Podcast 101: How To Listen To Podcasts
If you aren’t already listening to podcasts, there’s a good chance you just don’t know how they work, where to find them, or heck, just what they are. With podcast content on the rise, you just might be missing out on some excellent entertainment and news sources. Here’s your Podcast 101: How To Listen To Podcasts. ps- I have a whole list of the best Disney Podcasts too!
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Podcast 101: How To Listen To Podcasts
Are podcasts the new radio? Maybe the new audiobook? I know they’ve taken over my car rides, workouts, house cleaning, and grocery shopping entertainment.
Oh yeah, I totally listen to podcasts on my headphones while walking through the aisles of Aldi’s!
If you aren’t listening to podcasts, there’s a good chance you just don’t know how they work, where to find them, or heck, just what they are. So here’s your Podcast 101: How To Listen To Podcasts.
What Is a Podcast?
According to Dictionary.com, a podcast is a digital audio file made available on the Internet for downloading to a computer or mobile device, typically available as a series, new installments of which can be received by subscribers automatically.
Basically, it’s an audio-only form of entertainment. Except for the folks that like to use video as well (and more on that below).
But What’s ON a Podcast? What Are Podcasts About?
Short answer: everything and anything.
There’s a podcast covering almost any topic you can imagine. And you are bound to find one that fits you if you do a search.
I listen to podcasts of people “hanging around a water cooler” and talking about life in general. I listen to podcasts that review movies and TV shows. Plus I listen to podcasts that give tips for Disney vacations.
And I listen to podcasts that dissect famous movies in history.
Look, there are podcasts that cover true crime and parenting and sports politics and… well, just about anything you can imagine!
I have two podcasts that are entertainment-focused (one about Disney+ Streaming Service and one about all my fandoms like Marvel, Star Wars, Harry Potter, etc).
And one Disney Podcast that is a heck of a lot of fun!
Are Podcasts Free?
THEY ARE FREE. That’s right: freeeee people.
And that right there is always my favorite form of entertainment.
Are Podcasts Live Or On YouTube?
It depends.
Some podcasts do record themselves live and upload to video locations like Facebook or YouTube. I’ve done a few shows like this myself and you can find my podcasts on my YouTube Channel.
The video playing on this page is an example of a live recording I made on Facebook and then uploaded to YouTube as a podcast episode. You can also find this in audio only (and edited) in the archives of the podcast.
But most podcasts don’t use video and rely on the audio aspect only.
How Do You Listen To a Podcast?
A podcast is portable which is one of the main draws for me. My phone is where I listen to 90% of my podcast content.
You can tune in from just about anywhere: download on your phone for a long car trip or flight.
But you can also listen to podcasts on your laptop or your Google Home or Amazon Echo.
Listen to podcasts while you work out in the gym, while you shop, or when waiting in the Doctors office (all with headphones, duh!).
But how exactly does one actually DO this? It seems like people are still confused about how you actually listen to a podcast.
Fear not- this is your Podcast 101: How To Listen To Podcasts guide. You have choices.
Listen To Podcasts Via Websites
Chrome, Safari, Edge or even Explorer should work.
- Pull up a window on your computer.
- Go to your favorite website that has a podcast.
- Find the player on the page, turn on your speakers, and hit play.
- CONGRATS! You’re listening to a podcast.
As long as you don’t close the window, the podcast will continue to play until it is complete.
A podcast embedded on a website will look like this:
Listen To Podcasts on Google Home or Amazon Echo
You can use your favorite smart speaker to listen to podcasts as well!
“Alexa, find me a podcast about movie reviews” should bring up some options for you. You can also ask by specific name if you know what you want to hear.
How To Listen To Podcasts On your iPhone or iPad
If you have an iPhone you can use the Apple Podcasts App to listen to podcasts.
It doesn’t get much easier than this: it’s already loaded on your phone and iPad for you. Search for “Podcasts” in the app store and you’ll find the purple app.
Cool, cool, you have the app. Now what?
- Find the magnifying glass in the bottom right-hand corner.
- Tapping on that will bring up a search bar.
- Type in the name or the topic of the podcast you’d like to find like “No-Guilt Fangirls Podcast” or “Parenting Podcast” and hit enter.
- Choose the Podcast that you want to listen to and tap on it. Here you’ll be able to read a little bit about the topic, the host, and the overall theme of the show.
- Pick a recent episode and hit play! If you like it and think you’d want to subscribe to the feed, go ahead and click that subscribe button. You won’t get emails, but you will get notifications in the app and you will also see it show up in your Library when a new episode has dropped.
- And super important: if you LOVE the podcast, the host would appreciate if you can tap the 5-Star review or leave a note saying how much you like their show. It helps with the Apple algorithm and helps other listeners find a great show!
Listen To Podcasts on Your Android Phones
Android phone owners also have an app to listen to podcasts. Search “Google Podcasts” in the Play Store App.
Unlike Apple, it doesn’t come already loaded. So go ahead and install the Google Podcast app on your phone.
- Find the magnifying glass.
- Tapping on that will bring up a search bar.
- Type in the name or the topic of the podcast you’d like to find like “No-Guilt Fangirls Podcast” or “Parenting Podcast” and hit enter.
- Choose the Podcast that you want to listen to and tap on it. Here you’ll be able to read a little bit about the topic, the host, and the overall theme of the show.
- Pick a recent episode and hit play! If you like it and think you’d want to subscribe to the feed, go ahead and click that subscribe button. Once you subscribe, you’ll see the podcast at the top of the Google app. This one also has a “new” section that signals when a new episode from your subscribed show has launched.

Listen to Podcasts Via Other Podcast Apps
You have so many options when it comes to listening to podcasts.
Basically: there’s an app for that!
Find the interface you enjoy the most, download the app, and start streaming your favorite show.
Here are a few apps for your podcast streaming:
- Spotify. Known for streaming music, Spotify has supported podcasts since 2015. The bonus here is if you use Spotify for music, your podcasts are housed in the same app.
- Overcast. This one is popular for its ability to create playlists.
- Pocket Casts. This one costs a bit, so it may not be something you want to invest in at first. Check it out, though, and see if it appeals!
- Stitcher
- Radio Public
- Pandora
- Castbox
- TuneIn
- Podbean
Just to name a few!

How To Find a Podcast You Love
Most apps will give suggestions, but I also find crowdsourcing friends, family and folks I know on social media helps.
So go ahead and ask! Chances are someone has your next favorite podcast just waiting for you.
I’ll start you off with my podcasts:
You can find me on The No-Guilt Fangirls Podcast (talking all things movies, tv, and entertainment in pop culture), talking about Disney on the No-Guilt Disney Podcast, or the Now Streaming Disney Plus Podcast where we’re going to share everything we love about Disney+.
Patty Holliday is the owner and creator of all things No-Guilt Universe. As a lifelong fangirl and pop culture connoisseur, she’s been creating online since 2009. You can find her work at No-Guilt Disney.com, No-Guilt Fangirl.com, No-Guilt Life, and as host of the top-rated No-Guilt Disney Podcast.