We're super excited about audio podcasting, both for listening and as a new medium for Etsians to get the word out about their creative processes and the handmade lifestyle in general. DIY and pirate radio has a long tradition and now that same diy radio spirit is on the internet. Audio stories and the sounds of making things and good old conversation aren't in the hands of just the big radio stations. Anyone who has a story to tell can give it a shot. So, today we're kicking off a Storque series all about podcasting! 

For those who have heard about podcasting but aren't sure how to listen to them — nevermind make one — this series will help you get your ears and voices acquainted with each other. And for those of you who are already podcasting and DIY radio whizzes, we hope you'll come out of the woodwork and share your links to fave shows and your disembodied voices with us! Starting us off, tinaseamonster, an artist and mother of twins *and podcaster,*  gives us an intro to listening to podcasts. On Wednesday, brepettis — the resident New Media person here at Etsy — will be holding an Online Workshop in the Virtual Labs all about RSS. Tina will continue her series on how to make a podcast, and we'll also hear from studiobijou  and Ilysaart on how their Etsy Team uses podcasting to promote the appreciation and awareness about their art form. We'll also hear from public radio producers and community and youth radio organizers.

To get a sense of it, check out Etsy's podcast we publish on the Storque. Right click and "save as" this tchotchke battle mp3. Also, here's a post from Rokali from a while back that has audio file players embedded in it.

Subscribe in iTunes and get all the Etsy podcasts downloaded automatically. 

Hang on to your ear-buds! Here's Tina...

Of Headphones and Microphones: Podcasting, Part One
I stumbled into podcasting on a cold February night in 2005. I was newly pregnant with twins and just wanted to sleep, but my husband brought the laptop to me and said, "Let's start a podcast." That night, we recorded our first show in which I told a story about how I didn't know what falafel was and I was hooked. Since then, we have produced nearly 50 episodes of 3 different shows from our small apartment. And I have totally fallen in love with the medium, which is like a cross between the old days of radio and the new days of blogging. Podcasting can be completely DIY and engaging to both the listener and the creator.

Podcasting 101 – How to Listen
First, don't be afraid. You don't need an iPod. All you need is an internet connection and speakers. A podcast is just a radio show on the internet. It is just an audio file that can either be played on your PC or Mac, or downloaded and played on an MP3 player such as an iPod or Zune. If you know how to click on a link, you know how to listen to a podcast. Most good podcasts have web sites where you can listen on the site via an embedded player. Others will let you download an audio file to your hard-drive and listen with your favorite audio player.

The complicated part comes in when you add subscribing to the mix. This is also part of what makes the medium better than regular old radio. Podcasts are made up of audio files and something called an RSS feed that allows you to subscribe to a podcast (join Bre for his Online Workshop all about RSSing). If you use iTunes, you can easily subscribe to thousands of shows via the iTunes Music Store for free. I find that this is the best way to manage the shows that I listen to. Apple has a great resource page with more information.

The brilliant thing about audio podcasts versus video is that you can listen while you do other things. I have talked to many crafters and artists who tell me they listen to podcasts while they work/create. I find that I listen to shows while I work, go to the gym, silk screen, make lunch for my kids, etc. I can pause or tune them out when I need to and yet still feel connected to the world of the show and the information being presented.

How do I find good podcasts?
Once you know how to listen, the big question is, "How do I find good podcasts?" This is totally trial and error, but I have found that the best shows, the ones that I really love, I have learned about by word of mouth.

For me, there are two different types of podcasts. First are the really professional ones that are just audio files of other mediums, like say, HBO show Real Time with Bill Maher, or NPR's Fresh Air. While it is really cool that they make this content available as podcasts, I love finding smaller, indie shows.

I listen to about 10 podcasts weekly and I find that my favorites are definitely homegrown. I really dig Croncast, in which married couple Kris and Betsy talk about their life in Illinois (moving from cool to cul de sac) with honesty and humor. I also love fancasts like MuggleCast (even though the Harry Potter series is over, these guys still find lots to talk about) and The Lost Podcast with Jay and Jack. Some of the more "pro" shows that I listen to include This Week in Tech with Leo Laporte and Smodcast in which filmmaker Kevin Smith opens up his life to his listeners (Wwarning! This one has a lot of swears!).

In an Etsy Forum post, we asked members to tell us about their favorite podcasts. Here is some of what we got:

• This American Life
• Radio Lab
• Manic Mommies
• Savage Love
• Sound of Young America
• The Official LOST Podcast
• NPR
• DiggNation
• Jumping Monkeys
• YogAmazing

But not surprisingly, the bulk of the shows mentioned in our Etsy Forum post were about crafting. They all bring something different but are all fun and inspiring.

    * Pixie Purls (a knitting and spinning podcast)
    * Lime and Violet (very funny podcast for the yarn obsessed)
    * IndieBizChicks.com (marketing strategies for small indie businesses)
    * CraftSanity (A blog and podcast for those who love all things handmade)
    * CraftyPod (great interviews)
    * Threadbanger (video podcast about do-it-yourself fashion)
    * Insubordiknit (yarn!)
    * Craft Magazine Podcasts (video podcast with how-tos)
    * Cast On (a podcast for knitters)
    * Craft Revolution (aims to help creative business owners)
    * Make Zine
    * Crafting Voices (the Story of American Craft)
    * Craft Mutiny (interviewing indie crafters)

Besides iTunes, you can find new shows on Podcast Alley, Digg Podcasts, Podcast Pickle and many more!

Etsyians with Podcasts
I was surprised by the small number of us that podcast (according to the forum thread), but have been excited to listen to shows by my fellow Etsy sellers. I bet there are more! Please post in the comments below if you are making a podcast!

studiobijou and Ilysaart (both in the Polymer Clay Artists Guild) do a show about creating with polymer clay at Polymer Clay Productions (they've written a piece for this series, too). Seller Gettig and her husband do an interesting coffee podcast called Coffee Convo. OrangeWillow interviewed magicjelly in the first episode of her podcast (Download podcast here). She's taking a break but hopefully will be back soon!

We currently have two podcasts being produced at the Tinaseamonster house. First is Television Zombies, where each week we talk about the best and worst in cult/sci-fi television. We talk about Lost and Doctor Who and stuff like that. I also work on the Craft Mutiny Podcast in which we interview indie crafters. The most recent episode interviews Etsy seller SpookyDaddy and should be out soon. Old episodes of our first show, the awkwardly titled Restaurant Fuel/I Like Seamonsters Podcast are also still available.

So, as you can see, the world of podcasting is huge and exciting. I hope you find a few shows that you like! Please let us know in the comments about any sellers with podcasts that we need to know about! Also let us know what you listen to. In Part Two of this series, we will talk about starting a show of your own!

Tina Seamonster blogs her life and craft at www.ilikeseamonsters.com and podcasts at Television Zombies. For previous articles on podcasting, go here!