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Podcasting
A podcast enables you to easily download audio and/or video files to your computer or a portable MP3 player. Using free software such as Juice (aka “iPodder”) or Apple's iTunes, users subscribe to "feeds" -- small XML data files -- that the application regularly reads. When new audio and/or video files are available, the software automatically downloads them to your computer or portable device. This means you can listen to podcasts whenever and wherever you like!
To start downloading and listening to podcasts you need: a computer, an Internet connection (preferably broadband), and some free podcasting software. If you'd like to take audio programs with you, you'll also need a portable MP3 player.
Use the links listed below to download free podcasting software to your computer (the applications listed below are available for both PC and Mac platforms). Next, install the software on your machine and then follow its instructions to subscribe to podcasts. This is usually as simple as pasting the URL for the podcast feed into a subscribe box (iTunes users can select "Subscribe to Podcast" from the "Advanced" tab in the top menu). Once you've subscribed, the next time your software checks your podcast feeds it will download the latest broadcast to your computer or portable MP3 player.
Links to Free Podcasting Software
- Download iTunes: http://www.apple.com/itunes/
- Download Juice (previously "iPodder"): http://juicereceiver.sourceforge.net/
- Other Free Software Names: Doppler, Blog Matrix (for PC), Playpod (for Mac)
Religion and Theology Podcasts
1. Religion courses and lectures available via iTunes University
Thomas Sheehan, The Historical Jesus. (http://itunes.stanford.edu/)
Available under the "Arts and Humanities --> Spirituality and Religion" category at Stanford.
Bart Ehrman and Richard Hays, Beyond the DaVinci Code. (http://itunes.duke.edu/)
Available under the "Religion" category at Duke.
2. Standard News Sources
PBS Religion and Ethics Newsweekly (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/rss/podcast.xml)
3. University Chapel Services/Sermons
Calvin College: Center for Excellence in Preaching (http://cep.calvinseminary.edu/thisWeek/podcasts.php)
Duke Chapel Podcast Archive (http://www.chapel.duke.edu/media/podcasts.aspx)
Luther Seminary Chapel Sermons (http://www.luthersem.edu/rss/how_to.asp)
4. Congregational worship and sermons
Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church, Marietta (http://podcast.mtbethel.org/)
Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Atlanta (http://www.redeemer.org/sermons_bulletins/)
Peachtree Presbyterian Church, Atlanta (http://www.peachtreepres.org/web/Podcasts.aspx)
5. Podcasting Services
Podcast My Church (http://www.podcastmychurch.com/)
Give this company your cassette tape, etc., and the podcast is created and distributed for you ($360/year for weekly sermon).
Podtrac (http://podtrac.com/)
Provide a complete suite of advertising services for your podcast, including audience survey.
College/University Podcasts
UC Berkeley iTunes U: http://itunes.berkeley.edu
This is one school's implementation of iTunes U, which provides access to educational content. Emory University has licensed iTunes U and will be adding content in 2008.
Resources for Podcasters
If you're interested in creating a podcast, here are some resources that might be helpful:
iTunes Guide to Making and Submitting a Podcast (http://www.apple.com/itunes/store/podcaststechspecs.html)
This guide covers the process of submitting a podcast for inclusion in the iTunes directory, including technical data for ensuring that your podcast is found and displayed appropriately, and tracking downloads. It also provides tutorials for working with GarageBand, QuickTime Pro (for Mac and Windows) and iWeb to create audio and video podcasts.
Podcasting Legal Guide ( http://wiki.creativecommons.org/Podcasting_Legal_Guide)
Offered by Creative Commons for a dual purpose: 1) aiding those interested in following current copyright law and 2) creating support for revising the law to better address digital concerns. This site provides an FAQ regarding copyright, licensing, and attribution issues.
Podcast Numbers
| 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2011 | |
| Ad spending (millions) | $80 | $160 | $240 | $400 |
| Active audience (millions) | 3 | 5 | 7.5 | 18 |
| Total audience (millions) | 10 | 17 | 25 | 55 |
Source: eMarketer, February 2007