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Looks like Podcasting is taking over now.

I've been listening to Podcasts for about 1 year now and it pretty cool. I found this link during the Iraq invasion where Adam Curry was with the Troops of Holland. I wanted to see if it was the same Adam Curry from MTV days. Yes it was but more importantly he was doing this new type of blogging. Instead of writing about things, he was recording it in an MP3. But it was not yet called a podcast. I was not until several months later that a Podcast was created.

Adam Curry is known as the father of the PodCast.

What is a Podcast?

Well it's nothing new really. Its a recorded show from anyone that is stored in an MP3 format. So what makes it so special? The technology that gets you the podcast.

There are several programs now, but the one I use is call iPodderX. The program uses an RSS feed to subscribe to a podcast. When a new podcast is available, the podcast (mp3) is automatically downloaded into iTunes for you to listen to.

So why is it called Podcast?

Well the name comes from Adam Curry (Yes the headbanger DJ or the 80's on MTV). He came up with the idea and created (some debate he actually wrote any of the code) the first iPodder program. To be honest it was nothing to brag about, but it did the job. Since then its been updated by a group of developers.

The idea was to download these mp3 shows into iTunes and then the next time you automatically synced to your iPod, you would have the mp3 available for you to listen. Hence the name PodCast!

Do I need an iPod to listen to Podcasts?
Nope! In fact I rarely listen to the shows with my iPod. I listen to it while I am working on my G5 with iTunes.

Where can I get iPodderX?

You can get the program here at the iPodderX download page


How do I find Podcasts?
Go do podshow.com

It's broken down into categories so you can pick and choose what kind of content you may want to listen to.


Who creates Podcasts?
Anyone can create a podcast. If you have a computer with a recording program and a mic, you can create your own podcast.After you record your show, you need to add it to an RSS feed that anyone with a program like iPodderX can then subscribe to the podcast.

Everyday folks are creating their own shows (Right now thats majority of the podcasts). However your seeing more and more professional shows being ported to podcasts.

Leo LaPorte from the old TechTV show the Screen Savers has his own podcast. (several now). A good one is from his radio program each Saturday on KFI 640 (LA's largest talk radio show) Recently the old screen savers guys have gotten back together to do a regularPodcast!

Even the new TV show Battlestar Galactica has its own Podcast each week from the writer/producer of the show.

UPDATE: Phil does point out that Dave Winer claims that he invented podcast. Yes I believe Dave had something to do with it but he never ran with the idea or had the passion for it.

I do believe that it was Adam's idea to take the mp3 file, have it available to subscribe to with an RSS feed, and then an application running on your computer automatically add it to iTunes and finally on your iPod. Hence the term podcast.

To this end I am still saying the Adam did invent podcasting because podcasting its the whole idea, not just the recording of an mp3 and posting it on your blog. I can guarantee you that if it were not for Adam there would be no podcasting today!