Podcasts Explained by a Teenager
iPod+Broadcasting= Podcast. The Ultimate Guide to Podcasts.
What are Podcasts?
Podcasts are a series of interviews, stories, content, news, information, commentary, basically anything, in an audio form. They can range from a mere few minutes to a few hours.
What Types of Podcasts are There?
I like to say there’s a podcast for everyone, whether you enjoy hearing the chilling true crime stories, the daily news updates, silly pop culture gossip, engaging scientific explanations, or even interviews of celebrities, moguls, or your Average Joe. There’s even shows dedicated to reviewing new games and shows about how to manage your money. There is such a wide variety, so you’re bound to find something you like.
How do I Find a Podcast?
Instead of turning on your radio or TV, turn on your phone, tablet, or computer to a podcast provider like Spotify or Apple Podcasts. These apps have almost all podcasts. You can check the Charts tab to listen to some popular shows, or listen to the featured episodes. Most providers have the categories section that holds the show for you. The most popular categories are comedy, true crime, education, stories, news, gaming, lifestyle, business, and pop culture.
Some of My Favorites
I enjoy the storytelling shows, the episodes that really captivate your attention and make you feel engrossed in the story. If you like these too, I would recommend listening to Crime Junkie, a weekly show that gives the rundown of criminal cases and who committed the crime or the possible suspects. For those nerds (like me) who find joy in learning new things, I recommend the Short Wave by NPR or TED Talks Daily by TED. Both talk about a variety of educational topics every day. If you’re interested in business, try out this podcast series, Boom/Bust: HQ Trivia by The Ringer. This talks about the once-popular HQ Trivia app, and how it rose to power as quickly as it left. What I’m trying to prove here, is that there is a series for everyone, you just have to discover the right ones.
Side Note: Many podcasts focus on combatting racism and realizing white privilege. I recommend checking these out!
Shameless Plug
Listen to my podcast, the passion project, on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Every week I interview someone about a topic, hobby, issue, or current event that they are deeply passionate about. A few of my favorite episodes so far have been discussing the Black Lives Matter movement and the college admissions process/education system in America. Everyone’s passionate about something and this is where they share their fascination with the world.