Podcasts are Internet-based radio shows that can be downloaded and listened to on computers or mp3 players. Although the "pod" in podcast implies a connection to Apple's iPod, that music player is not needed to listen to the shows. There's no single way to get a podcast, though some techniques are easier than others.

Method #1: Listen in iTunes

The easiest method for listening to podcasts is to subscribe to it using iTunes (www.apple.com/itunes), assuming that you have Apple's music player on your computer. Many podcasts have a small "iTunes" tag on their web site -- if you click on this link, a summary page for the podcast will appear in iTunes. Clicking on the "subscribe" button will then load the podcast in iTunes, which will then download the latest show automatically.

If there is no "iTunes" tag, you can still subscribe via iTunes by following these steps:

1. Find and copy the web address for the site's RSS/XML feed.
2. Open iTunes. Go to the "Advanced' pulldown menu and choose "Subscribe to Podcast"
3. A "Subscribe to Podcast" window appears; paste the RSS feed's address into the window and hit the "ok" button.

In both cases, any podcasts you've subscribed to appear within the "Podcasts" section of iTunes. New podcasts will automatically be downloaded into iTunes as they become available on the host web site. More detailed instructions are available on Apple's Web site: http://www.apple.com/ilife/tutorials/itunes/it5-1.html

Method #2: Listen via Odeo

Odeo (www.odeo.com) allows you to subscribe and listen to podcasts via a Web site. Many podcasts include an Odeo link on their home page -- if you have an account on Odeo, you can subscribe simply by clicking on that link.

Alternatively, you can login to Odeo, click to the "Subscriptions" section, and click the "Add a Feed" button at the bottom of the page. This brings up a page where you can enter the Web address of the feed you'd like to subscribe to, the same as with iTunes' advanced method. More information about how to use Odeo can be found within the Web site's FAQ: http://www.odeo.com/help/faq

Method #3: Use Juice to Subscribe to Podcasts

Juice (juicereceiver.sourceforge.net), formerly known as iPodder, is an open source podcast aggregator that lets you to subscribe and download podcasts. Once the files are downloaded, you can then choose to what to do next, including importing files into iTunes, Windows Media Player or some other audio program. Instructions for using Juice can be found on the project's Web site:

http://juicereceiver.sourceforge.net/faq/index.php

Method #4: Download the file

Most podcasts include a link directly to the show's file. Clicking on the link will either cause the file to play in your Web browser or pop up a window prompting you to download the file to your computer, where you can then listen to them using whatever audio program you choose.

You can manually download the programs by right-clicking (command-click on single-button Macs) on the Web link and choosing one of the following options: "Save Target As" in Internet Explorer, "Save Link As" in Firefox, "Download Linked File" in Safari.