Podcasts are more popular today than they ever have been. According to a recent survey. 1 in 5 Americans listen to podcasts on a regular basis, and that translates to a 24% increase in listeners from 2015 to 2016. They are as much a part of some people's lives as radio or TV. They have become a popular way to entertain and educate our brains on our commute to work, while walking the dog, doing yard work, or working out at the gym. Podcasts are here to stay.

At Grant Wood AEA, we are always looking for new PD mediums that best carter to the needs of the teachers we serve, so starting a podcast was an easy decision to make. The Edtech Take Out has been "on the air" since January 2016, and has covered a whole variety of different topics in an attempt to bring teachers learning that they can access on their own schedule anywhere, and at any time.

This month, we are taking the podcast on the road to the ITEC Fall conference in Des Moines. The conference is hosting a Podcast Pavillion to celebrate and draw attention to the power of podcasting as a medium for sharing the great work that educators are doing in the classroom. Joining us in Des Moines are the Dads In Ed podcast, (featuring Josh Allen, Devin Schoening, and Brent Catlett), the GAFE Admins podcast, (featuring Mitch Dowhower, Lance Lennon, Karl Hehr, Phil Trimble & Chad Frerichs), as well as two podcasts from students at Iowa City High School - Politikid & Minority Report. So, in honor of that event, we are putting together this quick guide on how to listen & subscribe to podcasts on any device.

Apple have done a lot for podcasters over the years and today the majority of people who listen to podcasts do so on Apple devices. So, if you have an iPhone or an iPad and have never listened to a podcast before, here's a video with all you need to know.

Android users needn't feel left out. There are more devices running Android than any other mobile operating system. Google knows this, and recently added podcasts to the free Google Play Music service. So, if you have an Android phone or tablet, watch the video below.

Not everyone listens to podcasts on mobile devices. In fact, before smartphones became the tour de force that they are today, laptops and desktop computers were the go-to device for podcast fans. So, here's a video that shows how to listen to podcasts in iTunes on Macs & PCs.

When Chromebooks first came out, they were a little limited in the kinds of things you could do with them. However, times have changed. Today, Chromebooks are very capable devices and listening to podcasts is just one of many things they are capable of. So, here's a quick video tutorial on how to listen and subscribe to your favorite podcasts on a Chromebook.

I have already mentioned three great podcasts to get you started on your podcasting journey, but if you want some more recommendations, take a look at some of these:

• Check This Out with Ryan & Brian
• Teachers Talking Tech
• The Edtech Situation Room
• The Wired Educator Podcast
• Goin' Digital Show
• The House of #Edtech

These are just some of the great podcasts available for teachers. There are many more. Which ones do you listen to in your spare time? Leave a comment below with your favorites.

Jonathan Wylie, Digital Learning Consultant, Grant Wood AEA

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