Booked and Busy Podcast

Booked and Busy Podcast - Click HERE! on Anchor by Spotify

The World of Podcasts

A podcast is an audio program that you can stream or download to listen to whenever you want. It’s similar to a radio show but more flexible because you can choose what to listen to and when. Podcasts cover a huge range of topics, including storytelling, news, science, history, pop culture, and personal development. Podcasts are usually released as episodes in a series, just like TV shows, and they can be hosted by one person, a group, or even experts in a particular field. You can listen to them on apps like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Google Podcasts, and often for free. They’re great for learning new things, staying entertained, or even just passing the time while doing something else, like walking, cleaning, or commuting. When thinking about podcasts in libraries, one would think that podcasts do not necessarily belong in the library, but libraries are not just for books, they're also great places to listen to and learn from podcasts. Libraries often offer access to podcasts about history, science, or famous authors. You can listen to them to learn in a fun way. Podcasts can be used for storytelling and audiobooks, homework help and research, book clubs and discussions as well as creating your own podcast, as libraries have podcasting equipment you can use to record your own show! You could talk about books you love, interview friends, or share fun facts. Libraries are awesome places to explore podcasts.

Creating a Podcast

To begin the assignment, I did not know a single place of where to start, so I used the information provided from the course. This led me to Anchor by Spoitfy, after getting familiar with the site I was feeling confident on how to move forward with conducting a podcast using this platform, but I still wanted to try others to compare the differents, the other websites I chose to look over were, Buzzsprout, Podbean and Spreaker. Although all of them seem appropriate and easy to use for beginner podcasters, I felt drawn towards using Anchor, maybe because I am an avid Spotify listener. Below I have provided multiple pros and con reasons for each resource. 

1. Anchor by Spotify
Pros:
Completely free with unlimited hosting.
Easy-to-use interface for recording, editing, and publishing.
Distributes your podcast to major platforms automatically.
Cons:
Limited advanced editing features.
Some branding may appear on your podcast.

2. Buzzsprout
Pros:
Simple and user-friendly dashboard.
Offers analytics and podcast monetization options.
Free plan available (though limited).
Cons:
Free plan only hosts episodes for 90 days.
Paid plans can be expensive for longer episodes.

3. Podbean
Pros:
Easy drag-and-drop interface.
Offers podcast monetization through ads and listener donations.
Free plan available with basic features.
Cons:
Free plan has storage and bandwidth limits.
Advanced features require a paid subscription.

Where elementary, middle and high school aged students can find educational podcasts:

For Elementary School (K-5th Grade)
  1. Brains On! – A fun science podcast that answers curious questions from kids. Where to listen: Brains On! Website, Apple Podcasts, Spotify
  2. But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids – Kids submit questions, and experts answer them.Where to listen: But Why Website, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts
  3. Story Pirates – Hilarious stories written by kids, performed by comedians and actors. Where to listen: Story Pirates Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts

For Middle School (6th-8th Grade)
  1. Smash Boom Best – A debate podcast where two things are compared (e.g., Pizza vs. Tacos). Where to listen: Smash Boom Best Website, Apple Podcasts, Spotify
  2. The Past & The Curious – Fun history stories about real people and events.Where to listen: The Past & The Curious Website, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts
  3. Greeking Out – A podcast about Greek mythology by National Geographic Kids.Where to listen: Greeking Out Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts

For High School (9th-12th Grade)
  1. Stuff You Should Know – Explains how everyday things work in an engaging way. Where to listen: Stuff You Should Know Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts
  2. Radiolab for Kids – A mix of science, history, and storytelling. Where to listen: Radiolab Website, NPR, Spotify

Listen to "Are Audiobooks Real Books?" by The Book Debate 
https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/jessica-martinez27/episodes/Are-Audiobooks-Real-Books-e2vinqd/a-abqd0a9


(Podcast recored while sick with the flu - cue to congestion voice)

Comments

  1. Landa Langford1 March 2025 at 21:55

    Hi Jessica!
    I agree that libraries are so much more than just books, and they're the perfect place to explore learning through audio, too! I like how you made grade-level podcast recommendations. These are great resources for teachers, librarians, and parents looking to introduce kids to fun, engaging content. The mix of topics (science, history, storytelling, and mythology) shows how podcasts can make learning exciting for all ages!
    Landa Langford

    ReplyDelete
  2. Elizabeth Gross3 March 2025 at 08:50

    This was great information! The podcst was also interesting!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Monica Baron2 May 2025 at 11:03

    You did a great job outlining how podcasts can be a powerful tool in the library! I really liked how you broke down the different platforms and provided pros and cons, that's super helpful for anyone new to podcasting. I also loved your podcast topic, it is such a fun and relevant question, especially for students. Your post shows how flexible and creative libraries can be when it comes to engaging students in new ways.

    ReplyDelete
  4. MeaganH.2 May 2025 at 14:04

    This post effectively introduces the world of podcasts and their surprising relevance within libraries, highlighting their potential for learning, storytelling, and even content creation by patrons. The breakdown of different podcast hosting platforms, along with age-appropriate educational podcast recommendations, provides a valuable starting point for librarians looking to explore this engaging medium. Well Done!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Claire Tolbert2 May 2025 at 19:35

    I liked the layout of Spotify better than some other podcast websites that I tried, but being the podcast listener side, sometimes those adds can be really annoying. In regards to your podcast, at the end of your podcast, I liked that you tied in the social media aspect to help get listeners engaged. Your podcast brought up a well-known debate with different points, but also left the listener to reflect on what they heard and be able to state their opinion, which was really smart.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sarai Estrada2 May 2025 at 22:28

    Jessica,
    I’m really impressed that you and your team were able to successfully upload your recording on Anchor by Spotify! Our team actually tried using Anchor at first too, but we ran into some challenges and ended up going with Podomatic instead. It’s great to hear about other teams’ podcasting experiences, and I appreciate you sharing those podcast recommendations for students and their grade levels!

    ReplyDelete

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