How to download a podcast

If you love switching on your radiobut you've never so much asbrowsed the massivedigital library ofpodcasts, your ears arein for a treat.

There really is something for everyone in the growing universe of on-demand digital audio, most of which will never hit the airwaves. Even traditional broadcasters like the CBCproducedozens of originalseries, for free, that you can only access online.

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Still, it can be pretty daunting to enter the wide world of internetaudiofor the first time, so we're here to walk you through it in a few simple steps.

1. Pick a podcast player that works on your device

If you only have access to a desktop or laptop computer, fear not. We've got special instructions for you at the bottom of this page. That said, most people listen to podcasts on their smartphones and tablets, so let's start there.

If you want to exploreaudio productions from within and outsideof the CBC, you'll need a podcast app (or "podcatcher") that brings together the work of many different creators.

There are lots out there and many of them are free.

If you have an iPhone you've probably seen the purple icon labelled "Podcasts"on your phone already. You can listen to your favourite shows right there.

How to listen to podcasts on your iPhone

6 years ago

Duration 1:12

Our step-by-step video will show you how to download and listen to podcasts on your iPhone.

Android users can do the same with Google Podcasts.

How to listen to podcasts on your Android phone

6 years ago

Duration 1:40

Our step-by-step video will show you how to download and listen to podcasts on your Android phone.

Most podcast appsare free, but some charge afee or offer a premium option. Some, like Spotify, include in-app purchases.

How to listen to podcasts on Spotify

6 years ago

Duration 0:48

Our step-by-step video will show you how to download and listen to podcasts using the Spotify app.

If you want to look beyond the biggest players and check out the wider universe of apps, search "podcastapp" in your app store and read the descriptions. Every app offers a different user experience, and you're sure to find one suited to your needs.

Some other popular options are Castbox,Pocket Casts, Podbean,Radio Public andStitcher.

2. Launch the app and pick a show

Most podcast apps have a section filled with recommended shows you can browse. You can start there or you can search for a specific show. If you don't know what to search for, Podcast Playlist offers a Find Your Next Podcast interactive where you can search by genre or even make a random pick using the "Surprise Me!" button.

You can browse the latest offerings from CBC Podcasts here.

3. Stream or download an episode

If you're connected to the internet, you should be able to click on a podcast, select anepisode and hit theplay button to stream your show of choice.

If you want to downloadto listen later offline a pro move for subway commuters you'll want to do that while you're connected to Wi-Fi.

Every app works slightly differently, but if you want to download a podcast, you'll generally be looking for an icon in the shape of an arrow pointing downwards. Each app should offer specific instructions about navigating theirdesign.

4. Subscribeto or followyour favouritepodcasts

Most apps, including Apple Podcasts,will also allow you to subscribe for updates on the shows you love most.

Subscribing ensures you getnotifications when new episodes come out, and if you want you can set it so that new episodes download automatically when you're connected to wifi.

You can also listen to all CBCpodcasts on the CBC Listenportal on desktop or the mobile apps for iOS and Android.

Plus, you can follow us on Facebook,Twitterand Instagram to get updates on our latest releases and see amazing digital extras that bring you deeper into the world of each podcast.

Happy listening!