football, and college football in general.. I’ve watched replays of the games IU won on the way to the championship and interviews with Coach Cignetti. IU football is a very popular subject after January’s National Championship success. You can find podcasts that last a few minutes to others that last two or more hours. Those are always fun to watch because they are all so heavily involved in Indiana University, you know you’re alongside people who are strong IU partisans and like-minded Hoosiers.
Podcasts can easily become an obsession, something the viability of DrGOpines wants to avoid. I think I’ve subscribed to so many podcasts it may interfere with my ability to keep up with posting on the site to watch a lot of podcasts in the future. They’re a great source of information, but they are largely one person’s opinion and should be regarded as such. One must keep an open mind and not be led in a negative direction. I have avoided political podcasts, and as such have yet to watch the most popular of podcast of all, “The Joe Rogan Experience.” Maybe I will someday.
References: www.google.com/multiple sites on podcasts.
