Listening to Podcasts is the fastest growing media market and there are plenty of ways to access podcasts of all styles and topics. As a Blind/Visually Impaired person there are some ways better than others and with accessible technology and a few tips and tricks, you can be binging on what could soon be your favorite podcast shows.
Let’s start with a podcast. A podcast is like a radio show that you can digest when and where you want. You can store it on your device or stream it through your wi-fi. There are apps that do most of the work for you and with a little preparation, you can efficiently be accessing some great material as the shows are published. You can determine which shows download and delete upon when you finish listening. That way you can save room for the next podcasts down the road.
Podcast can range from humor, news, technology, special interests and podcasts like Blind Abilities, having a blindness perspective. Academia and educational podcasts are becoming more and more accessible through the thousands and thousands of available podcasts.
The Blind Abilities podcasts are available in many ways. You can listen and read the show notes on-line at www.BlindAbilities.com. The mobile web site is designed with accessibility in mind and you can find over 500 podcasts easily by using the Category and Search options. Categories like, iPhone101, College, Career, Job Insights, TechAbilities, STEMand if you enjoy reading, our collection of Transcribedpodcast will give you the full text transcription. . On the web, you can scroll by using Headings and move from title to title and click the play button and listen to the ones you want. You can also read the entire library of blogsour Blind Abilities Team produce.
Another way of listening to Blind Abilities podcasts is to download the Free Blind Abilities App from the Apple App Storeor the Google Play Store. That’s 2 words, Blind Abilities.
The Blind Abilities App allows you to gain access to the entire Blind Abilities library of podcasts and blogs, search for topics, explore through Categories and not miss an episode. This is one of the easiest ways to get the Blind Abilities podcasts right on to your iPhone, iPad or any Apple or Android device. We have worked with the development of the app to ensure everyone will be able to access and use the app with voice over accessibility.
Another way of listening to the Blind Abilities podcasts, and many other podcasts, is through a pod-catcher. This is an app that will search for a podcast and allow you to subscribe and always have the latest from that podcast show/producer. A free pod-catcher native to the iPhone and iPads alike, is the Podcast App. You can say, Hey Siri, Open Podcast and the app will open right up. When I said, it is a native app, I meant that the Podcast App comes with the iPhone’s iOS (Operating Software) so you don’t have to go to the App Store, the Podcast App is already in your device.
You can explore the Podcast App and search for podcast by single-finger double tapping on the search button. By typing in Blind Abilities, that’s two words, you will notice that our podcast appears and by selecting it with a single-finger double tap, you will be able to subscribe and receive all the podcasts from our extensive library.
There are other pod-catchers out there and you can find them in the App Store. Some will cost a few dollars, ranging anywhere from 3 to 10 dollars. The most popular amongst the BVI community is Downcast, Overcast and iCatcher. All 3 have there pluses and minuses and all 3 will work fine. The differences end up being what you prefer and it may take just a bit to develop your tendencies or listening habits to determine which pod-catcher is for you. Overcast and Downcast are the most used and you may want to ask others what they are using and why, to determine which one you would pay for. That is why I will suggest starting out with the Free Podcast App from Apple and see how you like listening to podcasts before you pay for a pod-catching app. You may find the Podcast App does just fine.
With in the podcast apps or catchers, you can go into the settings and limit the amount of podcasts you want downloaded to your device, opt to have none downloaded and only listen by streaming on wi-fi to preserve your data usage. Be sure to check out your settings so you can optimize the app to suit your needs. I suggest exploring the settings right after you subscribe to your first podcast.
When saying that there are plenty of ways to listen to the Blind Abilities podcasts, I mean, it doesn’t stop with pod-catchers. You can listen on your Victor Stream by subscribing in the podcast section right on your Victor Stream. If you have an Amazon Dot, Echo or an Alexa enhanced device, you can enable the Blind Abilities Skill and listen as well. Just say, “Alexa, Enable Blind Abilities”.
If you have a Google Home or Mini, just say, “Play the latest episode of Blind Abilities”.
We are also on Pandora, iHeart Radio, Spotify, Stitcher and more.
Sometimes a listening service will ask for a feed, this is like an address or link that allows one to subscribe directly to the podcast. The Blind Abilities feed is https://blindabilities.libsyn.com/rss
Be sure to check out the Blind Abilities podcast any which way you can. Our podcasts always have a blindness perspective and aim to inform and help you navigate the journey, whether your transitioning from high school to college and the work place, wanting to learn more about accessing information or learn about others and their journey and how they deal with the barriers and challenges along the way. We want to hear from you and hear about your journey, successes and your perspectives. You can find us by email.
Have a wonderful time listening to your favorite podcasts!
By Jeff Thompson @KnownAsJeff on Twitter
Contact:
You can follow us on Twitter @BlindAbilities
On the web at www.BlindAbilities.com
Send us an email
Get the Free Blind Abilities App on the App Store.