My Podcast App Search (Because Sometimes, The Search is Almost as Fun as the Listening)

I’ve always been a listener. As a child, I sat on the floor in my room, playing and listening to my tapes, absorbing whatever I could. That love of listening hasn’t gone away – it’s just evolved into podcasts. They’ve become my go-to for learning and staying curious, whether I’m at home or on the go.

Over the years, I’ve tried many podcast apps. I started with Overcast on my iPhone. In fact, I first bought the iPhone because I could listen to German radio stations ‘on the go’ – SWR Kultur and the iPhone, a match made in heaven – for me, at least. Then I switched to Podcast Addict when I moved to Android. Each app had its strengths, but none felt quite right.

When I returned to iPhone, I tried Apple Podcasts – I was thrilled by the easy access to transcripts. But, here’s the thing: Apple Podcasts didn’t let me create playlists or track my listening history easily. I want to be able to manage my episodes, create playlists, and see my listening stats.

After a lot of research (and using ChatGPT to compare options – yes, really!), I landed on Pocket Casts. It works across devices, and that’s a big win. I like being able to pick up where I left off, whether I’m on my phone or laptop.

But even Pocket Casts isn’t perfect. The one thing I still wish for? Transcripts. For someone who listens to podcasts as a learning tool, being able to follow along with the words would make a huge difference. So, Pocket Casts team, if you’re reading this, please consider adding transcripts at some point!

At their core, podcasts are a way for me to keep learning. They’re like modern-day tapes – always available, always teaching, always inspiring. Whether it’s about coaching, personal development, or even just a story, podcasts are my lifelong teachers.

I’ll keep working out how best to use Pocket Casts and explore all its features. Every app has its quirks, and it’s all about finding the right fit. But at the end of the day, it’s not the app that matters most. It’s the content. It’s the voices that teach, challenge, and inspire me every day.