Two weeks ago I wrote a column about my dislike of iPods. Since that time I have discovered something that is helping to sway my opinion. While I still believe that iPods are helping to kill the album, I may have found a redeeming point - "podcast."

A bastardization of the word broadcast, a podcast can be thought of as a radio program that is downloaded. Free software allows you to sign up for a particular podcast, and then it will automatically download it to your computer when a new one is released. You can then listen to it whenever you want. Most podcasts are released once a week though some are daily. Most also range in time from 10 to 30 minutes in length, though some professional ones are up to three hours long.

Some podcasts are just programs that you would normally hear on the radio. I tend to stay away from those. The most interesting ones are from the amateurs. People produce their own shows, presumably from their personal computers. Some podcasts take the form of a talk radio format (think of it as an audio blog), while others feature music, while others are like the radio serials of days long ago.

It is surprising to find the incredible variety of podcasts out there. One called "Scripts and Scruples" is described, "This podcast follows the lives of a group of Manhattanites as they deal with their careers, their romances and their own morality." Basically, a podcast soap opera. "Whole Wheat Radio" is podcast "from a cramped 12 x 12 plywood cabin in Talkeetna, Alaska." A number of podcasts feature movie reviews done by amateurs, and even more are sports programs.

There are an overwhelming number of shows about computers, technology and other geek-speak. There are even a number of podcasts about podcasts; everything from how to make your own, to ratings of others. A favorite show of mine is "Grape Radio" which features interviews with winemakers, but mostly just the three hosts sharing their opinions about wine.

The music-based shows are equally as varied and interesting. "Coverville" is a show that features only bands doing covers of other people's songs. Some songs are great, while others do nothing to improve the original and others are just horrible. Another favorite of mine is "vinyl podcast" which features music on record only, often music that has never been issued on CD. This is music that could easily become lost, but now it's being podcast for the world. I suggest that all of you go out and find yourself a couple of podcasts to subscribe to. Whether you're interested in bikes, sports, music or wine I'm sure that somebody else has the same interests and there's probably a podcast for you.