You keep hearing about podcasts, but you don't really know what they are. Here's some information to help you understand what they are and how to use them.

So what is a podcast? It's basically a radio show that's downloadable on the Internet. Some of these shows include video. What makes a podcast a podcast is the fact that you can download it to your computer and then transfer it to your iPod or mp3 player. You don't have to transfer it to an mp3 player, you can just listen on your computer.

What's the difference between streaming and a podcast? Streaming is a live audio or video feed that is available for you to listen to as it happens, only instead of listening on a radio you listen on your computer. A podcast is a download of an episode of a show that you can listen to on your computer (or mp3 player) at any time. Streaming is like watching Desperate Housewives when it comes on TV on Sunday nights, only it's on the Internet. A podcast is like buying a season of Desperate Housewives on DVD, you can watch it whenever you want.

How do I download a podcast? There's two ways. You can subscribe to a podcast with computer programs that have the ability to automatically download episodes for you. (iTunes and Juice are the most popular, and they're free!) Whenever these programs are turned on they will automatically check for new episodes of any podcasts you have subscribed to. If you have an mp3 player, you transfer the podcast the same way you would any song.

The other way of downloading is to simply click the "download" link listed on each sermon on the sermons page.

Newer Internet browsers like Internet Explorer 7 and Firefox have podcast capabilities built in and show you the podcast listings for a site just by clicking the podcast link. If you have an older browser you will just see a bunch of weird computer code. 

I have iTunes, how do I download podcasts on it? iTunes isn't as simple to set up subscriptions for podcasts that are found outside of the iTunes Store, but you can do it and it is easy. Highlight and copy this address - http://www.firstreformedsfsd.com/index2.php?option=com_podcast&feed=RSS2.0&no_html=1  Then in iTunes, click on Advanced -> Subscribe to Podcast. A box will open. Paste the address you copied into this box and click OK. Once that is done you have successfully subscribed to First Reformed Church Podcasts! To listen to podcasts on iTunes, click on Podcasts under the Media Library menu on the right and choose what you want to listen to.

If you have other questions about podcasting, email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .