Podcasts & Radio on iPhone

What Exactly Is A Podcast?

The word sounds modern and a little odd, but the idea is simple and familiar. A podcast is just a talk or story show you can listen to any time you like.

There is a show for nearly every interest under the sun. Many people listen while cooking, gardening, driving, or resting — it is company and learning rolled into one, and it costs nothing.

• It is like a radio program — interviews, stories, news, history, hobbies, comedy, faith, you name it.
• The difference is you do not have to catch it at a set time. You listen whenever suits you.
• Most podcasts are completely free to listen to.
• A show usually has many episodes — think of them as the individual programs in a series.

The Podcasts App, Up Close

Apple gives you a free Podcasts app right on the phone. It looks busy at first, but it has only a few main areas, all lined up along the bottom of the screen.

Look for a purple square with a small figure and sound rings, labeled Podcasts. If you cannot spot it, swipe down on the middle of the Home Screen and type 'podcasts' to find it.

• Home: shows and episodes suggested for you.
• Browse: popular and new shows to discover by topic.
• Library: the shows you follow and episodes you have saved.
• Search: the magnifying glass, for finding any show or topic.

Searching For A Show Or Topic

The quickest way to find something good is Search. You can look up a show by name, or simply type a subject you enjoy and see what comes up.

That is perfectly fine. Try a hobby, a place, a decade, or a person you admire. The Browse button also groups shows by subject, which is a lovely way to stumble onto something new. Page 16 lists a few friendly categories to start with.

• Tap Search (the magnifying glass) at the bottom.
• Tap the search box and type a show name, or a topic like 'gardening' or 'history.'
• Tap Search on the keyboard.
• Tap a result to open the show and see its list of episodes.

Playing An Episode

Once you have found a show, playing an episode is a single tap. The controls are simple and forgiving — nothing you press here can cause any harm.

If you stop partway through, the app remembers exactly where you were. Come back tomorrow, tap the same episode, and it carries on from the very spot you paused. No need to hunt for your place.

• Tap a show to see its episodes, newest at the top.
• Tap the round play button beside an episode to start it.
• Tap the bar at the bottom of the screen to open the big player.
• Tap pause to stop, and the same button to start again where you left off.

Following A Show So New Episodes Arrive

When you find a show you love, you can 'follow' it. From then on, each new episode turns up on its own — no searching required. This used to be called 'subscribing,' but it is still free.

Despite the old word 'subscribe,' following a podcast is free. You are simply telling the app 'keep me posted on this one.' You can follow as many shows as you like without paying a penny.

• Open a show you enjoy by tapping its name.
• Tap the Follow button (sometimes a plus sign).
• New episodes now appear automatically under Library.

Playback Speed And Skip Buttons

The big player has a couple of handy controls that many folks come to love — one for jumping over a bit, and one for slowing a fast talker down.

• Two curved arrows with numbers sit beside play — usually 15 and 30.
• Tap the backward arrow to jump back a few seconds and hear something again.
• Tap the forward arrow to skip ahead — useful for hopping past an advertisement.

Drifting Off With A Sleep Timer

A podcast is a soothing way to fall asleep, and the app can turn itself off after a while so it does not play all night. This is called a sleep timer.

The podcast plays quietly until the timer runs out, then stops on its own. You can drift off in peace, knowing it will not keep going or drain the battery through the night.

• Start an episode and tap the bar at the bottom to open the player.
• Tap the three dots (the More button) on the player.
• Choose Sleep Timer.
• Pick a length, such as 15 minutes or 30 minutes, or 'End of Episode.'

Downloading Episodes For Offline Listening

Normally an episode plays over the internet as you listen. If you will be somewhere without a signal — a long drive, an airplane — you can download episodes ahead of time to play with no connection at all.

Downloaded episodes use a little storage space, but you can remove them once you have listened. Many folks download a few shows the night before a trip so they are ready for the road or the sky.

• Find the episode you want to take with you.
• Tap the three dots beside it, or the small download icon.
• Choose Download Episode — a small cloud with a downward arrow.
• When it finishes, the episode lives on your phone and plays even with no internet.

Listening In The Car

A podcast turns a dull drive into good company. Depending on your car, there are two easy ways to hear your phone's shows through the car speakers.

• Plug your phone into the car with its cable, or connect wirelessly if your car allows.
• The car screen shows large, simple icons — tap Podcasts there.
• Play, pause, and skip right from the car's screen, or just ask Siri.

Listening On A Speaker

A show sounds warmer filling the room than through the phone's little speaker. Your phone can send its sound to a wireless speaker so you can listen comfortably from across the kitchen.

• Start an episode and open the big player.
• Tap the AirPlay icon — a triangle with rings around it.
• Choose your speaker from the list, and the sound moves to it.

Old-Time Radio And Audio Drama

If you remember gathering by the radio for a mystery or a comedy, you are in for a treat. Many of those classic programs live on as podcasts, alongside brand-new audio dramas made the same way.

There are also modern audio dramas — full stories with actors, music, and sound effects, no pictures needed. Search 'audio drama' or 'fiction podcast' to find them. They are marvelous for resting your eyes while your imagination does the rest.

• In Search, try 'old time radio,' 'classic radio,' or the name of a show you loved.
• Look for collections of vintage mysteries, westerns, comedies, and variety programs.
• Many are free and run episode after episode, just as they did on the air.

Live Radio And Local Stations

Podcasts are shows you play any time. But if you would rather hear a real, live radio station — your hometown news, a ballgame, your favorite music station — a couple of free apps do exactly that.

Open the App Store (a blue icon with a white 'A'), tap Search, type 'TuneIn' or 'iHeartRadio,' and tap Get to install it. Then open the app and search for a station by name, city, or kind of music.

• TuneIn Radio: plays thousands of live stations from around the world and close to home.
• iHeartRadio: carries many popular stations plus its own live and on-demand shows.
• Both are free to use, with occasional advertisements, just like the radio itself.

Quick News Briefings

If you like to catch up on the day's headlines, many news organizations offer short daily podcasts — often just five to fifteen minutes. A tidy way to stay informed over your morning coffee.

You can also simply say 'Hey Siri, play the news.' Siri will start a news briefing for you — a hands-free way to hear the headlines while you make breakfast.

• In Search, type 'daily news,' 'morning briefing,' or the name of a news source you already trust.
• Look for shows updated every weekday, with short episodes.
• Follow the one you like (page 7) so each morning's briefing arrives on its own.

Friendly Shows To Try

A blank search box can be daunting, so here are some pleasant categories to type in. There is no wrong choice — try one, and if it is not for you, try another.

Play just the first few minutes of an episode. If it grabs you, tap Follow. If not, move on — nothing is spent and nothing is lost. Sampling is half the fun.

• History: the past told like a good yarn — wars, inventions, everyday life long ago.
• Storytelling: real-life stories and interviews, often surprisingly moving.
• Faith and inspiration: daily devotionals, sermons, and encouraging talks.
• Health and gardening: gentle advice for the body and the yard.
• Comedy and old radio: a good laugh, and the classics from page 13.
• Hobbies: whatever you love — fishing, cooking, trains, quilting, birds.

Avoiding Shady 'Free Premium' Apps

This is the most important page in the guide. Because podcasts are already free, any app promising 'free premium' shows or 'unlimited downloads' is offering you something that does not exist. Please steer clear.

These apps often fill your phone with advertisements, quietly sign you up for charges, or try to steal your details. The real Podcasts app already gives you nearly everything for free — so there is nothing these junk apps can honestly offer.

• Apps named things like 'Premium Podcasts Free' or 'Unlimited Podcast Downloader.'
• Promises to unlock 'paid' or 'premium' shows for nothing.
• Pop-up ads shouting that you have won a prize or that your phone has a virus.
• Requests for a credit card or a password to unlock 'free' content.

A Few Handy Extras

Once the basics feel comfortable, these small extras make listening even more enjoyable. Try them when you are ready — no rush.

• Save an episode for later: tap the three dots beside an episode and choose Save Episode, and find it later under Library.
• Control from the lock screen: even with the phone locked, you can play, pause, and skip right on the screen.
• Ask Siri: say 'Hey Siri, play the latest episode of' and a show name, and it just starts.
• Adjust the volume: use the buttons on the left edge of the phone, or say 'Hey Siri, turn it down.'

When Something Sounds Off

Now and then a show will not play or the sound goes quiet. Nearly always it is something small and easy to put right. Here are the first things to check.

• Check the volume with the buttons on the left edge of the phone.
• Check the little switch above them is not set to silent (you would see orange).
• If you paired to a car or speaker earlier, the sound may be going there — check the AirPlay control.

Putting It All Together

You now know enough to fill your days with good listening. Here is a simple way to bring it all together into an easy habit.

After that, it is simply part of your day — a story with your morning coffee, a briefing over breakfast, or company for a quiet evening.

• Day one: open Podcasts, search a topic you enjoy, and play an episode.
• Day two: follow one show so new episodes arrive on their own.
• Day three: try the skip and speed buttons on the player.
• Day four: download an episode for a drive, then listen in the car.
• Day five: try a live station in TuneIn, or a short news briefing.

What's in the 27-page PDF

• Pages 3-6: What a podcast is, the Podcasts app, searching, and playing an episode
• Pages 7-9: Following a show, playback speed and skip buttons, and the sleep timer
• Pages 10-12: Downloading for offline, and listening in the car and on speakers
• Pages 13-15: Old-time radio and audio drama, live and local stations, and news briefings
• Pages 16-20: Shows to try, avoiding scam apps, handy extras, troubleshooting, then the cheat sheet and word list

Why I wrote this

I write these as printable handouts because a guide you can keep in a drawer beats a web page you have to find again. No jargon, no judgment, no rushing. If you'd rather have someone sit beside you and go through it together, that's a flat $99 first visit with the 30-day follow-up included — serving Portage County from Atwater, Ohio. — Bill