What's a Podcast?If podcasts are unknown territory for you... WELCOME!!
Keep exploring this page, I explain more about our podcast, what a podcast even is, and how to get podcasts on your phone! You're well on your way to becoming a podcast expert. |
I Love Podcasts!If you're already into podcasts, check out the links below! You can find 'The Parenting Dare' wherever you listen. Fun Fact for Android users: if you click the Apple Podcasts link on your phone, it should ask you if you'd like to open our podcast in which ever podcast player you already use.
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LORI: Alrighty. So Eric finally got me doing this whole podcasting thing... Initially I didn't think I would really like it but holy guacamole was I SO WRONG. I love love love podcasting! Eric just has me come over and talk into the microphone and he does the rest.
Maybe I like it because he makes it so easy... Either way I hope you enjoy our new podcast! If you search for 'The Parenting Dare' in your favorite podcast app, here's what our cover looks like: 
ERIC: I CAN'T EVEN with this podcast. Is it possible to be too excited for something? Haha! If you keep on reading, you'll start to see just why I love podcasts specifically so so much.
Now especially if you're like my mother and have literally 1000 questions about podcasts... Keep scrolling down, I answer the basics (and more). |
Let's start off easy... What is a podcast?
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You can think of a podcast like a radio show but for the internet. And because today's tech culture is so mobile, podcasts are primarily listened to using your phone. You can listen whenever and wherever you want! The actual word 'podcast' is a portmanteau for 'iPod broadcast' and they were previously just called audio blogs.
Want to just give it a listen? Here's our very first podcast episode (8 min 48 sec). |
Sure, but what's so great about a podcast?
Two words: passive consumption.
Time is the best thing ever and arguably your most valuable asset. You only have 24 hours in a day and you're busy just like us. A podcast is really awesome because you can listen to it while doing whatever you want. You can passively consume (listen) podcasts. You don't need to stop what you're doing and actively read or watch something.
Before our podcast came out you would have had to take time out of your day to open up our website and read through our content. But now you can subscribe through any podcast app and listen to our posts (also called episodes) while doing whatever you want! Podcasts have been really exploding in popularity for this exact reason.
Personally, I love listening to podcasts while I'm driving, doing laundry, and cooking.
Time is the best thing ever and arguably your most valuable asset. You only have 24 hours in a day and you're busy just like us. A podcast is really awesome because you can listen to it while doing whatever you want. You can passively consume (listen) podcasts. You don't need to stop what you're doing and actively read or watch something.
Before our podcast came out you would have had to take time out of your day to open up our website and read through our content. But now you can subscribe through any podcast app and listen to our posts (also called episodes) while doing whatever you want! Podcasts have been really exploding in popularity for this exact reason.
Personally, I love listening to podcasts while I'm driving, doing laundry, and cooking.
Subscribe? Where do I do that?
To subscribe to a podcast simply means to follow it. Which ever podcast app you use will remember the podcasts you subscribe to and tell you when they release new episodes. There are MANY different apps that you can use to listen to podcasts. Here's several popular names in the podcasting world:
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That's a lot to choose from.... can you just make it simple for me!?
I have two recommendations. The app that works better for you kind of depends on what kind of phone you have: iPhone or Android. When you end up choosing an app, you can open it and search for 'The Parenting Dare' then find the option to listen or subscribe to our podcast!
I have an iPhone...
So iPhone's already come with a podcast app automatically that you try out first. It's a pretty well built app called the Apple Podcast app. It looks like this.
However, you don't need to use the Apple Podcast app, that's just my recommendation. Many iPhone users opt for different podcast apps available in the iTunes App Store, one example is Pocket Casts. |
I have an Android phone...
In the Google Play Store, there's an overwhelming number of podcasting apps to choose from. You should try out my favorite and the one I use currently: Pocket Casts. Here's what that app icon looks like.
It has a sleek, simple, and intuitive design that rivals all other podcasting apps out there. |
Any other questions?
Shoot us an email at: lorianderic@theparentingdare.com
You've reached the end of the PODCASTING BASICS. Look up our podcast and listen to the latest episode! If you have more questions go ahead and ask us! We're here to make things as easy as possible for you.
If you'd like to keep learning about podcasts, keep on reading. Eric goes over some more advanced questions for podcast enthusiasts.
You've reached the end of the PODCASTING BASICS. Look up our podcast and listen to the latest episode! If you have more questions go ahead and ask us! We're here to make things as easy as possible for you.
If you'd like to keep learning about podcasts, keep on reading. Eric goes over some more advanced questions for podcast enthusiasts.
Why is Pocket Casts not listed way above?
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You really want to become a Level 1 Podcasting Wizard? Okay... let's dive in.
Creating a podcast requires making an RSS feed. An RSS feed IS a podcast in it's simplest form. It's an ugly bunch of rows and rows of data that is updated each time I upload a podcast. Each of the link buttons at the top of the page represent companies that I have submitted The Parenting Dare's RSS feed to. You can think of each of them like 'RSS feed hosts'. These 'hosts' take the ugly mess of data then organize and present it in an easy and beautiful way; this organization is what you see when you open your podcast app! |
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iTunes is the biggest and most popular home for podcasts. It's the biggest of these 'RSS feed hosts'. Google Play, Spotify, and Stitcher are other examples of hosts. Now apps like Pocket Casts search the big 'hosts' like iTunes or Google Play and read the RSS feeds they already are holding. Remember: the RSS feed is what makes up the podcast itself. It's just rows and rows of data.
Apps like Pocket Casts are just built to provide end consumers like you and me a different platform for enjoying podcasts.
Make sense? That's why if you are using an Android phone, already have Pocket Casts installed, and click the Apple Podcasts button at the top of the page your phone will ask you if you'd like to open the link in Pocket Casts! It knows the Pocket Casts app often reads podcasts (RSS feeds) from iTunes.
Bang. Bang.
What's the difference between Google Play Music and Google Podcasts?
GREAT question. This is actually super juicy cuz it's so new!
The Google Play Store is another one of the bigger 'RSS feed hosts' that I mentioned in the previous answer. Google is trying it's best to get into the podcasting game and be the biggest player in town. They try their darndest with Google Play Music, but it's just not the best app for listening to podcasts. Android phones have several more, significantly better options for listening to podcasts (like Pocket Casts). Google noticed and one day Google Podcasts was released, however that's not the only reason it was released... I'll expand in a sec.
This is one of Google's latest stabs at becoming a main-stream VOICE platform. The 'voice platform' is already dominated by Amazon with Alexa and the Echo lineup. Google is trying to stake a claim with competition like Apple. That's why you see so many ads for devices that use Amazon's Alexa, Apple's Siri, and the Google Assistant (which def needs a better name).
Google was a little late to the voice game but has the advantage of being the primary search engine people used for years and years. And they're using all their data to constantly try and make life as easy as possible for end users.
Have you noticed that when you search certain things on Google, they started putting resources at the top of the results page?? If you don't know what I mean, google: "how many feet are in a mile". Right at the top of the results page is a embedded length calculator converting miles to feet. If you google "where can I buy shoes?", Google Maps shows up with shoe stores local shoe stores selected. This is where Google Podcasts come in and it's actually REALLY AWESOME.
This works JUST ON YOUR PHONE. I don't believe this works on your desktop. If you search for a popular podcast... google something like 'Stuff You Should Know podcast', that podcast shows up as one of the first results! What's NEW is right under the web page result for that podcast, Google lists the podcast's most recent episodes with a play button right next to them. When you click play, Google Podcasts opens and they start playing! Chicka-what!? So yeah it's pretty dope.
Want to get even more excited!? This search result is directly tied into the Google Assistant, again Google trying to make you life easy. If you have a Google Home or even a Google phone, say "Hey Google, listen to Stuff You Should Know" and it just starts playing the most recent episode! HOLY COW.
The actual app Google Podcasts also doubles as a place for you to subscribe to and listen to all your podcasts, however I'm not a huge fan of the layout. Again, apps like Pocket Casts are my fave for now. This kind of makes sense though, Google is looking to gain momentum in the realm of audio. The app is built with the Google Home and Google Assistant voice interface in mind integrating all of their products into one, seamless user experience.
WHAT A FREAKING TIME TO BE ALIVE.
The Google Play Store is another one of the bigger 'RSS feed hosts' that I mentioned in the previous answer. Google is trying it's best to get into the podcasting game and be the biggest player in town. They try their darndest with Google Play Music, but it's just not the best app for listening to podcasts. Android phones have several more, significantly better options for listening to podcasts (like Pocket Casts). Google noticed and one day Google Podcasts was released, however that's not the only reason it was released... I'll expand in a sec.
This is one of Google's latest stabs at becoming a main-stream VOICE platform. The 'voice platform' is already dominated by Amazon with Alexa and the Echo lineup. Google is trying to stake a claim with competition like Apple. That's why you see so many ads for devices that use Amazon's Alexa, Apple's Siri, and the Google Assistant (which def needs a better name).
Google was a little late to the voice game but has the advantage of being the primary search engine people used for years and years. And they're using all their data to constantly try and make life as easy as possible for end users.
Have you noticed that when you search certain things on Google, they started putting resources at the top of the results page?? If you don't know what I mean, google: "how many feet are in a mile". Right at the top of the results page is a embedded length calculator converting miles to feet. If you google "where can I buy shoes?", Google Maps shows up with shoe stores local shoe stores selected. This is where Google Podcasts come in and it's actually REALLY AWESOME.
This works JUST ON YOUR PHONE. I don't believe this works on your desktop. If you search for a popular podcast... google something like 'Stuff You Should Know podcast', that podcast shows up as one of the first results! What's NEW is right under the web page result for that podcast, Google lists the podcast's most recent episodes with a play button right next to them. When you click play, Google Podcasts opens and they start playing! Chicka-what!? So yeah it's pretty dope.
Want to get even more excited!? This search result is directly tied into the Google Assistant, again Google trying to make you life easy. If you have a Google Home or even a Google phone, say "Hey Google, listen to Stuff You Should Know" and it just starts playing the most recent episode! HOLY COW.
The actual app Google Podcasts also doubles as a place for you to subscribe to and listen to all your podcasts, however I'm not a huge fan of the layout. Again, apps like Pocket Casts are my fave for now. This kind of makes sense though, Google is looking to gain momentum in the realm of audio. The app is built with the Google Home and Google Assistant voice interface in mind integrating all of their products into one, seamless user experience.
WHAT A FREAKING TIME TO BE ALIVE.