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"What are podcasts and how can I listen to them?"

Podcasting lets you automatically receive the latest episode of your chosen programme as soon as it's available. With our current range of audio podcasts, you can take your favourite radio programmes with you on the move and listen wherever and whenever you like.

You can "subscribe" to receive a podcast, rather like you might subscribe to a magazine and get it delivered each week. All of the BBC's podcasts are free, and you can stop receiving the files at any time. If you'd rather not subscribe, you can download episodes of a podcast series individually.

In order to subscribe for a podcast, you need an internet connection and a piece of podcast software which is usually available free of charge. Once you have installed this software, it will check the BBC for new episodes of your chosen podcast series and automatically download new episodes for you.

You can then listen to podcast episodes on your computer, or transfer them to a portable device, such as an mp3 player.

A short introduction to podcasting

Common Craft have produced an explanatory video, Podcasting in Plain English, with the BBC's Chris Vallance providing the voice-over. This can be found on the BBC Podcast Help website.

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