Podcasting

I’ve donned my propellerhead hat and am now in the midst of three days of total podcasting immersion, attending the Portable Media Expo and Podcasting Conference in Ontario.

What is podcasting? Think of it as a way of distributing audio shows over the Internet. It’s similar to a radio program, but with a publish and subscribe distribution model.

Podcasting is a Portmanteau derived from the ubiquitous iPod and the more familiar term ‘broadcasting.’ It was popularized by the idea that I can subscribe to shows that interest me and they’ll automatically be loaded on my iPod while I sleep. When I head for the gym in the morning, I’ve got fresh programs to choose from.

Of course, you don’t need an iPod or any other portable media to enjoy a podcast. You can listen to them right on your computer, and in fact, most people do just that.

What makes podcasting interesting? Well, first of all, it’s still pretty new. There are only about 15,000 podcasters out there, although that number is expected to jump exponentially in 2006. So it’s a good time to jump in if you’re interested in creating a podcast.

Secondly, the barriers to entry are reasonably low. Most PC and Mac owners already possess the basic tools needed to create a podcast. You don’t need to be a rocket scientist or an audio engineer.

Have you listened to a podcast? I have a bunch I’d like to add to my subscription list, but there are several that I listen to now, including The Chris Pirillo Show and Mobility Today (formerly Dave’s iPAQ). Leave a comment and let me know what you think I should add to my playlist.

So where is this all going? I suspect you’ll see a podcast coming out of BigBlueBall very soon.