Successful Podcast Download and Easy Listening Tips

Eek! Eek! After talking about it for one year, I HAVE OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED the DrMommaSays Podcast! WooHoo! However, during my journey to become a podcaster, I have realized many people that I know do not understand the exact steps needed to support my podcast. Well, I am here for you! Today, I want to share some timeless tips that will help you with a successful podcast download and easy listening experience.

Just so you can know where I am coming from, I feel you! I am a very confident person who makes a decision, does some basic research and then jumps in. If I have not had prior experience, I do not let that hold me back from jumping in any way. This is both a good and bad thing. I often find myself in over my head and need to get a lifeline. But that is part of my learning curve.

When I decided to open a solo private practice, I had zero business experience and simply went to the bookstore, bought a few cups of coffee and tea, and read “how to” manuals. I knew what I wanted in my own practice but had never discussed the process with anyone who had already done it. I did it and THEN networked with other private practice physicians to improve what I had started.

Two years ago, when I decided to start blogging, I went to a short seminar course on setting up a website and then BOOM! MommaAddict.com was born. Until I launched, I rarely read blogs. That is an odd thing to say, but it is true.  But I then found many amazing tribes of fellow bloggers who have provided me with important tips to make improvements. Now, I find blogs are so valuable. Was I living under a rock before?

Now, here I stand. About to launch my very own podcast! And I have so many family members, friends, and followers who are excited to support me. Once again, I must admit that I am creating a type of content that I have not used much before.

I have recorded and fully edited 5 episodes and will be figuring out how to host and share them; therefore, I have reached the point that I needed a lifeline. My youngest daughter is a podcast fanatic. In fact, she rarely listens to local news but is very well versed in what is going on around the world and in politics. Can’t tell you our local weather or traffic, but she can debate world peace, gender equality, and politics. Millennial life.

Anyway, I asked her to help me to understand how to search and download podcasts. (I am very task oriented and like to know the correct steps). Please feel my pain when I tell you that the look she gave me could stop traffic!

I have previously blogged about the generation gap where Millennials can make Baby Boomers more cool and hip; however, they also may have ideas and concepts that Boomers reject. Sometimes, you don’t need to do all the latest and greatest things out there.

Thank goodness her immediate reaction quickly passed, and she walked me through some podcasting basics.

Of course, I have listened to some podcast episodes, but a link was provided that I simply clicked and listened. I did not go to iTunes and look for it.  I did not download it.  Listen and go.  That was good enough for me.

I intend to widely share links to help my listeners find my episodes so that they can click, listen and go. However, in case you feel inclined to share my work with others, I want everyone to know how to find me, download episodes and support me.  And in case there is someone out there, like me, who has never actually searched the iTunes directory, I want you to look more knowledgeable than I did!

So without further ado, I am sharing the steps to search and have a successful podcast download and easy listening experience.

Disclaimer: There are many, many ways to search and listen to podcasts. Google Play, Stitcher, and Spotify are also well-known sites where people go to download podcasts. I will be submitting my feed to these other sites as well, but for the sake of this post, I am going to focus on iTunes because when it comes to technology, I am a bit basic.

All you need to know for a successful podcast download from iTunes

From your computer or phone: go to iTunes.com and download the iTunes app.

1. Click to open the Itunes app logo on your desktop or screen
2. You now need to find the podcast section  (I learned that it may vary based on your version of the app!)
   • My version:  On the left side, the box defaults to “Music”, click the drop-down arrow and select “Podcast”
   • My daughter’s version: click “Podcast” which is prominently displayed in an awesome black banner across the top. ( How come I did not get the obvious choice like this?)
3. Once in the podcast area,  the first section is called NEW & NOTEWORTHY. This is where new podcasts (less than 2 months old) get showcased if they are popular with many downloads, subscribers, and reviews.  THIS is where I would love to land and will be asking for your support so I can get my episodes viewed by an audience who has yet to experience my sense of humor and outlook on life. They don’t know what they are missing, am I right?

Ways to listen to podcasts

1. You can directly listen from iTunes by clicking on the episode of your choice. It can play in the background on your computer while you work.
2. Most people use one of a variety of podcast listening apps (players) so that you can search, download and subscribe to episodes and have them ready to enjoy while you are on the go.
   1. The “Podcasts” App (purple desktop icon) comes preloaded on all iPhones and Mac computers. I use this…cuz it was already there!
   2. Overcast is the App my Podcast Professional daughter uses because it allows her to speed up the rate of the podcast so she can power through more! Millennials are always on the move.
   3. Searching in the App store, I am finding many apps you can use to play and listen to podcasts, so find your favorite. Some Android phones come with a preloaded podcast player as well.

Subscribing after successful podcast downloads

1. Sooo, now that I am almost done with this post, my daughter just taught me something new. (Not that hard on this topic though)
2. You can listen to podcasts using the player of your choice, without downloading. In this situation, you will need access to WiFi or use phone data.
3. I have always listened to podcasts at home or work where I have WiFi. Recently, I decided to be cool and listen while driving to work, I hopped in my car and finished my episode. THEN, when I went to listen to another episode, it did not work. I promptly told my daughter my podcast player was broken. I am grateful she has learned patience with me.
4. If you are going to be in an area where you have no WiFi (The CAR, an airplane, working out, shopping, doing chores etc),  it will be a good idea to download the episode so it is on your phone and ready for you to listen to whenever you want. No internet or data use is needed. (Ohh, that’s what was wrong with my podcast player!)
5. Each podcast episode has an option to click and listen or to “GET” …which means download and have it ready to listen later.
6. Once you have a favorite podcast like DrMommaSays will be, go ahead and subscribe. Subscribing to a podcast is free and convenient because all new episodes will be sent directly to your phone app.  Now you do not need to remember the steps I listed above and you can avoid having to search for new episodes each time they come out.

Whew! This concludes my attempt to bring inexperienced podcast users up to speed. For those of you out there who are experts, please feel free to message me or comment with suggestions that might be helpful. I can update the post to make it more clear and user-friendly.

As always, much love for supporting my work. I will be adding many more posts to highlight parenting and healthcare tips, so be sure to consider subscribing to my podcast or to my blog to avoid missing a post!

Enjoy Dr. Burton’s skin care secrets with Kiehl’s products!