No, that's not what a podcast is...
There are so many topics that lend themselves ideally to an audio podcast, - some fun like listening to talk about accomplishments that we still achieve, to new activities we’ve tried, to places we’ve visited, to new foods we’ve sampled, and to trips we’d like to plan. And many that present information essential to our well-being like COVID-19, Managing our Finances, Staying Healthy and Well, and Independent, Assisted Living and Memory Care.
We love hearing stories .
A podcast is a virtual place where you can meet for coffee or lunch with a friend. That’s the thing about podcasts, we can talk as much or as little as we want and about anything we wish. There are no time constraints, and there’s no limit to the number of podcasts we can listen to so we can share our experiences and spend some time together.
It turns out, also, that listening to podcasts can be good for your brain. In 2016, at UC Berkeley Communications Conference a talk was presented about the effects of storytelling.. As an example the speaker read a very, very short story attributed to Ernest Hemingway. “For Sale: Baby shoes, never worn.” Listening to a story stimulates the brain to release oxytocin, a chemical found when humans interact with one another that can reduce stress and anxiety. As a result, we become more empathetic and develop skills that help us cope in normal life. *
There are literally thousands of podcasts available. Recently there has been a lot of news about the most-downloaded podcast in the world - the Joe Rogan Experience. Other popular podcasts are The American Life, 70 over 70, Planet Money, and The Read.
The only problem is that our generation really doesn’t know what a podcast is and how to access one. And that’s the reason for this article.
The best way to learn what podcasts are all about is to listen to one (or more), most are free. Podcasts can best be listened to on a smartphone in one of several different ways.
(N.B. Images below are active links to podcasts.)
If you are an Apple device user, Apple makes it easy, a podcast app is included with iOS. Simply click on the podcast app ( a purple symbol with a microphone pictured). You will be presented with a number of choices of podcasts or if you know the name of the podcast you want to listen to , simply type it to the search box. When you find one you like, click the “Follow” button and it will be delivered to you, automatically when a new one is online.
If you are an Android user, go to the app store and download the free Google Podcast app and follow the same procedure as with Apple. When you find one you like, subscribe.
If you use Spotify, the free music app, once again type the name of the podcast in the search bar, find the ones you like and click the Follow button.
If you would like to watch as well as listen, you can always follow your favorite podcast on YouTube
But the podcast at Specifically for Seniors (www.sfstalk.com) makes it even easier for you. All our podcasts, both those available wherever you listen to podcasts and those on YouTube, are all listed on the web site.
However you listen/watch one of our podcasts we would appreciate it if you would FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE and rate the podcast so we know how to better serve your needs.
Rating a podcast is easy on our site, simply go to the Review link in the menu bar and let us know how we are doing.
That’s it, congratulations, you are a podcast user. Welcome to the 2022 version of storytelling.
But , as with everything else technologically, when all else fails - ask a grandchild for help. They’ll be proud of you.
Larry Barsh
Founder and Host of Specifically for Seniors, a podcast for the “Remember when…” generation
www.SpecificallyforSeniors.com
- Jeremy Adam Smith, The science of the story, The Berkeley Blog. (https://news.berkeley.edu/berkeley_blog/the-science-of-the-story/)
