Podcasts are reviving the “old-school” of radio and starting international conversations by allowing listeners to carry around hours of discussions in their pocket.

A combination of the word “iPod” and “broadcast,” podcasting is a widely available and simple way to access information and entertainment. Anyone with a computer and microphone can get together with a group of friends either in person or over the Web to record a show and upload it to a site like iTunes or Spotify where it can then be streamed and downloaded by audiences all over the world. The accessibility of podcasting has boosted its appeal among teenagers and the young, looking for an outlet to share their opinions and among listeners looking for perspectives outside of the mainstream narrative of late-night talk shows and national newspapers.

Tom Ashbrook, the host of the well-known NPR show On Point, said in a presentation at Boston University on April 17^th, that podcasts are becoming even more popular than live radio, with his own show reaching over 2 million downloads. Journalist Sarah Koeing recently won a Peabody award for “innovative long term story-telling” for her show Serial, which investigates real-life murder cases.

Since all podcasts are downloadable online and completely free, they provide a way for broke college students who often don’t have access to a television to stay up-to-date with what’s going on in the world.

Even if the whole serious news side of radio doesn’t appeal to you, there are podcasts on a ton of different topics ranging from Hollywood gossip to music reviews to fashion advice.

In fact, two of my favorite shows involve reviewing each new Pretty Little Liars episode and analyzing the social politics of the “Harry Potter" series. Podcasting has also expanded to include more creative, storytelling formats that almost work as weekly audiobooks. Currently the most downloaded podcast in iTunes history, the show “Welcome to Nightvale” employs a team of scriptwriters to tell the story of a strange, supernatural town through the format of a radio show hosted by the fictional Cecil Baldwin.

Podcasts also serve as an incredible motivational tool. Personally, I’m way more productive reviewing lecture notes or cleaning my dorm room when I’ve got a conversation playing in the background rather than listening to music or trying to focus in pure silence. Often when I try to work to music, I either find myself skipping every other song or getting too unfocused and wanting to sing along. Podcasts offer a good middle ground of entertaining but not distracting. It’s like bringing that coffee shop studying atmosphere into the comfort of your own home.

Listening to podcasts is also a great way to relax or help ease anxiety. More than once I’ve listened to an old episode before bed and allowed the familiarity of the conversation lull me to sleep. Additionally, being able to hear other human voices streaming through my headphones is comforting on nights when I get out of work late and have to walk home alone.

If after reading about all these exciting podcast perks you’re interested in exploring more of the podcasting world, just search iTunes for any topic you’re curious in hearing about. You’ll immediately find dozens of different shows, often with hundreds of episodes, ready for download at the click of a button. Happy listening!