In a world of YouTube, Netflix, and a multitude of video-streaming services right at our fingertips, the medium of radio has fallen to the wayside. Once the favorite of a generation, families would tailor their schedules to live broadcasts straight from their home console for everything from news and music to stories. Now it’s all but been replaced by television, apps, and mp3s.
While radio’s popularity dwindles, its spiritual successor has been on the rise: The Podcast. Named from a combination of ancestral radio broadcasts and the 21st-century device, the iPod, podcasts are a digital-media format of syndicated audio episodes available for download straight to mobile devices for listening anytime, anywhere. While radio content airs at set times, podcasts allow the listeners to choose the schedule.
The history of podcasts is one of collaboration. Developed in the late ‘90s early ‘00s, several different programmers and hosts pioneered this format with their own contributions. Adam Curry, formerly of MTV, was the first to launch a consistent, scheduled show, Daily Source Code, about his life and the day-to-day happenings of the podcasting world, as well as launching PodShow, the first podcasting network.
The first app to make podcasting feasible was iPodderX, displaced in 2005 by Apple’s iTunes 4.9, which featured podcasting hosting and downloading capabilities. Within a year of this launch, big radio networks like the BBC, WNYC, and NPR started converting their shows for download on iTunes.
Today there are more than 115,000 podcasts available for users online, few of them at any cost to the user. They range in topics from pop culture (Nerdist), true crime (Serial), the lives of celebrities (WTF), and the lives of everyday people (This American Life). They are perfect listening while on a long commute, running errands, or even when performing dental hygiene.
No matter what your interests or lifestyle, there is a podcast for everyone out there, and we here at Metter Media are no exception! Here are some staff favorites, as well as where we listen and what first got us hooked:
Sarah
Favorite show: “Serial. It was so perfectly planned out and helped broaden the ‘mainstream’ podcast audience. I never thought I would be able to get my friends to start listening to podcasts — or even bond with them over podcasts — but this one did it, and it was great. I can’t wait for Season 2.”
When she listens: “The best time for me to listen to podcasts is when traveling. Podcasts like Serial were the main thing that kept me sane on public transport this past winter.”
First got her hooked: “I used to frequent Lost theory podcasts — because I was (okay, am) a huge nerd and loved catching up to fan theories and joining in the madness. I should probably start listening to Game of Throne podcasts…”
Kristen
Favorite show: “My favorite was The Alton Browncast because I love to bake and cook, he’d answer callers’ questions and always had really great tips and recipes. For podcasts that aren’t over with? Plz Advise is my favorite. It’s Molly McAleer’s advice show. She’s a comedy writer from Boston and I’ve been following her for years, she’s absolutely hysterical and I always find myself laughing inappropriately on the bus listening to it.”
When she listens: “I multitask and listen when I’m doing more routine work on the computer, doing laundry, washing dishes, taking a walk, on the bus or T, etc. I could never just sit and listen unless I’m commuting.”
First got her hooked: “I’ve listened to the recorded version of Fresh Air for many years. Serial was the next one. Everyone was talking about it and I had to see what the hype was all about… then began the addiction.”
Danielle
Favorite show: “Don’t have a fave. Currently listening to NPR Fresh Air, Picking Brains, and some meditation podcasts.”
When she listens: “While walking, cleaning, or browsing the Internet.”
First got her hooked: “Recommendations from my high school english teacher.”
Angela
Favorite show: “Above & Beyond’s Group Therapy. I’m a huge trance fan and this is the biggest podcast for it. Great sound quality, completely different every time. A lot of people I know listen to it, there’s a whole community around this type of music.”
When she listens: “Multitasking: gym, doing work at my desk, walking.”
First got her hooked: “Trance Around The World through the online trance community.”
Jasmine
Favorite show: “Nerdist because I like Chris Hardwick and he has some pretty dope guests.”
When she listens: “Commuting or when I’m bored. Mostly listen to them by themselves.”
First got her hooked: “WTF with Marc Maron, heard about it on Twitter.”
Kimo
Favorite show: “In love currently with Gimlet Media (StartUp, Reply All & Mystery Show), but my forever favorite is a little podcast out of New Zealand about two men and their journey to watch the Adam Sandler movie Grown Ups 2 a total of 52 times over the course of one year. It is the documentation of two men’s descent into Sandler-fueled insanity. The name of this podcast? The Worst Idea of All Time. The kicker is, this project started in February 2014, and it was successfully completed in February of this year. Since then, they’ve come back for a season 2 with an even worse idea: watching Sex and the City 2. They are currently 26 weeks in, and every week is a new breaking point for them and a new set of laughs for me.”
When he listens: “While biking, lounging, and flossing!”
First got him hooked: “Cliche as it was, Serial did it to me. Next was WTF, and TED Radio Hour sealed the deal.”
Metter Media LLC is a Boston-based social media management company that implements community-based, localized social engagement strategies for small businesses and corporations alike. Need help with your social media? Email Lauren today.
