In recent years, podcasts have become an extremely popular form of media. Defined as a program (expressed through music or talk) made available in digital format for automatic download over the Internet, podcasts provide individuals with a wide range of benefits.

For one, podcasts are very convenient as they can be easily accessed in numerous ways. Popular streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music , as well as specialized podcast apps such as Stitcher and TuneIn Radio, provide listeners with frequent free access to a wide range of podcasts.

In my experience, Spotify is one of the best platforms to discover new podcasts. The app’s podcast Homepage features curated collections and genres, including spotlights on some of its original podcasts you won’t find anywhere else.

Apple Podcasts is another satisfactory platform, offering free access to over 30 million podcast episodes. It is simple to find shows for a specific interest or see recommendations for “New and Noteworthy” titles.

In addition to convenience, podcasts also boast a range of other benefits. For one, they can easily be listened to on-the-go. Any time you are doing something less than mentally stimulating–driving, walking to class, or doing laundry–you can pop in your headphones and listen to a podcast at the same time.

Instead of finding short availability in your busy schedule to sit down and read, that same information can be communicated to you in a more engaging and entertaining fashion that also maximizes your time.

Additionally, podcasts are more personal; you can often feel like you are sitting next to the podcaster and are involved in the same conversation. The content in a podcast is directly communicated to you, creating a much more intimate way of getting information than reading it from an email or document.
Moreover, podcasts can help people learn new hobbies or skills amongst many other subjects. There are podcasts on quite literally everything, from television to science to history and literature. Many celebrities have created podcasts to dish on their private lives or give listeners behind-the-scenes access to things that have happened on their shows.
Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey, popular TV show “The Office” co-stars and best friends, are currently hosting “The Office” rewatch podcast. Each week, they break down an episode of “The Office” and give exclusive behind-the-scenes stories that have never been shared before.
An additional celebrity duo has done the same thing. “Fake Doctors, Real Friends with Zach and Donald,” is a podcast run by “Scrubs” co-stars and real-life best friends Zach Braff and Donald Faison. In the podcast, they relive their hit TV show by discussing an episode of the show, sharing behind-the-scenes stories, reminiscing on some of their favorite memories from filming and featuring beloved show cast members for exclusive interviews.
There are also podcasts that give insight into niche topics or the processes of how various things are made.
“Stuff You Should Know” is a popular podcast that discusses a wide range of topics, including champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks.
Some podcasts focus on true crime and present the stories of murders. “My Favorite Murder” is a bi-weekly true crime comedy podcast hosted by American comedians Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark that discusses different murders.
Overall, podcasts are an effective way to consume media on the go, as they can cover a wide range of topics and are often very informative. In order to maximize your time and learn more, podcasts are a more than adequate choice.