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Get experimental with your ears – Listen to new…

April 6, 2019October 7, 2021
by Vic

If you think podcasts are just true-crime, BBC radio re-runs, dad porno, or ‘not for you’, then think again!

There’s over half a million podcasts out there, from documentary style and interviews to panel discussions and one man shows. I want to show you in this article, that there’s something out there to suit every need, want, hobby and erm, fetish.

So, I want to challenge you to listen to 1 episode of 1 podcast that haven’t heard before. Embrace the bizarre, dip outside of your comfort zone, go beyond your norm. You don’t have to like what you find, just give it a try!

Birds!

For example, a few months ago I discovered The Casual Birder Podcast through the Brit Pod Scene network of British-made podcasts (that you can search to discover new stuff too!). I like birds, don’t get me wrong, but I’ve never taken a great deal of interest of what’s flying above my head. To be really honest with you, the closest I’ve got to bird-watching, is scooping up the presents that my cat leaves me.

I listened to the first episode of Casual Birder and was I hooked. It’s dead easy to listen to, it’s really interesting, well-produced and Suzie the presenter, is a delight. I enjoyed it so much, that it’s now part of me and the cat’s morning routine. We listen whilst we’re brushing our teeth and having our coffee. Also, weirdly he’s not brought another bird kill back since (touch wood).

How to get exploring

So, whether you’ve not delved into the world of podcasts yet or you only have a few core ones that you listen to regularly, let me inspire your ears today – and who knows, you might find your new favourite! Thank me later guys.

As a starter and to help you get to grips with the wide range of podcasts available to you, right at your fingertips, here’s a list of the current podcast categories on iTunes. Other podcast platforms such as Google Podcasts, Player.fm or Stitcher will have the same or similar. You can search directly in any of these podcast platforms to find your niche.

Here’s just a small selection that I found today. Click on the links to be taken to a list of podcasts that are available for each of these categories.

So go on, delve in, dig deeper! Tell me below what podcast you have discovered and how you now feel about being a bit more experimental with your ears. Remember, just 1 episode from 1 podcast.

Do you have an idea for a podcast but not sure how to get cracking – well whatever your subject, theme or category, let MIC give you a hand. Drop us a line and let’s have a chat about your podcast idea.

MIC Thoughts

You’ll want to start a podcast right away after…

April 6, 2019October 7, 2021
by Vic

Do you want to start a podcast? Or are you thinking about it, but not quite ready (let’s be honest, are you ever going to be ready?).

Well, as long as you or your company have something to say that is (more on that in a future blog post!), I don’t think there’s much stopping you.

Let me convince you why…

You don’t need to be fancy

All you need to start a podcast is 3 things,

1. A microphone to pick your voice into a recording 2. Something to store that recording 3. An internet connection to share that recording

Now, you might not believe me when I tell you this, but 1 and 2 you’ll probably already have. Actually, I bet you have at least 2 of each! Yes, Really!

There’s microphones built into pretty much every smartphone, tablet and laptop, which all, (more often than not), connect to the internet.

…And Voilà! That is your basic podcasting set-up! You don’t need the very best, expensive professional, broadcast-standard equipment and you certainly don’t need it right at the start of your podcasting journey.

This simple set-up, can also be a great way for you to practice.

They’re Accessible

They’ll be very few barriers for people to listen to your podcast.

All your potential listener needs is a device that connects to the internet and a speaker. This covers a wide of things such as phones, laptops, desktop computer, cars smart speaker, smart tv…the list goes on.

That’s it; you don’t need to be in the same country as the podcast that you’re listening to, or have an expensive subscription, you don’t even need a licence and it’s all on-demand – so you can listen when and where you want.

Imagine that potential for your podcast? You could have a listener who is anywhere in the world, doing anything – engaged with your message or your story.

And whilst we’re at it, just to make you ‘wow’ a little bit more, they’re also mostly free to listen to.

Guys, I’m just bashing down these barriers, right in front of your very eyes.

They’re dead Personable

You know those people we talked about under the ‘Accessibility’ bit above? They’ll be mostly consuming podcasts on their own. Think about it, how often do you sit and listen to a podcast with someone else – it’s a rarity isn’t?

a lady wearing a ponytail hairstyle earphones in her ears, holding a looking at her phone — Photo – Siddharth Bhogra via unsplash

Whether you’re in the car, at the gym, on the commute, cooking tea or gardening – podcasts are a very personal experience.

What other form of communication gets you right inside someone’s lughole, where you can really hook their attention and capture their imagination?

Again, think of that potential for you to share your message and values to a huge audience, but on a very intimate-level.

If at the start of this article you were around 35% ‘oh I’m still not sure whether to start a podcast’, I bet you’ll be at a firm 99% now?

If you need more convincing or would like a hand with your podcast production, let MIC guide you in the right direction.

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