Miles Files: Creating our own radio shows Miles Files: Creating our own radio shows (July 20, 2005)

By Miles McMullin

Incoming 9th-grader Menlo-Atherton High School

Have you heard about "podcasting"?

No, it's not about tossing seed pods from flowers.

It's about the Internet and allowing people like you and me to create our own "radio" shows -- music or talk -- that can be heard around the world.

According to Wikipedia, the word "podcasting" was created in February 2004, combining "broadcasting" with the name of Apple Computer's iPod audio player. (Podcasting was not invented by Apple, nor do podcasts require a portable player or Apple software).

I think podcasting is cool because I believe regular radio has become so "closed" with the same old people doing the same old shows. Radio does not showcase new people.

Let's say one of my friends wants to become a talk show host. With today's radio, he would never get his thoughts on a show. But with podcasting, he can record a new show every week, put it on the Internet, and have anyone in the world listen to it.

A few weeks ago, Apple's iTunes online music store announced it will distribute podcasts to anyone who can download them to their iPod. (Check apple.com/itunes/store/podcasts.html).

Many adults love podcasts. My mom, a marketing professional, uses a podcast to talk about ways entrepreneurs can use podcasts in marketing. I feel pretty good about her show because I am the one who told her about podcasting!

Although I think podcasting is the next big thing, one of my friends was not so sure. Michael Lussier, 14, soon to be a freshman at Sacred Heart Prep, predicts podcasts won't click with kids because they are skeptical about listening to people who are not well known. "I would rather just listen to the music I already have on my MP3 player," he says.

I have another view. I predict podcasting will affect the way we listen to music and talk shows in the future.

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