The Wonderful World of Podcasts
Podcasts are serial audio programs on a vast range of topics that you can subscribe to and listen at your leisure. While you can listen to them on a browser, there are podcasts players that provide more bells and whistles for your mobile device. What podcasts cover practice management topics? What if you want to go from listening to starting your own podcast? Podcasts are a major source of information for lawyers and can also be used to market yourself or your practice.
Back in the Golden Age of Radio families gathered around the radio in the evening to listen to the next installment of the Lone Ranger or Little Orphan Annie. Or at least that is how the scene is depicted in the movie A Christmas Story. People listened to the radio for news and entertainment, and the precursors to televised broadcasts were radio plays, adventure serials, variety hours and situation comedies. Radio had an enormous impact on the way people consumed information, as well as entertainment.
Radio has changed, but is still a dominant form of news, music, sports, and discussion and reaches 54% of the country’s population daily. Broadcasters strive for the “driveway moment” – when a story is so compelling that rather than leave the car radio a person will sit parked at home, listening to the last word. Today broadcasters still want to deliver the driveway moment, though the listener can control when and where that happens.
The Internet changed the way people consume radio. Internet radio became a new broadcast medium, passing through different airwaves and listened to in diverse ways. Traditional broadcasters began offering listeners options – traditional radio broadcast or websites that let users stream the station or access recorded programs on demand. Then came podcasts.
What is a Podcast?
Podcasts are recorded audio files, played at the listeners’ convenience on any number of portable devices, delivered in serial format, with the listener subscribing to get the next update. Why is it called a podcast? The word combined “iPod” and “broadcast”. However, the content can be accessed using any computer or device that can play media files. The use of the term “podcast” predates iTunes as a delivery mechanism for the files.
What Do You Need to Listen to a Podcast?
To listen to a podcast you need a device, such as an iPhone, Android phone, iPad Touch, iPad, laptop, or desktop. The device will need to be able to access the Internet, either wirelessly or through a cable. Podcasts are audio file so you will need a way to play them. Most computers have built in audio players and on practically any device you can listen to podcasts through iTunes or Google Play Music via a web browser. Since many people like to listen on the go the ultra-portable devices, such as smart phones, are the usual choice. Your phone or tablet may already have a podcast app installed. iPhone/iPad users can use the Apple Podcasts app and Android users can use Google Podcasts. If you want a more sophisticated podcast app that tracks new episodes and shows what you haven’t listened to plus organizational tools like playlists then look at apps like Stitcher, Spotify Premium, Pocket Casts or Overcast (iOS only). There are lots of options, though to get ad-free listening you may have to upgrade to a premium app. As always, read the reviews in the app store before you download.
Where Can You Find Podcasts?
Podcasts have become such a part of popular culture that The New Yorker is reviewing their favorites as a “thriving art form”. Combining journalism, oral history and storytelling, podcasts are a mature medium with high quality, compelling content covering practically every topic. Some podcasts that became so engrained in popular culture, such as Serial and S-Town (both from the creators of This American Life, which has a podcast of course), that you’ve probably heard of them even if you’ve never listened to a podcast. While you can discover podcasts to listen to via Google Podcasts, iTunes, and Spotify, curated lists are available from The Atlantic and The New York Times. Or discover them through iHeartRadio or SoundCloud. Many podcasts also have their own supporting websites. As noted, podcasts are available episodically so you want to be able to listen to the next installment when it comes out, which means you will need to subscribe or check for updates.
Are There Legal Podcasts?
There are many podcasts that investigate and discuss legal issues, politics of the day and other topics particularly germane to lawyers, there is a podcast network called The Legal Talk Network that primarily covers law practice management topics. This network is the new form of radio station. Host to over 35 legal podcasts, many of which predate the Legal Talk Network, topics range from technology to legal news of the day to in-house lawyer issues to marketing tips. There are substantive law podcasts covering workers comp, insurance law and structured settlements. The Lawyerist has a “best of” list of legal podcasts and Clio has a list of “best legal podcasts for improving your firm” (don’t miss Daily Matters, the podcast from Clio’s own Jack Newton). There are thousands of podcasts. Check your professional associations, favorite legal news outlet, or just do a search to find great law practice management and legal podcasts. For the Mac and iOS lawyers don’t miss Brett Burney’s Apps in Law podcast
I Want to Make My Own
If you think that making a podcast would be a great marketing tool for your firm or practice – it would! There are some DIY methods, but for maximum exposure and distribution you may want to work with a professional team to help with editing, producing, hosting, distribution, and promotion.
Like a blog or a YouTube series, a successful law firm podcast is challenging work. You will need to come up with a compelling theme, based on the audience you wish to attract. Then you will need to prepare the content and record the show. You will need to have equipment capable of recording high quality audio. If you plan to have guests, you will need a way to add them to the mix. You will need editing software, such as Audacity or Garageband, and the technical know-how to use it. Then you will need to have the episodes hosted on a platform, syndicated, and distributed. You probably want a landing page or website to promote the podcast. You will also want to get analytics to see which episodes are performing well.
If that sounds like it is outside your comfort zone from a technical perspective, but you have the ideas and content for a great podcast, there are companies like North Carolina based LawPods that can handle the heavy lifting.
Alternatively, you can test the podcast waters and get some exposure by contacting popular legal podcast hosts and offering to be a guest. Podcasts hosts are a friendly bunch, and they are always looking for great ideas for upcoming episodes so reach out and see if your ideas and expertise would be of interest.
Conclusion
Podcasts are a wonderful way to consume information that is timely and entertaining. You can listen while driving, jogging, during down time, while traveling, or any time you need a break. Podcasts continue to grow in popularity, with 57% of US consumers tuning in during 2021, up from 55% in the previous year and more than doubling over the last decade. Don’t forget to share great podcasts and episodes with colleagues and clients. You can send a link or share directly from a podcast player. With so many options to listen and learn – and possibly even contribute – dive into podcasts, and explore the possibilities.