Podcasts are everywhere! And, similar to video, it is one of the fastest growing types of media. In fact, podcasts have become a place where even Hollywood is finding inspiration for cool ideas and content for shows. My podcasts are primarily interview style, but I may choose to dabble in other styles of podcasting in the future. One of the things that I didn’t know was that a lot of people new to podcasting were a bit confused about how to find and listen to shows. Here are 7 free ways to listen to podcasts and how to find your new favorite show.
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Free Ways to Listen to Podcasts
It never occurred to me that many people were confused about how they could listen to and find podcasts. And, many people weren’t clear on what exactly a podcast actually is. Basically, in its simplest form a podcast is an audio recording that individuals, organizations, or entities create. Podcasts come in many different forms.
- Talking head-basically, it’s one person who is talking on a topic or subject. I do record this type of show.
- Interview style-Exactly what it sounds like-you’re interviewing a person or people about whatever topic your show covers.
- Storytelling-I’m really intrigued by this type of show. And, I think that storytelling shows are very attractive for converting to television.
There are several other types of podcast styles besides the ones mentioned above.
Do Podcasts Cost Money to Listen To?
Well…that depends. In general, the vast majority of podcasts are free to listen to. In fact, I’ve never paid to listen to a show. However, that depends on what the show’s producer decides to do in terms of creating access to their show and if they are pursuing a monetization strategy. Here are some of the ways that listeners may end up paying to listen to content.
Again, the vast majority of shows are free.
- Patreon-Basically, the show’s creator may create bonus content, access to the show’s creators, or even swag. Then, fans (patrons) pay based on the level of support and additional content that they would like access to.
- Subscriptions-Some hosts may create bonus episodes that are only available via subscription.
- Paypal donations-Where you donate what you would like.
7 Free Ways to Listen to Podcasts
- iTunes-If you have the iTunes app or it’s already on your laptop-you can listen to podcasts for free.
- Stitcher-I’ve used this both on my laptop and there’s an app.
- Via People’s Actual Blogs-I listen to a lot of episodes on people’s actual blog. Most people create “show notes” based for each episode of their show. Those notes typically will have the show player embedded into the post. Then, you just use your cursor to click play and listen to the show. I like checking out the actual show notes because most hosts will have all of the resources that they mentioned noted on the page.
- Spotify-I love Spotify. And, you can listen to a huge number of podcasts on the platform.
- YouTube-There is some back and forth about whether or not a podcast on video is still a podcast. Regardless, many podcasters are doing both video and audio format shows and I think it’s a smart move from the perspective of a digital content creator.
- Phone/Laptop-You can listen to your favorite podcast with your favorite digital device.
- Digital Assistants-Just ask your assistant to play your favorite show.
Related Posts
Thinking About Starting a Blog?
I love blogging! It has been an incredible experience, transformed my life, and connected me with a ton of amazing people. Blogging is a pretty cheap activity and I recommend hosting your blog with Siteground. Many bloggers have begun leaving HostGator and BlueHost and moving to Siteground. Myself included! Read why I’m leaving HostGator and BlueHost (I have 2 blogs one on each hosting platform) and moving to Siteground. If you’re a new blogger Sitegroundwill cost around $3.95 a month (depending on the size of your audience). They have great customer service and tutorials on how to host your new WordPress blog on Siteground
Online Business Resources
If you’re thinking about starting an online business, the resources below are a great way to get started.
- The Ultimate List of FinCon Community Products
- Courses
- Books
- Swag
- Make Money with Ebooks–There is more than one way to make money with your writing skills. I’ve created this course to help inspire, educate, and support writers who are sitting on a book idea…and are afraid to write it. This is YOUR year.Make Money with Ebooks is offered at three different tiers to meet different student needs.
- Self-Study
- Group Program-Includes access to the closed Facebook Group and twice a month live office hours.
- VIP Program-Includes access to the closed Facebook Group, twice a month live office hours, and 2 meetings with Michelle to work on book related strategies, goals, etc.
- Making Sense of Affiliate Income-If you’re looking to make affiliate income with your blog, Michelle Schroeder-Gardner’s course is the course that I recommend. She makes well over a $1 Million a year blogging and the biggest chunk of her income comes from affiliate marketing.
- $10KVA–Are you curious about becoming a Virtual Assistant as a side-hustle or a potential full-time gig? My friend Kayla Sloan is killing it as a Virtual Assistant and schooling other entrepreneurs in how to become a VA that earns on average $10KVA. This course is what I recommend as the first part of creating a virtual assistant business.
- IMark Interactive–Grayson Bell helps me with all of my website related tech issues and he is THE go to guy for WordPress related tech in the several different blogging niches (all the Personal Finance peeps work with him).
- Elite Blog Academy-Many bloggers have gone through this course and I consider this course the “Granddaddy” of all blogging courses. It’s not cheap, but in additional to getting all of the resources that are key to building an incredible blog, you’re also become a part of an insanely supportive (and huge) community of bloggers. Many of whom are making crazy money.
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