Are you a newbie to listening to podcasts? You’re in the right place. There’s a pretty good chance that somewhere along the line, someone has recommended a podcast to you. Podcasts seem to be everywhere and everyone seems to be listening to them. Whether it’s for entertainment, education or personal development or just something to make your commute or chores more interesting – there’s a podcast for everyone.
But, if you’re a bit of a slow adopter when it comes to technology – like me, then you might not really understand what a podcast is and how they work.
I personally only really started listening to podcasts when I joined The Simplifiers team. Mostly because our CEO Mary was always talking about them and they even featured in some of our team training sessions!
As with a lot of technology, once I get past the initial hurdle of trying something new, it became pretty straight forward and is most certainly a life essential. I mean, thank God I converted to Google Calendar from the paper diary I used to carry around!
Contents
So we’re sharing this simple and straightforward guide to podcasts for anyone who hasn’t listened to one before.
What is a podcast?
Like me, you probably don’t want all the technical info. Basically, a podcast is like an on-demand radio show that you can listen to on-the-go with your smart phone or laptop. One you can listen to anytime.
It’s simply an audio recording. It might be an interview between two people, someone telling a story, a drama or a comedic show, a documentary or an informative and educational show. Think of a topic and someone has probably created a podcast episode about it.
The next thing you should know is that podcasts are kinda like TV shows. They can be a single episode, a whole season or multiple seasons. Some podcasts release new episodes over time, others make multiple episodes available instantly.
How to listen to a podcast episode
Ok, this is the part that can get a little bit difficult and put some people off. Let’s try to simplify it.
If you have an iPhone or iPad, you simply use the podcast app. Click on the podcasts icon and browse or search for podcasts. Be warned – there are A LOT of podcasts and you can get overwhelmed figuring out which ones to listen to first!
Don’t own an Apple phone or tablet? No problem.
Sometimes all you need to do is go to a website, find the right episode and hit play. For example, if you scroll down this page, you will be able to press play and hear one of The Simplifiers Podcast episodes. We also make them all available on our website HERE
I have an android phone and I tend to put off downloading new apps so this is a method I often use. I just google the podcast and see if I can find an official website. But a podcast may not have it’s own website or I may want to download it at home first because listening through a website uses up data.
Alternatively, you can try different apps like Spotify which is better known for music but also has a decent collection of podcasts available. Download the app, click browse and look through the different categories. Or you can simply press search and look for a specific podcast. Another app you might want to try is Stitcher. Some podcasts are only available on specific platforms which can be a bit annoying, but luckily many of the bigger and better podcasts are available in multiple places.
Some, (like our podcast!) are even available as videos on YouTube!
Still struggling?
No judgement from me if this still sounds a bit difficult. Do what I do when I get stuck with technology – ask a friend with more knowledge for help!
There’s a good chance that if you bump into our CEO and host of The Simplifiers Podcast – Mary – she’ll show you how to get our podcast on your phone right there and then!
Don’t let fear of asking for help or a reluctance to try new technology put you off podcasts! You’ll be missing out on so much!
Benefits of listening to podcasts
- They keep you entertained when you’re doing chores, walking, driving and other times when you’re kind of bored.
- You can learn new things that will help your business and hear about the latest trends in your industry – there are so many business podcasts out there!
- Work on your personal development without reading a ton of books paying lots of money. Many leading coaches and experts either have their own podcast or feature as guests on them. You can get A LOT of valuable information for free!
Resources we recommend:
- The Simplifiers Podcast – 2 episodes a week, one always features an interview and practical tips from experts from all kinds of sectors.
- The Marie Forleo Podcast – also available as videos or MarieTV on her website.
- Podcast Insights – This website is updated every few days with the most popular podcasts.
Listen to The Simplifiers Podcast
Make 2019 your best year ever with advice, guidance and tips from the expert guests who feature in The Simplifiers Podcast. Find all our episodes HERE.
Don’t forget, you can tune in to the podcast on any of these fantastic FREE platforms, whatever suits your fancy:
TuneIn | Acast | SoundCloud | YouTube
Send Mary a voicemail to get featured!
What’s one tip that’s helping you simplify your work, or life these days?
Click here to send me a voicemail! We’ve added a fancy little vertical button which says ‘Send Mary a Voicemail’ on the right side of the website.
Here, you can record a voicemail through your phone or your laptop, and then, we can feature you on a future episode of The Simplifiers Podcast!
So, what’s one thing that’s helping you simplify these days…
- A new app that’s really helping you manage your work or
- A great book you’re loving these days or
- Maybe you’ve simplified the droves and droves of paperwork in your life (and if that’s the case, GIRL… share your secrets!!)
Leave us a message with:
- Your name
- Your business name (if you own one)
- City
- … and your one simple tip
Go to thesimplifiers.com and click on the ‘Send Mary a Voicemail’ button!
Easy peasy, super simple!
Disclaimer: This blog post includes affiliate links because we wholeheartedly believe in the products, books and courses featured on the podcast. Therefore, we get compensated when you click on the links above and decide to purchase these items, which helps us continue to serve and support you. We share only the very best resources with our listeners and hope you find great value in them, as well.
