How to Listen to a Podcast
Why You Should Start Listening To Podcasts
Jumping on board the podcast subscriber train can be a tricky jump to take. Even I had a hard time accepting the leap, and this is coming from a guy that spends several hours a week editing a podcast for a living. The struggle is real and it’s completely understandable. It can be hard to buy into something that a lot of us spent the majority of our lives living without. The turn of the millennium and the sudden rise of technology has caused content to be thrown at us from all sorts of new digital outlets, including podcasts.
Adopting new technology doesn’t have to be overwhelming, though. If you have ever listened to a show on the radio, then podcasts are right up your alley. The two are one in the same, but podcasts give you the freedom to download and listen at any time and anywhere and without a radio. So as much as some people hate to admit it, podcasts killed the radio stars.
Needless to say, podcasts are where some of the internet’s best content is coming from right now. Take the Being Boss Podcast for example. Every single episode is packed full of advice and wisdom for creative entrepreneurs that you won’t find on television or in a newspaper. And podcasts continue to grow with over 2 million podcasts existing as of 2021.
Now is the perfect time to take the plunge, start listening and find your favorite podcast. If you haven’t listened to Being Boss before, you’re missing out on some high-octane knowledge.
So whether you are wanting to get into podcasts for the first time or you are a current listener and want to max out your listening experience, I’m here to help.
How to FIND AND DOWNLOAD PODCAST episodes
For the new kids on the block, you may be wondering where you even go to find podcasts to listen to. The good news is that podcasts can be found through all forms of the internet, whether it be on a PC, Mac, or Apple and android phones.
The easiest and most widely supported way to subscribe to a podcast is through iTunes.
There are alternative podcast apps available including Spotify, Goodpods, Pocketcasts, and Overcast. Once you get comfortable with listening to podcast episodes, you can choose the right podcast app for you!
How to listen to podcasts ON A DESKTOP COMPUTER
While one major upside of listening to podcasts is how portable they are, you may still find that you’d like to listen to podcasts while you are working at your computer.
If you’re on a Mac, you’ll likely already have the Apple Podcasts app installed. If not, download the latest version of Apple Podcasts to get started.
Once installed on your computer and you have the podcast app open, you can discover and start listening to podcasts easily by using the left-hand navigation bar.
The Listen Now tab will show you Popular Shows and suggest podcasts based on your recent listening. Browse is the perfect place to find podcasts when you are just getting started with podcast listening or when you want to discover podcasts that are new to you. This tab organizes shows based on what’s trending with other listeners and what’s relevant in the news and pop culture.
Once you have found a podcast that you think might interest you (you know…like Being Boss,) then all you have to do is click the play button on the show avatar or the 3 dots to find the subscribe button. Subscribing to a show will automatically download future episodes to your personal library so you don’t have to go searching for episodes every time you want to listen.
Download podcast episodes ON AN IPHONE
If you are on an iPhone, the Apple Podcasts app will be built-in and gives you the same functions as the desktop versions.
Within that app, you can use the menu at the bottom to sort through the categories, see what is featured, search for podcasts on your own, and subscribe to the ones that you find. Once you subscribe, new episodes of the podcast will automatically be downloaded to your phone.
How to play podcasts ON AN ANDROID
If you are on an Android device, your built-in podcasting app will be Google Podcasts. This is a good option for getting started when listening to podcasts. Once you are comfortable listening to podcasts if you’d like more options and features that Google Podcasts offers, you can download another third-party podcast app (such as Pocket Casts) to search for and subscribe to podcasts. Like any other app on your Android phone, you can search for these through the Google Play store.
Each app is slightly different, but the key functionality remains the same across all of them. They let you easily filter, search for, and subscribe to podcasts that will then be downloaded directly to your phone.
How to Listen to Podcasts on Smart Speaker
These days many of us have a smart speaker in our home. Some of the most popular options are Google Home and Amazon Echo or Dot. This allows you to listen in the comfort of your home without having to use your phone battery or have your computer powered up. These smart speakers will default to certain podcast apps and you simply have to tell your speaker to play a podcast and the latest episode will automatically play.
HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR PODCAST LISTENING
I may be in the minority in this, but I find it difficult to keep my brain focused on one specific thing for an extended period of time without my mind wandering and getting distracted (…I was a terrible student.) For podcasts like Being Boss, I’m betting you want to actually do your best to listen closely and actually soak in what the hosts are talking about, am I right?
As counterintuitive as it may seem, you may find that keeping yourself busy while listening to a podcast will help you focus on the podcast better. For instance, I like to listen to my podcasts while I’m at work developing websites.
Some other options that you might want to try include listening to them in your car on your way to work in the morning, while you exercise, while you clean your house, while you go for a run, etc. Not only can the slight distraction help you focus better, but you’re also killing two birds with one stone!
LEAVING REVIEWS AND SUPPORTING THE PODCAST
Have you just fallen in love with a podcast and want to take your love to the next level? Supporting the podcast is the best way to do that. Showing the makers of the podcast that you love what they do is a great way to motivate them to keep the great content coming.
While this may not be the case for every podcast, most of them have websites and/or social networking accounts that you can follow. If you’re having a hard time tracking them down, you can generally find a link to a podcast’s website on the podcast’s iTunes page.
If that’s not enough for you, reviewing the podcast on iTunes is also a great way to show some love (or hate, I suppose). 5-star reviews help podcasts rank higher in charts and search results, so leaving a glowing review on your favorite podcast’s iTunes page will help it get more exposure. To leave a review, go to the iTunes page for the podcast, click the “Ratings and Review” tab under the title of the podcast, and then click the “Write a Review” button—leave a review for Being Boss here!
Listen to podcasts from Being Boss
Did you know that Being Boss produces multiple shows? Check out all our episodes on our podcasts page.
