Have you ever dreamed of being a radio personality? Back in the day, it may have been a challenge to become a radio talk show host, a DJ, a recording artist. Not impossible, but it would definitely take years of work, maybe even a connection or two. Nowadays, pretty much anyone can do this, thanks to the popularity of podcasts. You may not have any listeners, of course!

Podcasts have become mainstream among the masses, giving anyone a chance to be heard, much like blogging has done for writers. One could argue that podcasts are basically audio blogs. Users download content, often referred to as episodes, on their computers, phones, or any media player. Unlike traditional radio and internet radio, which broadcasts on a schedule, users download podcasts on demand or subscribe, where the episodes are downloaded automatically as they become available for later listening (much like DVR).

Because podcasts aren't regulated by the government and don't require a license, anything goes as far as the content is concerned. What content can you find on a podcast? Virtually anything! Many podcasts stick to a general subject in order to attract and retain a loyal group of listeners. There are educational and informational podcasts and then there are silly, mundane and explicit ones. Basically, you can find something to suit your interests.

Podcasts can be a great way to kill time on a long commute, rather than flipping back and forth on the radio. They're great for flights, for relaxing on the beach, for listening to while you clean the house. They're an easy, effortless way to absorb information without straining your eyes on a computer screen or flipping pages through a book. Some podcasts are free and some charge to listen.

Here's how to get started if you're interested in listening to a podcast:

1. Go to a podcasting site. You have an endless supply of choices here. You can start with sites like NPR, iHeart, iTunes. You can check out Esquire's list of the 21 best podcasts of 2018 for some specific recommendations.
2. When you find a podcast you're interested in, click on the link to either listen right away on your computer (Windows, Mac and Linux support podcasting) or to download the podcast to your portable media player.
3. You can also subscribe to one or more RSS feeds. Your podcasting software will check the RSS feeds regularly and automatically pull content that matches your playlist. When you dock your portable media player to your computer, it automatically updates with the latest content.

For further information on podcasts, and even instructions on how to create your own podcasts, visit this article from How Stuff Works.