Presenting History through Audio Podcasts

Some universities offer podcasts of their courses, through the popular “Itunes U”. These are downloaded by listeners all over the world. But what if you want to set up your own podcast? I set up a podcast, “Cities in History” as a way of showing what I do to, and exploring how to convey history in audio form. A podcast can be a way of showcasing a research idea, public outreach, or also form part of a teaching portfolio. I saw the podcast as an opportunity to present the themes of my work – urban history – in small segments for a wider audience. It was an intellectual exercise for me, in how to condense ideas and bring out the main ideas. I built a basic website – using blogging software – to accompany the podcast, and post suggested further reading. It also gave me the opportunity to try out different recording software. This presentation will talk about how I set it up, and how easy it is for any academic to do. I will also discuss the responses my podcast has received, how to be listed on itunes, and what I have learnt about adapting material to a non-classroom broadcast setting.