What is a podcast?
A podcast is like a series of radio programmes that you can listen to at a time that suits you. The podcast consists of a series of audio files, normally made available on a regular schedule - typically, once a month or once a quarter. Each audio file is known as an episode, although many people use the word podcast for the episodes as well.

Why is it called a podcast?
The word Podcast is a combination of Apple’s iPod and broadcast. Although some say that POD stands for Personal and On-Demand.
You can listen to the GEM Podcast, or for that matter any podcast, on your desktop computer, any portable MP3 player and on increasing numbers of mobile phones.

Do I have to pay for podcasts?
No. Podcasts are free and shouldn’t even require divulging any personal information. When a podcast’s publisher asks you to ‘Subscribe’, it means you are choosing to receive each new podcast episode automatically, so you don’t have to remember to visit the web site every time you want to listen to the latest episode.

What software do I need?
If you do not have any suitable podcast software, then you should download a free program such as iTunes (although there are many alternatives). iTunes is available for Windows and Mac.
You can also use an RSS feed reader, such as Google Reader if you prefer.

How do I subscribe to GEM Podcast?
If you want to receive each episode of the GEM Podcast automatically, simply click on the iTunes button if you’re using iTunes, the Google Reader button if you’re using Google Reader, or the RSS feed button if you’re using another RSS reader.

What is an RSS feed?
It is a web page that contains information about a podcast, a blog or a web site. This information is in a standard format called RSS (Really Simple Syndication). Our RSS feed is updated every time we publish a new episode. Your podcast software will detect the change, download the new audio file and tell you there’s something new to listen to.

What audio format is used for podcasts?
Podcasts are normally in MP3 format. We publish the GEM Podcast in standard MP3 files, playable on almost any computer, personal audio player and many mobile phones.