A brief intro to podcasts for seniors
If you’re bored of regular radio and TV, there’s a world of engaging content waiting for you online in the form of podcasts.
What is a podcast?
Podcasts are essentially pre-recorded audio shows that are available to listen to on the internet. Most of them last between 30 and 60 minutes, and cover everything from news and entertainment to politics, history, health, business and sports.
How do you listen to them?
The easiest way to access them is on your smartphone. If you’re an iPhone user, use the Apple Podcast app and browse by category (Education, News, Comedy, Society & Culture, Arts and Business) or explore tabs like Featured, New & Noteworthy and Top Shows. If you have an Android phone, you can listen to podcasts on Google Play Music – you won’t need a subscription.
Why do we love them?
Podcasts are an excellent way to stay in touch with what’s happening globally. They also offer an opportunity to learn about new, interesting topics – some of which you might never have considered before. But the real beauty of these audio shows is that they can be listened to on-the-go, meaning you can enjoy them while gardening, going for a walk or having a cup of tea on the patio – all you need is a good WiFi connection and decent Bluetooth speaker or headphones.
Here are five of our favourites to get you started:
Don’t Shoot the Messenger – If you’re a fan of quality journalism and appreciate independent analysis of the news, this weekly show by South Africa’s Daily Maverick’s weekly is a must.
Feel Better, Live More – Dr Rangan Chatterjee is a British doctor whose holistic approach to health and wellness we appreciate. While he doesn’t specifically target seniors, much of his content is relevant. We especially like his 15 minute-long bitesize episodes which feature highlights from longer interviews he’s done before.
No Such Thing As A Fish – This award-winning podcast from the QI offices sees the writers of the hit BBC show discuss the best things they’ve found out this week. It’s witty and wonderful!
TED Radio Hour – If you’re a fan of TED Talks, you’ve love this 60 minute show which investigates big questions with big thinkers. Topics include: where creativity comes from, the secret to living longer and what it’s like to be human.
History Unplugged – Fascinated by the past? Then tune into this podcast to hear in-depth explorations of significant events and periods in time. Stuff You Missed In History Class is another goodie…
Guided Meditations – Headed up by Tara Brach, PhD, an internationally known meditation teacher and author, this show offers weekly guided meditations and talks that blend Western psychology with Eastern spiritual practices. Relaxing, uplifting and inspiring, it’s a must if you want to embrace mindfulness and expand your awareness.
Some information sourced from Evergreen Lifestyle
