The "better" way to listen to Podcasts

[Magic 9-Ball]

Opinions, please.

What is the better way to listen to your favorite Podcasts?

I am a saver, meaning I will save up anywhare from 3 or 4 of some Podcasts (such as The Skeptics Guide or Monstertalk) to 6 - 10 of some, such as Skeptoid, rather than listening to each new one as it comes out. This way, during my morning or evening commute I can listen to an uninterrupted few hours of that Podcast. Very enjoyable.

However, I am sure there are many who listen daily, weekly or monthly to the Podcasts and enjoy it just as much. They also keep quite current on discussions, but I do that on the boards, blogs or websites.

So how do you listen to your favorite podcasts, and why do you prefer that way??

Thanks in advance!

[paiute]

I took a pair of ear muff hearing protectors and an old set of earbuds. Threaded the earbuds up into the muffs and through a slit cut into the foam, so the buds are near my ears when the muffs are on. Connect to an iPod Touch and listen to my podcasts when mowing the lawn, vacuuming the rug, sawing, drilling, etc.

[Olowkow]

I use ear buds, actually one ear only when in bed falling asleep, with my iTouch timer set to shut off after 1 1/4 hours. I also listen when on the bicycle simulator or lifting weights at the fitness center. It drowns out the popular music playing over their sound system. The treadmill has TV, so I use the ear buds for that audio.

I download about 25 different podcasts, and let iTunes update them just about every day, and I uncheck those that have been played, using a recently played "smartlist", before syncing.

Sometimes I listen at the coffee shop while reading my Kindle. Also, occasionally I listen in the car via a device I have that looks like a tape cassette which takes audio from the iTouch and sends it to the car radio via the cassette function. For newer cars that no longer have cassette players, there are wireless units that play through the car FM radio. It is not a good idea to listen on earbuds in the car.

[Lamuella]

no such thing as a better way, imo.

I listen to them as they come out with a podcatcher on my phone, and listen walking to work or when doing repetitive tasks.

Originally Posted by Olowkow

Also, occasionally I listen in the car via a device I have that looks like a tape cassette which takes audio from the iTouch and sends it to the car radio via the cassette function. For newer cars that no longer have cassette players, there are wireless units that play through the car FM radio. It is not a good idea to listen on earbuds in the car.

Most car stereos you buy today will have an aux input that looks like a headphone socket. A $1 auxiliary cable will plug into this and you can hook your mp3 player up to that, too.

[Bram Kaandorp]

I listen to shows when they come out, or the next morning if I really need my sleep.

I have about 1 1/2 our of travel to work, so I can easily listen to about 3 episodes on the way to and from work.

When I'm at home, I just listen when an episode comes up in Gpodder (podcatcher). I usually sync with my PMP if I have stuff to do around the house, but generally I just listen to it at the computer.

As a rule, I don't listen to back catalogues any more, unless if the episodes aren't too long and unless there aren't a lot of shows yet (as was the case with the Dumbasses Guide). I make an exception with audio dramas (which I listen through all the way, or not at all, depending on the amount of back catalogue), but then again, that's to be expected.

I'm really happy with the podcatcher, because previous to it, I'd have the feeds in a feed reader, which had no PMP sync possibility. Before that, I'd go to the sites around the time an episode would come put, to be disappointed when it didn't come out. (No, this is no sales pitch, just me gushing over podcatchers in general. I don't know why I did without).

Nothing special really, other than the fact that I tend to favour my over-ear headphones to in-ear in most cases, even though they're heavier.

[CompusMentus]

I usually download with ITunes. Sometimes I hunt about for interesting science/comedy stuff.

I indulge myself with tons of Astronomy and critical thinking related podcasts ie Skeptoid/Astrocast/Nasa etc.

Mostly I listen at bedime. With buds and Ipod. Astrocast etc when I want to listen but I will put some Judy Wood, Fetzer etc shows on when I want a laugh and need to go to sleep quickly.

Compus

[Alan]

I download with an app on my iPod Touch called Downcast. It is superior to the Music and iTunes apps because it automatically downloads new episodes, series that you've listened to everything from can be set to automatically hide for a cleaner interface, the app icon has a badge on it saying how many episodes are left and more. I do not use iTunes on a computer as I use Linux (there is no support for iTunes on Linux).

Most podcasts I listen to are about current events in niche areas: predominantly that Linux thing and videogames. I don't want to be weeks or months behind with them, and listen to them as soon as I can.

I don't go through back catalogues in full anymore, but I used to do it a lot when the personalities of the people were the main reason I would listen. Now, I'm listening to too many series to really have time to go through back catalogues and be able to catch up. I'm subscribed to 9 podcast series on my iPod, two podcast series being often having two and a half hours a week, and most between one and two hours long...

I listen when walking places, when on a train and I often go to sleep listening to them.

[CompusMentus]

Originally Posted by Alan

I listen when walking places, when on a train and I often go to sleep listening to them.

Sounds a little dangerous :=]


It is a real bugbear for me too with Itunes. The sort/dl options, as you write, are limited. I've been meaning to hunt down a better alternative, now you've reminded me I'll get to it. Thanks.

Compus