Podcasting - CounselorAudioSource.Net

Podcasting as defined by Wikipedia.....

"Podcasting became popular in 2004 as a method of publishing sound files to the Internet, allowing users to subscribe to a feed and receive new audio files automatically. Podcasting is distinct from other types of audio content delivery because of its subscription model, which uses the RSS 2.0 file format. This technique has enabled independent producers to create self-published, syndicated "radio" shows, and has given broadcast radio programs a new distribution channel."

"Users subscribe to podcasts using "podcatching" software (also called 'aggregator' software) which periodically checks for and downloads new content. It can then sync the content to the user's portable music player. Podcasting does not require an iPod; any digital audio player or computer with the appropriate software can play podcasts."

(see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcasting )

To find out more about podcasting check out the "Podcasting Tools" site.

Podcatching (Aggregator) software

To get a free podcatching software (also known as podcast aggregator software) for storing RSS links, go to Juice by Sourceforge. The podcatching software has many pre-loaded directory options to choose feeds. The software automatically downloads podcasts to which you have subscribed by adding the feed's RSS link. iPodder is Free Software licensed under the GPL.

Similarly you can download another free podcatching software by SourceForge with jPodder. jPodder is similar to Juice, but uses a javascript platform. 

Another new freeware podcatching software is Ziepod.

Alternatively you can have the podcatching software integrated directly into your Outlook mailbox with 'You Subscribe'.

For those with Apple iPod products as your mp3 player, you can download iTunes which works with the Apple iPod mp3 player or as a standalone desktop media player and is a free product for PC or Macs. iTunes has a podcast aggregator built in (under "Podcasts" / Advanced / Subscribe to podcast...) that you paste in the podcast's url.  

There is other Podcatching software on the market but it is not free but will allow you a month's trial version. You may want to search shareware clients to look at other aggregators that are on the market.

To find podcasts of interest, use podcast directory sites (see below)
Some of the sites allow you to subscribe to various casts by clicking on "subscribe" links which place the RSS link directly in your podcatching software. In other cases you simply have to copy the respective URL directly into the podcatching software.

Directory sites

Podcast Alley

Podcast.net

Podcastdirectory.com

Digital Podcast

In summary...

1. Obtain podcatching software for your desktop computer
2. Select feed options from a podcast directory site and then copy the RSS or URL link into the "add a subscription" function to your podcatching software.
3. Download the podcast using the podcatching software and play it on your computer or save it as an Mp3 for a portable digital player.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 License.