Okay, I admit it: The whole idea of "podcasts" seemed stupid to me when I first heard it. After all, why would I want to have to listen to something linearly, when I could better consume the content in webform? So I decided to spend some time in the format and see just how right--or wrong--I was. And I was not disappointed...
In fact, I was REPEATEDLY disappointed! I proceeded to download podcasts from sites I enjoyed and respected and that covered topics I am passionate about--only to find my head shaking in disbelief. They were bad, really, really bad.
But along the way, I discovered 3 things: (1) The guys at Popular Science KNOW how to podcast! You should really check out their show. (2)Podcasting is actually a fantastic way to access speeches, conferences (<--sorry about that xml link, but it's all I could find to get you there) and keynotes that you cannot attend in person. And (3) I also personally rely on them to access sermons that bring me back to the word in a powerful and thoughtful way.
So in summary: "Podcasts" are as overblown, overhyped and oversold as their name-inspiring "progenitor", the iPod. The fact remains that recorded audio--even portable recorded audio accessible from the web--predates the Apple phenomenon by years and years (decades, really, if you link it to the "old days", when we would purchase cassettes of sessions at conferences). As such, I fully support those that disparage the term and will no longer use it myself (I only used it in this entry for purposes of dispelling its usurpation of the technology).
Now if only I could think of a worthy replacement...
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