Podango is a conglomeration of podcast stations, each focused on one area of interest. Each station is managed by a director who scours the net for the best podcasts in their area. When they find them, they recruit them to be part of their station's line-up.This means that you, noble listener, don't have to go podcast-hunting. You simply subscribe to the station of your interest, and let the director do the work. You have one subscription, one feed, and all the best content comes right to you.
How much does it cost, you ask? Monthly membership is totally free. We're cool like that.
But there's more to it, of course, than just saving you work. By registering with Podango, you can:
- Participate in station-wide forums, networking with others that share your interest
- Post your profile with your particular interests so that others can search for, find, and contact you
- Castback -- record your own take on a given issue, to possibly be featured in upcoming podcasts
- Customize your feed, so that if, say, one of the station's podcasters has a voice that reminds you of your Great-Aunt Bertha, who made those terrible walnut pies, and that your mom made you eat to avoid seeming rude -- well, you can exclude that podcast from your subscription.
Tell me more about these "Station Directors"...
Okay, here's their deal. Station directors -- who are generally podcasters themselves -- are so enthused and passionate about their topic that they commit to giving MORE of their time, so that they can put together the very best shows for you.
They also seek out sponsors or advertisers -- with Podango's help -- who can help pay for the time they're committing. A portion of a station's revenue goes to the director, and a portion goes to the podcasters they've recruited. People start getting paid for their hobby. Isn't that nifty? (Answer: YES.)
If you're a podcaster, check out the benefits of joining a podcast station -- beyond just the free podcast hosting -- or perhaps look into starting your own podcast station.
How do I "customize" my subscription?
First off, you are registered, right? Okay, good. All you have to do is click on the My Podango tab, up top. Then you can manage your subscriptions from the menu inside the My Podango area. It's quite straightforward, really. I'm embarrassed you had to ask.
What is a castback, again?
Castbacks are the recordings people leave of their own comments on a given podcast. To record a castback, you'll need a microphone on your computer, and some simple recording tool. Record your comments, save 'em, and upload them in the castback area under each episode.
Will you ever have, like, a phone number we could call to leave our comments?
Already in the works.
Why do I need to register?
You don't, really -- anyone can subscribe to a station's feed if they want. But if they're not registered, they can't leave comments, or discuss things in the forums, or personalize their feeds.
Who can become a Station Director?
The short answer: Anyone who has enough passion to put together a truly great show.
The long answer: Preferably someone who already has an audience that they're bringing with them. Someone who is dynamic & energized, who's not afraid to approach podcasters to recruit them, and who is not afraid of speaking with potential advertisers.
So, yeah, you have to be pretty cool. But you can do it. I know you can.
Okay, then, how do I become a Station Director?
Ah! Eager! I like it! You'll want to read a bit more about becoming a Station Director., and fill out the form on that page. A Podango representative will be in contact with you.