Podcasts

 

Podcasting in the Library: Our Experience with Podbean

The Power of Podcasts in Education and Libraries

Podcasts have become a powerful way to share knowledge, spark discussions, and engage students in new ways. Whether for professional learning, student projects, or library outreach, they provide a dynamic alternative to traditional reading-based instruction. I’ve always been intrigued by their potential in education, so working on this podcast project with Claire was both exciting and eye-opening.

Choosing a Podcasting Platform: The Search for the Best Fit

Before we could start recording, we needed to explore different podcasting platforms and determine which one would best suit our needs. We tested Podbean, Audioboo, and Anchor, comparing their features, usability, and overall effectiveness. Here’s what we found:

Audioboo (now Audioboom) – A simple and mobile-friendly option, but it has limitations like a 5-minute recording cap and less flexibility for remote collaboration. Best suited for short-form classroom updates or student-created mini-podcasts.

Anchor – A completely free platform that integrates well with Spotify. It offers basic editing tools and easy publishing, but it lacks advanced analytics and customization options. While great for beginners, we wanted something with more control over exporting and saving files.

Podbean – Ultimately, Podbean was our winner. I had used it in a previous class, so I was already familiar with its features. We were able to record from different locations, which was essential for our setup. Podbean also allows for easy exporting, saving, and editing of files, giving us full control over our podcast’s final version.

Our Podcast Process: Recording with Podbean

Since Claire and I were not in the same location, we initially met via Zoom to plan our podcast and discuss recording logistics. While we knew we could record on Zoom and paste the audio together, we decided to record directly on Podbean instead to simplify the process.

Luckily, Podbean allowed us to record seamlessly, save our audio as a file, and edit it later. Claire was able to add sound effects, while I experimented with adding music—though I later realized that the music played nonstop throughout the entire podcast. It was a good learning experience about how background music should be strategically placed rather than running continuously.

After finalizing the edits, we posted our podcast directly to Podbean, which made distribution easy and professional. Here is the link:

Secret in the Stacks

Podcasting in Libraries: Why It Matters

Libraries have always been centers of storytelling, and podcasts offer a new way to engage with audiences. Here’s how I see podcasts benefiting school libraries:

Engaging Students – Student-created podcasts can encourage research, critical thinking, and creativity in a way traditional essays cannot.
Librarian-Led Content – Libraries can use podcasts to introduce book recommendations, research tips, or even guest author interviews.
Community Connection – Podcasts can serve as a bridge between the library and parents, educators, and the wider school community.

Lessons Learned

Music placement – While Podbean made it easy to add music, I learned that having it play throughout the podcast wasn’t ideal. Next time, I would place it strategically in the intro and transitions.
Finding the right pacing – We learned that speaking naturally (and not rushing) made a huge difference in making our podcast sound engaging.

Final Thoughts & Recommendation

Would I recommend Podbean for educators and librarians? Absolutely. It’s user-friendly, flexible, and offers strong distribution options to make your podcast feel polished and professional. For those just starting out, Anchor is also a great free option, though it has fewer customization features. Audioboo is best for quick, classroom-style updates, but it’s not ideal for longer, more structured podcasts.

For those looking for inspiration or great educational podcasts, check out these:

There are several great platforms where you can find educational podcasts for students, educators, and librarians. Below is a list of the best places to discover educational podcasts, categorized by their focus areas:

• Listen Notes – A podcast search engine where you can filter by topic, including education and libraries.
• PBS LearningMedia – Offers podcasts tailored to K-12 education, often accompanied by lesson plans and teaching resources.
• National Public Radio (NPR) Podcasts – Features well-researched educational shows like Wow in the World (science for kids) and Planet Money (economics).
• Harvard EdCast – Focuses on educational trends, research, and policy.
• The Digital Shift (School Library Journal) – Occasionally features podcasts relevant to school librarianship and digital technology in education.
• TED-Ed Podcasts – Includes inspiring and thought-provoking content on education, critical thinking, and research.
• BBC Learning English – Offers short podcasts to improve English skills.
• EdSurge Podcast – Covers trends in education technology and innovation.
• The Cult of Pedagogy – A podcast for teachers discussing pedagogy, classroom management, and teaching strategies.
• Yale Open Courses Podcasts – Features lectures from Yale professors.
• MIT OpenCourseWare Podcasts – Provides high-quality educational content from MIT courses.
• The Library Leadership Podcast – Focuses on library science, leadership, and advocacy.
• University of Oxford Podcasts – Includes lectures, research talks, and discussions from Oxford scholars.
• Overdue Conversations (AASL Podcast) – Covers school libraries, research skills, and information literacy.
• The EdTech Take Out – Focuses on technology tools for teachers and librarians.
• T is for Training – A podcast dedicated to training in library settings.
• The Library Pros – Discusses technology and innovation in libraries.

This project was an incredible experience in learning how to use podcasting as an educational tool. Whether in a classroom, a library, or even just as a personal passion project, there’s so much potential to use audio storytelling to inform, entertain, and inspire.

Would I do another podcast? Absolutely. And next time, I’ll make sure the music doesn’t play nonstop!