Where can I find quality podcasts? Programmes that talk about subjects that interest me? The phenomenal growth of this audio medium is turning the search for relevant podcasts into an exploration of a teeming jungle. So here's a directory and two specialist search engines: Podchaser and Listen Notes.

Where can I find relevant podcasts?

Podcasts are enjoying unexpected growth for audio media. It has to be said that its ubiquity plays enormously in its favour: it is (almost) impossible - and even forbidden - to watch a video while driving. You can, however, listen to your favourite podcast at the wheel.

The downside of this phenomenal success is the proliferation of programmes. Podcasts of all types and on all subjects. Subjects you could even use in your training courses or on your website.

How do you find your way through this jungle?

Podcast France: the French directory

There is a specialist directory in French: Podcast France.

Podcasts are classified according to various categories, as shown below:

Podcast owners can register via a simple form on the site.

Link to the site.

Two specialist search engines

Fortunately, there are specialist search engines. I retained two :

• Podchaser
• Listen Notes

These two engines are very close to each other. And they both offer more than just relevant research.

Let's take a look at their features and qualities.

Highly efficient search engines

Firstly, as long as Podchaser that Listen Notes are very effective search engines. I was afraid that these engines were only effective for Anglo-Saxon media. Big mistake! I was able to easily (re-)find programmes in French, Italian, Spanish and Dutch, as shown in the illustration below:

This search was made easier by Podchaser's 'filters':

• language Dutch
• subject : politics

Podchaser's interface is in English, which doesn't make life any easier for French speakers. Listen Notes is partially translated into French.

In Podchaser, the advanced filters are free, whereas in Listen Notes they are part of the Premium package. Nevertheless, so far I've always found what I was looking for via Listen Notes.

Lists of podcasts of all styles

Both Podchaser and Listen Notes allow you to create 'Lists'. These lists can be private, unlisted (the same principle as YouTube videos) or public. A great way to promote podcasts you enjoy.

I have created a list of French educational podcasts on each of the engines. However, I couldn't find Prof Etc via Podchaser, although I was able to include it in Listen Notes without any problem.

You can also comment on the different podcasts on your public list: a kind of podcast curation for your readers.

Promoting your podcast?

It's all very well to want to discover other people's podcasts.

But how do you get the word out about yours?

We'll look at this together in the next article on podcasts.

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