Though I have been consuming podcasts for nearly two years now, I have yet to blog about it. I was not a fan of the iPod when it came out. And until recently I wasn’t even a big Apple fan (I have terrible interoperability nightmares from the Apple IIc era back in ‘85). I do have to say that I first discovered video games on my Apple IIc (I still hold many fond memories of epic games of Load Runner).

Well podcasting is what got me to fork over my $$$ for a Mini two years ago. It is a truly amazing medium that has been able to put choice back into the hands of the consumers. No longer am I forced to listen to programs on the radio that cater to the common denominator approach. I’m sick of the main stream political talking heads, the rambling sports radio, and the Dr. Phils of the world. I now have the option to listen to what I want when I want. The podcasts I enjoy range from Web 2.0 topics to Venture Capitol markets to video gaming.

What saddens me is the amount of people who own iPods (which is every single person I know) that only use it as a music playback device. Though get this, I know of high school students asking and being allowed to listen to “music” on their iPods during tests in order to “relax”, while in reality they are listening to audio notes for the test. Brilliant!! Though back in my high school days, the more ambitious academic frauds resorted to passing test questions to each other using the IR transmitter on their HP graphing calculators.

There is a whole new world out there and for everyone. Commutes no longer have to be exercises in listening to bad morning DJs. Free at last!!!