Prior to the presentation on Podcasting I did not know much about what was considered as a podcast. I saw the application on my phone and have heard about it from my favorite YouTubers yet I was unsure of what a podcast actually was.  Podcasting is a mixture of broadcasting and ipod, the device from apple. It is often an audio file that is downloadable to any device like an ipod,phone, tablet or computer. During the presentation themes arose to showcase the benefits of podcasting but also the social issues that come with podcasting. Some benefits that come with podcasting is the fact that you can now listen to podcast anywhere and every device. As a listener you have the opportunity to multitask since a podcast is all audio based, except for some who use videos.  A listener will not have to miss out on any information whatsoever. As a broadcaster, you have the opportunity to broadcast to for free, and be able to speak about whatever you would like.

As far as some issues are concerned there are quite a few. One issue is that of gender. The group mentioned that in the world of podcast women are not in the same league as men. Although there are many women who do broadcast and seem to have a fan base, overall men are seen and ranked at a better rate. Another issue in the world of podcasting is race. In the article, “The Podcast ‘‘Chitlin’ Circuit’’: Black Podcasters, Alternative Media, and Audio Enclaves” by Sarah Florini she explores this issue.  She states, “In the years since 2011, Black podcasting has flourished, and a vibrant network1 of Black podcasters, some of whom refer to themselves as the ‘‘Chiltin’ Circuit’’ or ‘‘urban podcasters,’’ has grown from half-a-dozen into hundreds” (pg 210).  

She makes clear in her article that it was not an easy road, and it is still a work in progress as to evening the playing field in the white male dominated industry.  Another issue mentioned during the presentation was that of profit in the podcast industry. Podcasting is free to listen to and most podcasters do not profit. The only way to profit is through advertisements or what some podcasters do which is ask listeners to pay for old podcast. In conclusion, the podcasting industry seems to have a lot of good and a lot of bad. Yet there is no denying that it will only continue to strive and hopefully the gaps between race and gender.