We don’t need to tell you that podcasts are huge right now. Heck, we even feature over 100 of them on Nature Labs! Podcasts are a valuable medium that offer convenience, access to a wide range of topics, in-depth discussions, diverse voices and perspectives, education and self-improvement, and entertainment. Or edutainment, as we like to say.

Look, this might seem obvious, but we thought we’d cover how to put the ‘edu’ in the podcast edutainment!

How to Learn from Podcasts

  1. Listen regularly: Make listening to podcasts a regular habit. You can listen on your daily trek to and from school!
  2. Take notes: Take notes while listening to podcasts to help you remember important information. You can jot down key takeaways or quotes that resonate with you.
  3. Follow up on recommendations: Many podcast hosts recommend books, articles or other resources related to the topic being discussed. Follow up on these recommendations to learn even more about the topic.
  4. Engage with the podcast community: Many podcasts have a community of listeners who engage with the host and each other. You can participate in these communities to learn from other listeners and ask questions related to the topic being discussed.
  5. Use podcast transcripts: Some podcasts have transcripts available that you can use to read along as you listen, making it easier to absorb and retain the information being discussed.

Tips for Podcast Learning

  • Hit pause and rewind to re-listen to an important point or concept. Go at your own pace.
  • Listen for emphasis on a point, word or concept and determine if it’s important.
  • Jot down any questions you have or words you don’t understand. Look them up after.
  • Read biographies of the guests, or visit their social media pages to learn more about their views and biases.
  • Find other resources on the same topic and read them before or after the podcast to learn more.
  • Avoid distractions while listening.
  • Listen to a podcast over again if you enjoy it or want to understand the conversation better.
  • Discuss the podcast episode with someone else who has just listened to it as well.
  • Describe the podcast content to someone else to help make sure you remember what you’ve learned. And, hey, maybe a friend or family member will get to learn something new as well!
Podcast Pool