Podcasts are the old telephone party line.
I feel like I need to explain what a party line is/was. More than a half-century ago phones were connected into networks of people. You received a certain call signal (usually some long and short rings). When that ring was heard, you picked up the phone and talked to whomever was there. Interestingly, anyone else on the network (ie. – most of your neighbours) could also pick up and participate. Most often the neighbours just quietly listened in to pick up all the gossip.
Podcasts are sort of like that. They tend to just be conversations between people – or one person pontificating on their newest vision or thought. You can listen in to the conversation whenever you want. And you can comment if you want. But most of all, the “gossip” of the neighbourhood is now in your possession.
There is even what is called an RSS (a way to know when a call has been made or a podcast has been put online). You don’t have to miss any of the gossip.
What a great invention, this new/old technology is!!