Podcasts make you new media smart

For me, the answer was podcasts. Once upon a time, I was a humble design manager who developed a major interest in this Web 2.0 thing (back then, I still thought it would mean that I would have to buy new computers and routers!) and in my explorations, I came across a plethora of podcasts that explain all this Web 2.0 stuff and talk to people that are using it.

One of my watershed moments was when I stumbled across the B2B Marketing Podcast and listened to an interview with Paul Gillin (find it in the archive under July 2007). It was the catalyst I was looking for and I was hooked on this exciting new world. The best part is that I was using Web 2.0 technology to learn about Web 2.0!

So once upon a time plus three months and I'm implementing my first Web 2.0 style solution at work and the only research I had done was listening to a ton of relative podcasts and following up on the links they recommended.

“I don't have time to listen to podcasts.”

This one always perplexes me. Who doesn't have time to listen to podcasts? Listening is the quickest way of absorbing new knowledge and it certainly beats reading tons of feeds in your reader everyday. Surely you set aside time for research and developing your own knowledge?

You could certainly maximise this time by listening to the most appropriate podcasts instead of reading.

Or you can do what I used to do (when I still commuted everyday): download the podcast, shove it on an MP3 player and listen to it in your car on the way to work. Don't have a player? Burn a CD, tailored content doesn't get much easier than that does it?

Most people are spending 1 - 2 hours in the car or on a train every day, so wouldn't you prefer to spend this time developing your own knowledge and potential rather than listening to the ramblings of Gareth Cliff or idiotic, unoriginal Whackhead phone pranks?

“What should I be listening to?”

There are plenty of podcasts out there on the subject of new media, Web 2.0, communications and marketing but I have found the ones listed below the most useful. If they are not quite what you looking for, chances are they will tell you about other podcasts that you will love!

• For Immediate Release. The big daddy of new media marketing podcasts. Probably the most popular of them all. They release an episode every Monday and Thursday and the show has turned the hosts, Neville Hobson and Shel Holtz into legends in this space.

• The Engaging Brand. Anna Farmery is a breath of fresh air from all the gruff men's voices in the podcast space. This great podcast talks about all this new media stuff but tries to tie it back into employee engagement and marketing.

• The Podcast Sisters. Anna Farmery teams up with Heather Gorringe and Krishna De in what is described as ‘the podcast for the non-geek' so basically they try to explain all this geeky stuff in a non-geeky way. The women spend most of the show giggling so, if nothing else, they'll certainly put a smile on your face on a dreary Monday morning!

• B2B Marketing Podcast. One of my favourite podcasts, really well put together and they have great interviews with industry leaders. The only problem I have with it is that they don't come out often enough but it is definitely worth downloading the back episodes.

• Six Pixels of Separation. Another great marketing/new media podcast hosted by Mitch Joel, president of Twist Image.

• Marketing Over Coffee. A very useful marketing podcast with a strong reputation hosted by Christopher Penn and John Wall.

One tip I can give you about listening to podcasts while on the commute is to keep a notepad and pen with you as there is a wealth of useful links and hints that you will want to research when you get to a computer. This way you will avoid landing up with roughly scribbled-upon petrol slips all over your desk!

Enjoy and welcome to a new world.