Podcasts - Why Baby Boomers and Others Should Care - Career Pivot

Podcasts - Why Baby Boomers and Others Should Care - Career Pivot Podcasts I am addicted to podcasts. Well, maybe that is bit strong, but podcasts and audiobooks have become my preferred method ofconsuming information. This is the first post in a three-part series on podcasting. This post is about the history of podcasting and why it hasexploded in the last couple of years. The second post will be about the podcasts I listen to and why. In this post, Iwill also discuss the podcasts wherein I have been interviewed. A few of these might surprise you! The third post will be about the Repurpose Your Career podcast that I plan tolaunch in the fourth quarter of 2016. The podcast will help to support mylaunch of the 2nd edition of Repurpose Your Career â€" A Practical Guide for the 2nd Half of Life. What Are Podcasts? Podcasts are just like the music you listen to on your computer, smartphone, or any mp3/audio player (think iPodâ€"if you still have one!). These are audio files that stream directlyto your device. You will find a plethoraof available podcasts on Apple iTunes,onalternative podcatchers like Stitcher,or directly on your favorite podcaster’s website. I will use Roger Whitney’s Retirement Answer Man podcast as a good example. You can listen to Roger’s latest episodes on the RogerWhitney.com site in the podcast section. When you do this, there is no need for a smartphone or any other device. You can listen to the podcast directly from your computer.By the way, I am a big fan of Roger’s podcast and I have beenincluded inhis podcast three times. Podcasts are produced by radio stations for various showsâ€"likeNPR where their programs are released as podcasts, by corporations likeFidelity Investments, by small businesses like Roger’s Retirement Answer Man, or by individuals like Ryan Rhoten’s Brand New You Show. Anyone can create and publish a podcast. If you would like to learn about how to create your own podcast, take a look atCliff Ravenscraft’s website Podcast Answer Man. History of Podcasting Podcasts originated in the 1990s, but they became relevant to the mass market with the introduction of portable audio players like the iPodin October 2001. Although I can’t find specific proof,I will make a bet that the termpodcastis derived from the iPod name. Please correct me if I am wrong. Together with iTunes, which is really just a directory to find podcasts, podcasting became mainstream around 2005. With the advent of the iPhone in 2007, the popularity of podcasting grew significantly. Listen to the most recent episode However, by 2012, the growth of podcasting slowed.Then came the next technology revolutionâ€"bluetooth integration in car audio systems. In 2016, most new car audio systems allowedyou to stream audio from any device within the vehicle that supports Bluetooth. Now you can take asmartphone into your car and make hands-free calls, but more interestingly,play podcasts and audiobooks. Why Should I Care? There are just 24 hours in a day.With work and other life responsibilities, thereis a finite amount of time to learn new things. Listening to podcasts is an easy way to consume new information anytime and almost anywhere. I listen to podcasts when I am: Driving â€" I listen to the radio less than ever before Walking â€" I now have a routine of getting up at 6 AM and walking to my favorite coffee shopâ€"all while listening to my favorite podcast Exercising â€" When I go to the YMCA and get on the elliptical trainer, I listen to podcasts I have accelerated my learning by listening to about a 10-15 hours of podcasts a week. That is 10-15 hours of learning that I have integratedinto my week without addingmore time. As a solo-entrepreneur, listening to podcasts has become a vital toolfor my business. If you want to stay relevant in this fast-pacedworld, listening to relevant podcasts or audiobooks on a daily basis will accelerate your learning. What’s Next? My next post will be about the podcasts I regularly listen to, as well as listing the podcasts I have appeared on. A few are a bit eclectic, but you have to remember the opening line in my LinkedIn Summary section: I have had an eclectic career, to say the least. Recently, I enrolled ina service that will bookme for interviews on relevant podcasts every month. Look for these interviews in the weekly Career Insights, which is sent to Career Pivot subscribers every week. Do you have sparked interest or curiosity? Are you ready to give it a try? Do you have Bluetooth audio in your car? Let me know if you use it. Do you listen to podcasts or audiobooks? Leave a comment below with your answers to any of these questions. Marc Miller Like what you just read? Share it with your friends using the buttons above. Like What You Read? Get Career Pivot Insights! Check out the Repurpose Your Career Podcast Do You Need Help With ...