So what does all this blog talk have to do with Podcasting?
Well, the two are intimately entwined, since a Podcast is built on exactly the
same framework as a blog. The major difference is that, whereas a blog update
is composed mostly of text and images, a Podcast update is an audio file (most
often an mp3) that may or may not be accompanied by a text description. The RSS
specification is used for Podcasts just as it is for blogs, and though
different applications are used to handle subscriptions, the general
methodology is the same.
Because the ability to make, distribute and receive Podcasts
is available to anyone with a computer and an Internet connection, there is
literally no limit to what can be communicated in a Podcast. Granted, there are
legal implications to distributing copyrighted material through Podcasts
without permission, and Podcasts with incendiary or controversial content are
likely to generate hatemail, but there is no regulatory body that oversees
Podcast content (unlike radio). This makes Podcasting one of the only remaining
forms of truly free speech, and with a global range to boot.