How to Download and Listen to Podcasts on Your Kindle
This "Podcast How-To" guide is based on the Kindle Keyboard but may well work with other e-ink Kindle devices except for the current budget Kindle which has no audio capability. The technique may also work with older Kindle e-ink devices.
Sometimes reading the Kindle just isn't practical. Maybe you're busy ironing, cooking, gardening or decorating. And that's where podcasts come in handy. Whatever you're interested in, you can pretty much bet there is a podcast available on that subject for you to listen to and enjoy - usually for free. Image Credit: renjith krishnan @ FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Where can you find podcasts?
BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts
Podcast.com: http://podcast.com
iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/genre/podcasts/id26
How can you download a podcast to your PC?
Normally, you would subscribe to a podcast via the free iTunes software, Juice or an RSS feed. Subscribing means that you'll get all future episodes for each podcast you subscribe to.
The Kindle cannot currently subscribe to a series of podcasts. You can, however, download individual episodes and transfer them to your Kindle to listen to.
BBC Podcasts:
At the BBC website (http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts) simply find a podcast you want to listen to, right-click on the "Download" link and choose "Save Target As" or "Save Link As."
Podcast.com Podcasts:
At the Podcast website (http://podcast.com) it's also just a case of finding a podcast, right-click on the "Download" button and select "Save Target As" or "Save Link As."
iTunes Podcasts:
You can download single episodes of iTunes podcasts (http://itunes.apple.com/us/genre/podcasts/id26) into the iTunes software - if you have it downloaded to your PC.
On a Windows PC, you'll normally find the individual podcasts stored in your Music folder under: iTunes / iTunes Media / Podcasts / Name of Podcast OR you can open up iTunes on your PC, click on Podcasts, right-click on the podcast you want and select "Show in Windows Explorer." You'll then easily have access to the podcasts.
I also browse through iTunes online to find a podcast, then click on the link that says "Podcast Website" which I've highlighted in the image above for you.
If I now visit this website which is Len Edgerly's "The Kindle Chronicles," I can right-click on the Download link at the bottom of any post and select "Save Target As" or "Save Link As." This will save the individual episode as an .mp3 file on your PC.
"The Kindle Chronicles" is a podcast I enjoy listening to over the weekend and it comes well recommended. Len provides 45 minutes of Kindle news, interviews and a tech tip every Friday at: www.thekindlechronicles.com
Easily Transfer a Podcast to your Kindle
OK now you have a podcast (or two) saved as an .mp3 file on your PC.
Plug your Kindle into the PC with its USB cable. Copy and paste each podcast (or drag from another folder) into the Audible folder on your Kindle. When the file(s) are copied over, disconnect your Kindle.
Play podcasts on your Kindle
This is my very first video for KinWorm.com! It's on YouTube at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HM9tfYYvYjk
It's short, at less than 2 minutes, and provides a basic run-through of playing a Podcast once you've got it loaded on your Kindle Keyboard device.
Your podcast(s) will appear as individual files on the Home page of your Kindle. They can easily be identified as they have the word "Audio" next to each one.
To play, select a podcast and press the middle of your 5-way control OR press the long space bar button to stop and start. The controls are limited (play, pause, skip forward, skip back and go right back to the start) but fine for listening to podcasts.
Using this method, you cannot play the Podcast as background music and read a book. Have a look at my suggested blog post to read more about Music on your Kindle:
UK Audible Audio Books: Free Audiobook Download with a 14 day Free Trial at Audible.co.uk
US Audible Audio Books: Limited Time Offer - Get Your First 3 Months at Audible.com for $7.49/month!
Related Kindle Pages:
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Does it bookmark podcasts? In other words - say I am 35 minutes into a podcast stop/pause it and start reading a book. When I go back to that podcast, will the kindle start it where I left off?
Yes the Kindle should remember where you left off on a podcast (or an audiobook) and I've never had an issue with this myself. So yes, you can listen to part of a podcast, then read a book and then resume the podcast.
You cannot set your own manual "bookmarks" on audio files which is a feature I would like to see in the future. Just as a way of marking interesting points to go back and listen to again.
Also untested is what happens if you listen to part of a podcast or audio file and then start listening to another one. I always listen to an entire podcast in one go and then move to the next. It did occur to me whether the Kindke remembers your place across multiple podcasts. So that's one I could check out in the future.
Thanks - very clear instructions and I got it working in no time. I will now be enjoying podcasts on my rather long daily commute!
Thanks for your comment, Greg. Glad that you can now enjoy listening to podcasts on your Kindle! Should make your commute an easier journey.