Podcasts

Thanks to the Internet and the World Wide Web, broadcasting these days is now truly in the hands of the public. There's millions of blogs just like the one you're reading here and now a new phenomena is sweeping the digital world. Podcasts. Essentially podcasts are just a radio show saved as a file you can play on your computer or even copy to your digital mp3 player. However, through the wonders of the Web you can subscribe to regular shows, so each time you go online the latest show will get downloaded. If you regularly log on then you'll never miss a show.

Most podcasts are free and so is the software that collects and plays them - scarily named 'media aggregators'. There's plenty out there to choose from; iTunes, iPodder, Doppler and FireANT to name just four.

So what? you may be asking. Well, I've been looking out for environmentally themed podcasts. The first I found was More Hip Than Hippie. I really enjoyed listening to the show - the hosts, Dori and Val, are very entertaining to listen to and they've got some interesting tips. Highly recommended!

Next up is the irregular but thought provoking Greenpeace podcast. The latest is a look back at the nuclear testing in the Moruroa Atolls.

There's loads of directories of podcasts out there, such as Podcast.net, PodcastAlley and Podfeed.net, so it's easy to find podcasts on any subject you like. If you find any good ones, let us know!

caldini