Podcasting Info and your chance to win an iPod Nano

I am a podcasting evangelist, largely because I am a public radio nut, and podcasts are my preferred way to listen to radio programs. With a podcast, you can listen on your own schedule and turn off a show and come back to it if necessary.

I think iPods are great gadgets for Moms, definitely not just for teens. I know it's always a hassle to deal with new technology, so to spread the word about podcasting to Moms, I am putting my money where my mouth is in two ways.

MojoMom.com is giving away an iPod Nano! Listen to any new episode of The Mojo Mom Podcast produced between now and Novmber 30, starting with today's brand new show. In the podcast, I will tell you how to enter the drawing we'll do on December 1 to give away a 4 GB iPod Nano.

Come for the giveaway instructions but stay for the vital information shared by this week's guest, Linda Criddle, author of Look Both Ways: Help Protect Your Family on the Internet. Linda is a software industry veteran who shares her advice about avoiding the most common mistakes adults and kids make that put themselves--and their family members--at risk for exploitation. You can learn more about Linda's work and email her your safety questions at www.Look-Both-Ways.com

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Back to the ins and outs of becoming a podcast listener....

But I don't have an iPod you say. It is possible to listen to a podcast without an iPod. I've written up basic information that will help you get started listening to podcasts.

Mojo Mom's Podcast FAQ

What is a podcast?

You can think of a podcast as a radio broadcast that is transmitted over the Internet. Podcast files are stored on websites and one great advantage is that you can listen to the shows whenever you want. It’s “my time” media, so in that sense you can also think of podcasting as TiVO for radio.

Why should I care?

I know, you are a busy person and why should you take the time to deal with one more new technology! Podcasting is transformational for several reasons. One is that many highly respected, entertaining radio shows are now also released as podcasts. In my opinion, public radio in particular offers the most intelligent programming you can find in the media landscape. Podcasting also gives regular people a chance to create their own shows and share them with the world. You can find podcasts on any topic under the sun.

I don’t have an iPod. Can I still listen?

Yes. There are 3 ways to listen to a podcast. I will say that if you get into listening to them, investing in an iPod or another MP3 player is an excellent tool. But you can try out podcast listening without buying an MP3 player.

The 3 ways to listen are:

1. Sit at your computer and listen to streaming audio. When you access a podcast through the show’s archives or a podcast directory such as iTunes (which is available as a free download for Mac and Windows) you can generally click a button to play the file through your computer.

On The Mojo Mom Podcast’s archive page, you can just click on the “POD” button next to any episode title, and the show will start playing momentarily.

2. Download a podcast file and burn a CD. Through The Mojo Mom Podcast archive page, you can also download a file to your computer. You can then open it with a program such as iTunes or the Windows Media Player, and burn a CD to take with you to play in the car or a portable CD player.

To download a file, you can control-click (Mac) or right-click (PC) on the same “POD” button, and a menu will pop up that will give you choices about downloading files or opening them with applications such as iTunes. Those applications also allow you to search podcast directories and subscribe to shows, so that new episodes are delivered to your computer as they become available.

3. Download files to an iPod and take them with you. The iPod isn’t just for teens, it can be Mom’s best friend as well. Once you learn how to download files, transferring them onto an MP3 player is a simple step to take. If you get really into podcasts, being able to take them with you on an iPod is really convenient. You can load up an iPod with your music collection and other media for all occasions. Invest in a car adaptor and you’ll turn your daily round of commuting, kid pickups, and errand runs into a rolling entertainment center and classroom.

Give it a listen, and let me know what you think!