What the heck is a Podcast?

Podcasts are audio and video files that you can download to your computer and listen to whenever you want. The name ‘podcast’ is a bit misleading – you do not need an iPod to listen to a podcast; anyone with a computer and an internet connection can download podcasts. Podcasts often sound a lot like a traditional radio broadcasts, but style and content vary depending on the subject matter. For instance; NPR offers podcasts of their popular radio programs, MIT provides podcasts of lectures for undergraduate classes. There are lighthearted podcasts dedicated exclusively to Harry Potter, as well as a plethora of amateur podcasts about, well, nothing at all.