Over on my LinkedIn network, an interesting question was posed: How often do you listen to podcasts? The author limited his query to non-work-related and non-NPR content. Here’s my response:
I rarely listen to podcasts. So interesting followup questions might be: Where/when/how do people listen? I find I can’t concentrate on a podcast while working on my computer and I don’t listen through my iPod or TV when relaxing.
Generally speaking, I’m more visually oriented and prefer reading or watching video over a purely audio broadcast. If I still regularly commuted (via subway), I might listen to podcasts more frequently. Though I’d just as likely watch some DVRed video clip on my mobile instead.
Every now and then I might listen to a special broadcast, but generally I just don’t bother — My free time and attention span are too limited for audio-only entertainment. It’s not that I haven’t tried… I did give the TiVo podcast feature a spin on a few occasions, but the lack of pause functionality kills its usefulness. And for a few weeks, I loaded up an iPod Shuffle with podcasts and hiked the 17 flights of stairs in my apartment complex… but that didn’t jibe with my sedentary lifestyle.
So am I alone in not listening? If you listen: When, where, and how?
I listen sometimes at work, and often in the car driving to/from work. I use an iPod Nano, and use iTunes as my podcatcher.
I like listening to the music podcasts on TiVo, but I treat it more like radio, then a program I regularly tune into. Sometimes, I’ll listen to a podcast, if there is something in it, that I’m especially interested in. If it’s an interview with a company I follow, then it’s worth spending the time, but if it’s just a normal show, I’ve got to know the person making it, if I’m going to be willing to commit 30 – 60 minutes listening to something over a quick five minute scan of a written article.
I listen while driving, mowing the lawn and at work. I was using my wifes ipod and recently got my own. I’m currently using iTunes for podcast subscriptions.
I can’t stand terrestrial radio anymore since ClearChannel killed the only alernative station in town and I didn’t want to continue the subscription for satellite radio in my vehicle.
The content of the podcasts varies for what I listen to and when. I have some podcasts that I listen to while working that I don’t need to concentrate on that much and other podcasts that I like to give more attention to that I listen to while driving or doing lawn work.
I listen to the BBC World Today Select podcast in the car on my way to work every day. It’s great, it’s only 15 minutes, which is almost exactly how long it takes me to get to work. It provides a different perspective than I can get just reading stuff in the paper and/or online.
I will say, I don’t think I ever listen to podcasts when I’m not driving. I injured myself and had to miss some work, and the pile of podcasts waiting for me to start driving again is pretty large.
I listen to about 10-15 regular podcasts usually while driving or when I’m on an airplane (both happen alot). I use an iPod and iTunes to manage, just seems easier. Some of the better ones include SModcast, Buzz Out Loud, Diggnation (video), Engadget, FreshDV and any of the TWIT or Pixel Corps offerings.
I listen to quite a few when driving. Generally not any other time.
I generally listen to Technology (Buzz Out Loud, Bran, TWIT, CNET Security Bytes), Politics (ABC This Week, Slate’s Gabfest, The McLaughlin Group) and NPR (This American Life, Fresh Air, Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me) podcasts, with a few others sprinkled in here and there.
This is an interesting question that I have discussed myself recently. The length, portability and content not to mention the ‘discoverability’ and consistent frequency of podcasts have made adoption as a regular form of media quite slow relatively speaking. I usually listen to tech related casts streamed through my browser. I’ll only download them to a portable device if I’m travelling. I also agree the the Tivo podcast interface and controls make it unusable. I think that podcasts are best consumed as ‘highlights’ in a short format – not long rambling radio style shows. Once a podcast gets stale – more than a few weeks old, not including interviews – they have a lot less value. I just don’t think the tail is that long for most of these podcasts we heat now.
I listen to Podcasts every weekday on my commute to work. My favorites are TWiT, Windows Weekly, Buzz Out Loud, BoingBoing, Rick Steves and lots of special Podcasts/interviews with people like Malcolm Gladwell, Wil Wheaton and Bruce Schneier. I also listen to Podcasts when doing yard work or when I travel (rare).
When I mow the lawn – with noise canceling headphones!
I listen while I’m exercising (walking, mostly), in the car, and when I’m falling to sleep.
I listen to three podcasts: TWiT, Real Time with Bill Maher, and Battlestar Galactica.
With the exception of BSG, I listen to TWiT and Real Time via my iPod at work unless I’m at home working on the computer and want some background noise (admit it: most of what Dvorak says is noise). BSG I listen to at home on the TiVo during downtime.
I listen to a few podcasts related to TV shows (Lostcasts, Jay & Jack, the official Lost Podcast, Ron Moore’s BSG podcast, and I had been listening to the Eureka podcast.) There was also a novelty-song-oriented podcast that I tuned in to occasionally.
Just another way to fill 2.5+ hours of commute time. I don’t listen to them anywhere but in the car.
The only time I listen and watch podcasts is at work. Of course, having two monitors helps this out.
I listen in my car on my commute to work, and while cleaning the toilet/bathroom at home.
TWIT, Windows Weekly, Diggnation, Gamespot Hotspot, Science Friday, TRS, sometimes TWIM but they get boring.
I use my PSP as my MP3 player.
I watch CNET news on my Tivo.
I don’t listen to any podcasts. I don’t know when I would. My commute is 20-25 minutes by car, and I rather enjoy listening to Sirius during that time. At work I’m not going to listen since it takes focus – if I listen to anything it is music off my iPod.
At home I have TiVo and my music.
Podcasts remind me of talk radio – which I can’t tolerate.
I listen to The Video Games Show podcast and other video game related podcasts. I only listen while commuting. I tried listening at work but cannot multitask well enough to listen or work effectively, so work wins.