Downloading a Podcast Directly from a Web Site

A podcast is an audio file posted on the internet that you can listen to "on demand" (i.e., whenever you want). Some podcasts can only be accessed online, while others can be downloaded to your computer or MP3 player for offline listening. A vodcast is the video equivalent of a podcast.

Some podcasts/vodcasts require you to use a podcasting tool such as iTunes when you want to download them. Others can be used directly.

I've found "The News from Lake Wobegon" segment of Garrison Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion" (http://prairiehome.publicradio.org) useful in working with advanced learners. He speaks clearly and slowly and uses a lot of everyday vocabulary and references to Americana that are missed in courses. As this podcast can be downloaded directly, I will use it as an example.

(1) "The News From Lake Wobegon" is accessed through the "Archive" section of the site. Note that this segment is available as a free podcast. This means you can download it for personal use, subject to copyright restrictions.




















(2) Right click on "Download the MP3 file here."

























(3) Left click on "Save Link As . . ." in the menu that appears.























(4) In the screen that pops up,

(a) navigate to where you want to save the downloaded file (This can be your hard drive or an MP3 player/flash drive inserted in a USB port.)

(b) optionally rename the file to be downloaded and

(c) left click on "Save."



























(5) To play the downloaded file:

(a) navigate to where you saved it,

(b) right click on the entry for the podcast file and

(c) left click on a media player in the menu that appears.