What Is a Podcast?

Since I recently became a podcaster, I’ve become acutely aware that there are many people who don’t know what a podcast is, or have never listened to one.

First, what a podcast is NOT:

It is not a VLOG (video log); it is not something you watch. It is not a post on YouTube (okay, some podcasts are posted on YouTube, but they’re in a small minority).

What a podcast IS:

A podcast is similar to talk radio, but on demand.

It’s a series of spoken, audio episodes, often focused on a particular topic or theme, like photography, or travel, or operating a motorcoach! You subscribe to the show with an app on your phone and listen to episodes whenever you like on your headphones or through speakers, in the car or motorcoach, or anywhere else you happen to be.

I am a podcaster (as well as a full-time motorcoach operator, among other things LOL). I produce a weekly podcast specifically for motorcoach operators — EightWheels Across America. You can listen to my podcast on your smartphone or tablet via a podcast app — on Apple devices, use the Podcast app, already installed on your device (unless you’ve intentionally removed it, in which case you’ll need to download it again from the App Store). On an Android device, download the Stitcher app if it’s not already there. Of course, there are numerous other apps you can use to listen to podcasts, but these are among the most popular. In either app, do a search for “eightwheels” (without the quotes, all one word), and my podcast should pop right up.

Click the PLAY button and you’re all set. Depending how you have your preferences set, it will start with either the oldest or the newest episode, and automatically play them in order from there until you’ve listened to all of them (you can pause at any time and return to the same spot to continue). If you hit the SUBSCRIBE button in the app, you will automatically be notified (and your device will download them) each time a new episode is made available.

Or you can visit my website, http://eightwheelsacrossamerica.com/eaa/, and pick and choose any of the episodes listed there.

There are more than half a million (!) podcasts out there, covering virtually any subject you can imagine (but only one for motorcoach operators!). Podcasts are entertaining, educational, thought-provoking, and more, depending on what you’re listening to. I listen to podcasts all the time — when I’m deadheading to pick up a group or after I’ve dropped them off, or while I’m sitting in an empty bus waiting for a group. The beautiful thing about podcasts is that you can safely listen while you’re doing other things (but I don’t recommend listening while you have passengers or are doing something else that requires 100% of your attention).

My podcast will usually occupy you for 30 minutes or less a week, so after you subscribe to EightWheels Across America, do a search on one of your other favorite topics and discover all the other great podcasts out there that you might enjoy! You’ll be surprised at what’s available.