I have a passion for podcasts or as Leo Laporte calls them Netcasts. Lately I haven’t been able to listen to my favorites, which creates a gigantic backlog. I blame my obsession with Induro Cycling and the cold weather. I typically get most of my listening done at the gym, in my car and during my walk into work. Induro Cycling provides music, cold weather keeps me from unbundling my iPod until I am halfway to work and forget about plugging into my headphones for the frigid walk into the building.
I checked my disk usage for my podcasts in iTunes. I have over 10 gigabytes of podcasts. And no I probably won’t listen to them all but I hate to part with them. I once heard Marc Maron say on Conan O’Brien that he had a new part-time job…loading his iPod. I couldn’t agree more. I am not complaining. I wouldn’t take back commercial radio if you paid me and satellite radio can’t beat the price of a podcast.
I currently support two podcast/podcast networks for a nominal monthly fee. Very few of them have any advertising. As this medium grows, as podcasters figure out how to monetize their hard work I don’t see how traditional media can hold onto their business model. When the only choice I had was traditional radio I quickly turned the channel during commercials. I am not against commercials but radio commercials can be grating. Take for instance any car sales commercial or any spot featuring a police siren. Naturally the siren makes any driver break out in a sweat. Nice tactic but irritating.
My current podcast rotation:
My rotation always changes. I find a podcast I like then become disenchanted or reprioritize the list. I find video podcasts I like but because my iPod does not play video I don’t view them often. I generally forget they are on my computer. Now I have to hold out for the next-generation iPod (sans phone) until I can seriously consider adding them to a rotation.
I look forward to the day when I can talk to anyone about podcasts and they don’t look at me like I am from Mars. Not every podcast produced is worth listening to and the medium may still be considered in the early adoption phase. I am excited that in this culture of accessible publishing and distribution that so many have a voice and for myself an unmanageable podcast directory. ;)