What is a Podcast?

Podcasts are episodic radio programs or videos to which you can subscribe. Whenever a new episode or software is available, you can download it from iTunes and synchronize it with an mp3. It is an effortless way to be up-to-date with your favorite programs and episodes.

This is a perfect system for learning languages, as Podcasts come in every imaginable language.

How to find Podcasts

There are many ways, varying in complexity. The simplest way is through iTunes, where you must click on the iTunes Store (found on the left) and this will take you to another page. Here you must select Podcasts and iTunes where you will see the most popular categories of Podcasts.

iTunes window with the available Podcasts.

To perform a Podcasts search, click on the box with the magnifying glass. When you have found an interesting Podcast, click on it to read to see the posting date and accompanying detailed descriptive information.

To subscribe, click on the subscribe option and every time a new segment is available it will automatically download onto your computer.

Podcast Episodes List

Searching within a Podcast

The other day I was lamenting to a friend of mine, not being able to do a search within a podcast. It turns out that you can!

Go to http://www.everyzing.com and here you can search for words within audio and video Podcasts. I am not sure about the criteria used, but somehow the system translates the spoken word, so that it can be searched for specific words. If it finds the word you are looking for, it tells you the minute in which the word appears. In this way it is easier to identify Podcasts with a content that coincides with the listener’s interests.

English users will find this very useful, while Spanish speakers are on a waiting list of languages that will eventually be further developed. I am sure the wait will be worth it.