THE PIVOTAL MOMENT CAME IN 2005 WHEN APPLE OFFICIALLY BUILT
PODCASTING FUNCTIONALITY INTO ITUNES
Rss—which stands for “Really Simple Syndication”. The idea was that instead of having to browse the web, you could instead add a special web address—or feed—for a show into a special app, later called a “podcatcher”. This would work in the background on your computer, and would periodically automatically check the feed, and download anything new. Today we’re used to our phone telling us when there’s something new without us having to check—but back then, it was completely revolutionary.
Over the next few years, podcasting began to take off. The pivotal moment came in 2005 when Apple officially built podcasting functionality into itunes, the app that was used to copy music from computers to the then wildly popular ipod.
And after this, the wider world started to pay attention. One early pioneer was the comedian Ricky Gervais, who made a show with his Office co-writer Stephen Merchant, and radio producer Karl Pilkington.
And then fast-forward to 2021, and podcasts are everywhere, and every single vaguely famous person seems to have one. Something fundamental is changing with podcasts though.
For example, until recently despite its early support, Apple had largely left podcasts alone. And this left an opening for Apple’s music streaming rival Spotify. Starting in 2018, it began snapping up independent podcast production companies. Which started a vicious competition to acquire podcasts that the corporations could then make exclusive on their platforms.
If you’ve got a line-up of soughtafter exclusive shows to listen to, users will sign up and pay a monthly fee to you instead of your rivals.
The most high profile example of this is Spotify signing up formermartial Artist turned podcaster Joe Rogan in a deal worth more than $100m. Rogan’s controversial show receives more than 200 million downloads a month.
And though it was inevitable, it does make me a little sad. Instead of being a big open platform, like the RSS feeds of old where anyone could have a go, podcasts are being walled off from each other. But the upside is that more money than ever is going into making podcasts. Which means that if you ever do risk experiencing a quiet moment inside your own head, there will almost certainly be something to listen to instead.
■
129
My friend's husband, Paul, made us laugh recently when we were talking about shopping. He said that he always does his shopping online, adding, "I think it would be frowned upon to be in a store with no top on, sweatpants and a glass of beer in hand”.
KENDRA SEVILLE, Birkenhead
It took our five-year-old son's comment while out driving,
"How many idiots are there on the motorway today, Dad?", to make my husband realise that he probably needs to tone down his attitude towards other motorists!
JOSH TAYLOR, Moray
I was explaining to a friend how I had fallen over and broken a bone in the little finger of my left hand. "It doesn't affect me that much," I said, "but if I played the violin, I would be really annoyed."
At this point, my husband interjected, "If you played the violin, I would be really annoyed too."
SUSAN PHUNG, Surrey
I was running late for my appointment with a high street optician and, as I was running, my phone rang, further adding to my flustered state and distracting me. I hung up as I quickly entered the shop and breathlessly announced, “I'm so sorry I'm late, I'm here for my eye test.”
“And you need one, too,” came the quick response, “This is Phones4u!”. The optician was next door!
NICOLA WHITTLE, Bath
Guto Dias
I make my own Scotch eggs and my neighbour Erik loves them.
The other day I was trying to explain to him how I make them, so I told him that that I boil the eggs first, then squash some sausage meat together, wrap it round them, and bake them in the oven.
The next day he said that they were too crunchy—turned out he hadn't taken the shells off the eggs first!
JANE WHITAKER, Kent
Sitting in the living room during a visit to my parents' home one winter, I mentioned I could feel a bit of a draught.“yes, haven't you noticed?” Dad replied. “There's a dog-shaped hole in the French window.” Our springer spaniel, Hector, had spied a cat outside and ran straight through the glass to chase it!
RHIANNON LEWIS, Monmouthshire