The word itself is a little misleading since while you can listen to podcasts with an iPod or other digital music player, you don’t have to own a portable player to listen to a podcast. You can listen over the Internet using your computer. You can also install software that will automatically download every instance of any show(s) that you choose automatically. Then you can listen on your computer at your convenience or download the shows to your music player for added portability. With podcasts loaded on your portable music player you can listen to people talk about your favorite subject anytime and anyplace.

Podcasts can be developed by anyone willing to add some audio hardware and software to their computer and take the time to record audio programming. This has opened the world of traditional radio-type broadcasting up to a number of new entities resulting in hundreds and hundreds of podcasts. Many podcasts are geared to a specific topic and produced for a special audience. You can find podcasts on mountain climbing, wine tasting, baseball, movies, and travel or the Sandy Berger podcasts which have been specially created for baby boomers and their older siblings who are interested in learning how to incorporate computers & technology into their lives.