Welcome to the Galaxy of Podcasts
Podcast might sound new to you, but is it a new thing? Not really, there's nothing new under the sun. If I am asked to define podcast, i would say it's blog in audio or video (but today I will only talk about English audio podcasts). Podcast has been a really good friend of mine since 2015. And I find it's just too good to be in my own world. So I've got to share.
Here are 3 good reasons why you should give it a try.
1. A tool for English listening exercises. The only input here is audio, it's not like watching a movie with subtitles. You are fully dependent on your ears when you are listening to a podcast. And there're podcasts about politics, literaure, sports, technology, art. You name it, they have it. An English lisenting material with topics you like, what's not to love?!
2. Content always comes first. It's a radio program without any visual aids. For podcasters, the only way to engage their listeners is to polish the content. I am not saying podcasts are better than books&movies in terms of good content, but the advantage of audio relative to text is that it has the ability to connect with poeple in a deeper personal level. To videos, your eyes are free which leads us to the 3rd point.
3. Give your eyes a good rest. You can't be driving a car while watching a TV show or reading a book. But surely you can listen to podcasts while driving, in transit, perfoming a chore, running, walk your dog etc. It can be everywhere in various parts of your lives. As a result, you might find yourself enjoying washing dished. They all end up as an excuse to listen to more podcasts.
Content, Connection, Compatibility! Why not to give it a spin!
Grace's Picks
Usually I don't like giving recommendations. 'Cause the best part of listening to podcasts is that one can listen to the show of their choices, with the topics of their choices. (I listen to Fresh Air only when Terry Gross is the host doing interviews with people I am interested in) Plus, during the last 3 years I have been through different phases with my podcast playlists and the way I listen to them. Just don't know where to start when it comes to recommendations.
But when I say "the galaxy of podcasts",I really mean it. There're plenty of choices out there, thousands of episodes everyday. To save you some trouble 'sampling', here are some of my all-time faves (still in the honeymoon phase).
For Storytelling
>>>The Moth Episode: The Moth Radio Hour: Finding Your Calling --- 27 Sep 2017; Cut, Dye, Burn: Stories about Hair --- 4 Oct 2017
For Random Knowledge
>>>Stuff You Should Know Episode: Cake: So Great.So,So Great --- 1 Dec 2017
For Toastmasters >>>The Toastmasters Podcast Episode: #080: How to Deliever A TED Talk, with Jeremy Donovan --- 25 Jul 2014; #84:Interview with Dananjaya Hettiarachchi,2014 World Champion of Public Speaking --- 31 Oct 2014 >>>Toastcaster Speakcast for Toastmasters Episode: 88 Impromptu Speaking & Winning a Table Topics Competition - Blaine Zuk --- 1 Dec 2017
For Interviews >>>Fresh Air Episode: The making of Pixar's "CoCo' --- 11 Jan 2018; Lin-Manuel Miranda --- 27 Dec 2017 >>>The Tim Ferriss Show Episode: Louis Von Ann --- 27 Jan 2016; The 4-Hour Workweek Revisited --- 3 Feb 2018
Where to get a taste of it?
1. Visit their own official websites. There you can stream or download the show, check the full shownotes or even word-by-word transcript.
2. You have a radio in your pocket ---- your phone. For ios user, 'Podcasts' is the default app. Another third-party app 'Overcast' is also highly recommended. (Smart speed, it can also link to specific time stamps) For Android user, I genuinely don't know...
Anyways, hopefully you got something out of this post and start your own journey in the galaxy of podcasts. Do let me know what you think. -- Grace Yang My podcast '3PointSome1' (not launched yet...)
