Hobbies are ways to pass your time doing something that satisfies and entertains you. Listening to songs, drawing, gaming, etc. are some of the examples of hobbies. Gone are the days when people used to listen to the radio to get entertained and informed about world affairs. However, due to the increased popularity of TV and streaming platforms, the acceptability of radio decreased. Nonetheless, in recent years we have seen a surge in podcast listeners, which can be termed as an upgraded version of the radio.
Well, for a better understanding of podcasts, let’s explore it further.
What is Podcast?
A podcast is audio content digitally available to listen to and download using a podcast hosting service provider. Most podcasts are discussions between the host, an imminent personality, or someone who knows a specific field. On the other hand, in some podcasts experts share their opinions about a certain topic.
You can listen to podcasts online using apps like Google Podcasts, Overcast, Podcast Addict and Spotify. Apart from these apps, you can also listen to podcasts using your web browser. Some of the famous podcast websites are SoundCloud, Transistor, and Podbean.
Listening to podcasts has several advantages which we are going to discuss later in this blog.
Recommended read- Gardening As A Hobby For Teenagers
Types of Podcasts to Listen to
There are plenty of podcasts available on the internet. Some podcasts are broadcast daily however, most of them are posted weekly or monthly.
If you wish to know which podcasts to listen to, then you must choose your interest. Well, for this purpose, download a podcast app. These apps let you choose the topics of your interests, and then you get recommendations.
Moreover, you can search the web for top podcasts in your category of interest. For example, if you want to learn about technology, then search for it on the web, and you get recommendations.
Top Podcasts
Now we know, what podcast is and the types of podcasts that you can listen to, let’s explore some of the well-known podcasts in different categories:
Comedy- In a comedy podcast, the host tries to make you laugh through jokes, stories, or humorous conversations. It is one of the most popular podcast genres as comedy podcasts come in different forms, it is integrated with other genres to make that more interesting.
- Best comedy podcasts- Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, Comedy Bang! Bang! WTF with Marc Maron, and SmartLess.
Technology- This genre became quite popular in the recent past due to an upsurge in people’s curiosity to learn about tech and gadgets. Shows like Best Tech, Hard Fork, Pivot, Accidental Tech Podcast, etc. have become quite popular.
Podcasts of this genre consist of discussions on prevailing tech topics and address the relevant topics. These podcasts educate the masses about technology, its uses, advantages and disadvantages.
Storytelling- Storytelling podcasts are famous among the listeners who enjoy listening to stories and engrossing themselves completely in them. The story may be told in episodes or a single podcast. Some of the most popular storytelling podcasts are This American Life, Selected Shorts, Serial, etc.
Sport- If you like sports and want to know regular updates, debates, and discussions on your favourite sports, then you can try listening to sports podcasts. However, most sports talk about any particular sport, but some podcasts discuss every major sport. Some of the well-known podcasts in this category include ESPN Daily, The Lowe Post, The Bill Simmons Podcast, etc.
News podcasts- These podcasts keep you updated with the latest news, current events and happenings around the world. Moreover, you get to know the critical opinions on various burning issues.
- Best news podcasts- Today in Focus, The Daily, 3 Things, BBC Headlines, etc.
Health and Fitness- A health and fitness freak who wants to learn about these topics can opt for this genre. Health and Fitness podcasts discuss a range of topics related to your health and discuss ways to align with your fitness goals. Famous podcasts like Bulletproof Radio, The Doctor’s Farmacy with Mark Hyman, and Ten Percent Happier with Dan Harris discuss all such topics.
Investigative journalism- It is a branch of journalism in which a journalist investigates deep into a topic and brings factual information to the fore. This genre is mostly concerned with crimes, scams, corruption, etc. All such people who take a deep interest in knowing the facts behind a famous scam, crime or corruption can listen to this genre.
Famous investigative journalism podcasts- Harsh Reality, WeCrashed, The Trojan Horse Affair, etc.
Politics- In this genre, the speaker focuses on the political situation of a particular place, state, country or region. In such podcasts, the speaker discusses the political situation with an expert, asks for his opinion and discusses other related things.
Suggested political podcasts- The Rachel Maddow Show, Left, Right & Center, In Focus, etc.
Self-help- Working on improvement is good for us, it provides us with a way to create a better version of ourselves. If you are interested in self-help to improve yourself, then this genre is for you. Self-help podcasts talk about ways to make habits, mental health, wellness and ways to overcome hurdles.
Top Self-help blogs- The Habit Coach with Ashdin Doctor, Love Life with Matthew Hussey, On Purpose, etc.
Advantages of Listening to Podcasts
There are a lot of benefits to listening to podcasts and making it a habit. Some of them include:
- Free knowledge
Most of the podcasts are free but some of them contain promotional content or ads. These free-to-listen audios are quite beneficial for you if you wish to learn something new, develop analytical skills and grow knowledge.
- Improved listening skill
The best thing about podcasts is that they are audio-based therefore, when you actively listen to them, your listening skills improve. When you have good listening skills, then you understand things better. - Improved mental health
Listening to podcasts has proven to be beneficial for your mental health as you gain knowledge, develop skills, and do something productive. They help reduce stress and anxiety, promoting your mental well-being. - Reduced screen time
Podcasts are audio-based, therefore when you listen to them, your screen time decreases. Therefore, they help create healthy habits of mindful usage of tech and gadgets.
- Improved focus and attention
When you listen to podcasts, you pay keen attention to them; most people listen to podcasts while travelling or in bed, therefore, they aid you in improving your focus span and attention.
Suggested blog- Building Your Terrarium Jar: A Green and Stylish Hobby
Conclusion
Listening to podcasts can be a great hobby to develop in 2024 as it has a lot of benefits like improved mental health, focus span, reduced screen time, etc. Moreover, they help you learn new things, stay aware of your surroundings and develop analytical skills. There are plenty of podcast genres available on the internet, you need to choose those genres that you are interested in. Listen to them daily to make them a habit.
Shreya Bhatt