Podcast

AllPodcasts - searchable podcast index.
Audblog - post audio to the blogs from a phone.
Audioblog.com - podcast, audioblog and videoblog creation tool.
Audioblogger - audio posts from any phone to your Blogger blog
BBC Podcasts
Contentious - women in podcasting
Corante - Podcasting - news and events related to podcasting.
Digital Podcast - directory of podcasts and audio blogs
GigaDial.net - collection of stations
iPodder.org - podcast directory

Lextext.com - how to podcast RIAA music under license
LibSyn Podcasting Directory - a users list
Lucas Gonze - describes factors impacting the current state of podcasting
Pocketcasting.com - podcast directory, categorized collection of podcasts
Pod Safe Audio - ranks independent music
Podcast411 - podcast directory and information
Podcast Bunker - directory podcasts and a podcast quick guide
PodcastAlley.com - podcast feeds, definitions, software and directory.

PodcastDirectory.com - podcast collection.
Podcasting News - podcasting information, podcast directory, puser forum.
PodFeeder - collection of sites offering podcasts.
PodTower.com - categorized podcasts.
Stanford on Itunes - faculty lectures, interviews, music and sports.
The GodCast Network - christian and other family-friendly audio content in MP3 format.
Techpodcasts.com - hybrid podcast directory

What is Podcasting ?

"Podcasting is the automatic distribution of mp3s via RSS/XML files."

That's a good enough definition to start. Techno-fanatics can say "but it is other things, but it is this, or that, and you don't need that" but we all know those type of people really need help so let's ignore the extremes and start with the basics.

Ok, so let's break that down into 3 distinct parts:

Automatic Distribution
MP3s
RSS/XML

Podcasting is the automatic distribution...

Listeners of podcasts use a wide variety of podcast software to download their favorite podcasts automatically from podcaster's websites. One of the more popular podcast programs is Apple's iTunes--and let's dispense a few myths while we are here. 1) You don't need an ipod to listen to podcasts, or to use Apple's free iTunes, 2) You don't need a Macintosh to use iTunes, and 3) it's a free download. Because of the immense user base and technical support, if you are just getting started with podcasts, we recommend using iTunes to get a 'flavor' of what can be done and then consider some other software solutions if you want to do some more advanced work.

Basically, these types of programs 'ask' the podcasters dozens, hundreds, or thousands of times a day 'Do you have a new show ready yet?' If their computer says 'No' (via the RSS/XML file which we will discuss in a minute) than your podcast progam says 'Ok, but I'll be back later to check again.' This goes on hundreds of thousands of times a day--little requests between computers that do not even require your attention. It just happens, until their computer comes back and says "Why yes, we do have a new podcast show ready. Here you go". Your computer downloads the program (again, without you looking) and the next time you get back to your computer from lunch, a nap, or a boring meeting with the boss, there is the new MP3 ready for you to listen.

...Mp3s...

Mp3 files are digital recordings, compressed down into relatively small files (approximately 1 megabyte per minute of audio). I mean, honestly, you probably know what an mp3 is. But what podcasters do is create an mp3 with their own voice, content, music, sounds, whatever, and then release it to the general public. If you are an aspiring podcaster, I'd recommend any number of MP3 creation programs (Amadeus for the Mac, Garageband for the Mac, and a bunch of others for the windows world).

However, if you think you are just going to 'rip' your CDs into mp3s and play popular music on your podcast, let me warn you now, the record companies will find you, and they will kill you. Well, maybe not kill you, but you will have a pack of uptight lawyers on you very, very quickly.

...via RSS/XML files...

This is really the "key" to a podcast. It's the file that the automatic podcast software (iTunes) looks for each day. At first glance, an RSS file is really scary. It has all sorts of tags (far more than an HTML web page) and some make no sense. But let me tell you a secret--it's easy. Just cut and paste from an XML file of some other podcaster and place in your own details. You can create an RSS/XML file in minutes using a Text Editor or Microsoft Word. It doesn't really take that much.

Can I be a podcaster without an XML? Ummm...no. Ok, just no. I mean, you can put mp3s on your website, but you are REALLY missing the boat if you don't have the RSS/XML file behind it. In fact, many in the podcasting community refuse to call anyone without an RSS/XML a podcaster.

5 steps basics of podcasting by Ashish Thakkar

Step1 - Understand podcast/podcasting :
A podcast is basically an audio file that is stored on the Internet that people can download to their computers , IPODS and MP3 players and listen to whenever and wherever they want to. Think of a podcast as a way to deliver any audio content to a large audience worldwide.

Step 2 - Podcast recording :
You have to get your message recorded using a mic. It is called podcast recording.You can either use your own voice or use a software like Jvw Podcast creator to use text to voice conversion for your podcasts. You can use articles, ebooks, lyrics, poems, white papers, tutorials, press releases, emails, business letters and more.

Step 3 - Create RSS feed for podcast :
You can create a simple Rss feed for your podcast with Enclosure url using a text editing software or use a podcast recording software. Make sure you make the feed itunes compatible. A simple Enclosure tag for podcast would look like this :<br /> <br /> <enclosure url="http://www.jvwinc.com/first-podcast.wav" length="433296″ type="audio/wav" />

Step 4 - Validate your podcast
After you create a podcast , it is necessary that you validate your podcast feed to make sure there are no errors in it and that it is Rss specific and itunes compatible. You can use http://feedvalidator.org to check out rss feeds or search for more options on Google : http://www.google.co.in/search?hl=en&q=podcast+validator&meta= for Podcast validators.

Step 5- Submit your podcast
Make sure you popularize your podcast. Submit your podcast to directories and podcasting specific websites after you have created and validated the feeds. You can search for them at google : http://www.google.co.in/search?hl=en&q=submit+podcast&meta=

Ashish Thakkar is a web consultant and the head of search engine optimization india division at Mumbai. He provides Search engine optimization training to top execs.