Description
Podcasts are audio files distributed over the internet and are generally available in the form of a series of installments. You can find podcasts on many topics, including: marketing, literature, cooking, news, political analysis, entrepreneurship, science, languages and many more.
Possible Benefits
- May improve mood
- May boost memory
- May improve productivity
- Provides self-education
- May reduce stress
- May boost your motivation
Required Equipment
Smart phone, computer, or tablet, and an app which provides podcasts.
How to Do It
Explore your favorite podcast app to find the ones that interest you the most.
We recommend that you choose podcasts based on your goals. For example, you can find podcasts dedicated to growing businesses and new marketing strategies. You can also practice a language using a podcast.
Choose others based on topics that peak your interest, such as fiction or true crime, to enjoy in your free time.
Why it works
- Focusing on a present external stimulus, outside one's own thoughts and concerns, may help decrease emotional distress.
- Podcasts usually offer useful knowledge in different areas, which can increase your productivity.
- There are many options for you to choose from according to what you want or need to learn.
- Self-directed learning promotes responsibility and an active role in the process, as opposed to traditional methods.
- Self-directed learning promotes intrinsic motivation.
Time Commitment
10-60 minutes
Suggested Frequency
At least once per week
Time of Day
Any
Play your favorite podcast before sleep
Possible Side Effects
Information overload.
Don't listen to podcasts while doing activities that require too much attention.
Tips
- Share a podcast with some friends to improve your mood and socialize.
- You can look for a podcast club nearby.
- Join the podcast community to interact with like-minded people.
- Make it part of your routine. For example, listen to a podcast while having breakfast every day.
- You can find video podcasts as well, but they are less common.
Supporting Studies and Articles
Expand Collapse- Self-Directed Learning (SDL): A Brief Comprehensive Analysis. https://qatar-weill.cornell.edu/continuing-professional-development/topic-of-the-month/archive/self-directed-learning-sdl-a-brief-comprehensive-analysis
- Insights on the go: Leveraging business podcasts to enhance organizational performance. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0007681320300252
- Chapter 2 - Social media: New technologies of collaboration. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128177563000029
- The effectiveness of m-learning in the form of podcast revision lectures in higher education. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0360131507001182
- Podcasting: A new technological tool to facilitate good practice in higher education. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0360131509000645
- Impact of repetitive listening, listening-aid and podcast length on EFL podcast listening. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0360131518301623
- The Evolution Of The Podcast -- How A Medium Was Born [Geek History]. https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/the-evolution-of-the-podcast-how-a-medium-was-born-geek-history/
- The Materialism Podcast: Exploring New Avenues for Materials Science Education. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590238519304059
