After ten years, podcasting is finding new and bigger audiences.

A podcast is an audio program available on the internet. Often, video broadcast programs also post the audio portion of the program on the internet. For my purpose, if it’s available via the internet, it’s a podcast. It’s “streamed” radio… think of audio Netflix.

I’ve been listening to podcasts for 603 days…3,774 hours and 47 minutes as of right now. That’s a number from Stitcher.com.

Stream the latest in news, sports, talk, and entertainment radio anywhere, on demand. Stitcher is the easiest way to discover the best of over 40,000+ radio shows, live radio stations and podcasts.

There are other streaming audio sources, “podcatchers” as they are known. Maybe some are better. I can’t remember why I chose Stitcher, but since I’ve got all my playlists there and it’s working (with a glitch or two) I’ll keep it.

You may have heard about podcasting because of two events. Serial and WTF with Marc Maron.

BTW, you can listen to podcasts from any computer, but unless you’re willing to sit front of your computer, you will probably want to use your smart phone so that you can be mobile. Stitcher allows the program to be downloaded to listen to if you’re out of wi-fi range.

Of course, since podcasts are not restricted by government rules and regulations, you will hear foul language. If that bothers you, stick with main stream media podcasts such as NPR or PRI, at least if they have adult language, they will warn you in advance. The frequency of updates for podcasts are all over the calendar from daily to once-in-a-while.

Here’s my list of podcasts that are worth taking a listen to: Of course they reflect my interests. Yours will certainly be different, do some searching…

Here is my “favorites” playlist:

• MSNBC Morning Joe – audio portion of the Monday – Friday television program
• No Agenda – Adam Curry, former MTV VJ, John C. Dvorak, a tech guy have the ultimate conspiracy theory podcast. They “deconstruct” news of the week twice a week in an intelligent and entertaining way.
• Here’s The Thing – occasional WNYC produced interviews done by Alec Baldwin.
• Dinner Party Download – Two guys chatting about pop culture weekly.
• This Morning with Gordon Deal – Traditional daily news podcast.
• MSNBC Rachel Maddow Show – audio part of the Monday – Friday television program.
• Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me – weekly NPR news quiz with a rotating panel of humorists.
• Freakonomics – Two University of Chicago economists discuss unusual but topical theories and how economists would view or react.
• Ask Me Another – another weekly news quiz.
• This American Life – Ira Glass and his staff finds interesting stories and investigate and develop them in a fascinating way. Serial is produced by This American Life.

In a category by itself, because it is a podcast of a radio show on the radio is the Dan Patrick Show. It’s not on my “favorites” list – even though we fall asleep to the program every night because it is sports oriented. I’ll deal with that in another post.

Enjoy. Let me know if you find a podcast you like from my list – or have another to recommend.