Think of a podcast as a radio show. Each show consists of a series of individual episodes that you can listen to whenever you want - on your PC, or using your iPod/MP3 player. Many phones can now play MP3s too.
If you've never listened to a podcast, why not give it a try?
You can listen to these episodes one at a time or you can 'subscribe' to the entire podcast series using software on your PC. When you subscribe to a podcast, all new shows will be automatically downloaded to your computer as they are published. And if you have an MP3 player, the next time you connect your device to your computer, your podcasts will be downloaded for listening on the go.
How to listen
CIPD currently plans to release one new podcast a month so once you've found something that looks interesting, have a listen. Here's how:
Download
If you just want a copy of a particular episode, simply click the "Download" button to save to your hard disk. Then, manage it and play it like you would any other audio file.
Subscribe
When you subscribe to CIPD’s free podcasts you'll get the newest episodes delivered right to you as soon as they're available. To subscribe, though, you'll need to get some music software like Apple iTunes or the Yahoo! Music Engine both these are available free for Macs and PCs. New episodes will show up there whenever they're available. You can cancel the subscription whenever you want to.
On the Go
If you want to listen to a podcast on your MP3 player or phone, it's easy. Just download the episode to your computer, or subscribe, and use your music software to transfer it to your MP3 player.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an iPod or an MP3 player to listen to podcasts?
Not at all. You can listen to podcasts directly from your computer. Usually your default media player will open and the audio will start playing automatically. If you want to listen while on the move or away from a computer, any MP3 player will work.
Do I need special software to listen to podcasts on my computer?
To subscribe to a podcast – which automatically loads new episodes onto your computer – you will need music player software. We have provided a list of some of the most popular free software below.
Please note that CIPD is not responsible for the content of external websites.
How do I subscribe?
When you click subscribe you’ll actually be downloading a small text file called a “.pcast” file. This tells your music software what episode to download. Then you can get notifications of new episodes whenever they're available.
When I click download/subscribe nothing seems to happen?
If you are trying to download or subscribe from work, it might be that your IT department’s network manager (firewall) has restricted downloads for you. You might be able to convince them to let you download it, otherwise you’ll have to do it at home.