Is A Podcast A Radio Program Or Is A Radio Program A Podcast?

There are differences between a podcast and a radio. But, a podcast can be repurposed or used as a radio program. A podcast can be described as a “personal radio program.” This is a radio program you, the podcaster, desires to have and you are free to talk on any topic that interests you. At the same time, your listeners have the ability to jump to any part of the podcast they want to listen to. They also have the ability to listen to your podcast at any time and any day.

You can create a podcast simply by using your smartphone to do the recording. However, a radio program requires sophisticated technological machines or devices to transmit to listeners tuning in to different channels and frequencies.

A podcast is so versatile in the sense that you can take it to a radio station and have your podcast program played on a traditional radio station as well. This actually allows you the flexibility to have both, a traditional radio program and a podcast!

Differences Between A Radio Program And A Podcast

1. Budget

A Radio programming is more expensive. Hosting a radio program will require you to pay a certain amount of money and be limited to a certain time slot. Your listeners are the radio stations audience. They do not subscribe to you, they are tuned into the radio station.

A podcast doesn’t need much upfront money to get started. You can record with your smartphones or recording device and make it available either on your podcast host site, iTunes (Apple Podcasts), your church website, submit it to online radio or, as I indicated above, take it to traditional radio station, which could be at an additional cost over the other options.

The promotion of your podcast is dependent totally on you. You will be the one building your audience (not the radio station or anyone else). You will be gaining loyal listeners and subscribers who are there only to listen to you!

2. Time

When it comes to making use of radio stations, you will pay for a specific time slot and will not be allowed to exceed that time before you’re cut off. Podcasting doesn’t have any time constraints. You can record as long as you desire to talk. I know some podcasters who have daily 10 minute programs and others that have daily 60 minute programs. You are not bound by time constraints as you would be with traditional radio.

As long as you have enough memory space on your smartphone or recording devices, you can record for as long as you desire!

3. Team

You can have a podcast without the help of anyone. You can get yourself to a place where you can put your smartphone or recording device on record mode and say whatever you desire for the whole world to hear.

I managed all aspects of my podcast for years. From planning the episodes to recording the episodes. From editing the files and loading them to servers. To promoting the programs and answering emails. You can definitely be a “one person operation” as long as you have the time to dedicate to the enterprise.

It’s not the same with a traditional radio program. Although you may be able to record your program as a podcast, when you start to interact with the traditional radio station, they have their way of running things.

Radio requires many technical workers who ensure all of the broadcasting regulations are followed; all of the technical aspects are followed and that your program meets broadcasting standards. Timing often is managed down to the exact second (and not one second more)!

4. Flexibility

A podcast allows its users to be able to control when and how the program can be listened to. It can be paused, forwarded, rewound, or stopped at the discretion of the listener. A radio program, played on a traditional radio station, is always on the air in its time slot (but no other time slot). If you listeners missed your program on radio, they have almost no way of going back to listen. Podcasting allows your listeners to listen at any time of any day.

5. Location

A radio station is based on a geographical area where people in that particular locale can be reached, depending on the power and frequency of the station. A podcast is not location-based. It can be accessed by everyone, regardless of their location (as long as they have access to the internet)!

How To Use Your Podcast As A Radio Program

You can repurpose your podcast for a radio program in different ways. Below are some of the more common ways to repurpose your podcast:

1. You can provide your recorded sermon (podcast) to the local radio stations (not necessarily the ones in your town, state, or country alone), and they can play the audio file on the scheduled day and time slot you pay for.

2. You can also sign up with an online radio station and have your recordings played on a time slot on that particular platform.

3. You can also upload it on your website for streaming. (Although this is not technically a “radio program” when it is on your website alone.

Importance Of Podcast Recording As A Radio Program

A podcast allows you to impact the lives of those you will probably never meet in person. You can do this by sharing your podcast’s audio files and influence people towards the topics you’re addressing.

There are still people who listen to traditional radio despite advancements in technology. Traditional radio will always have a role in the information age, but technology today is shifting away from traditional radio and moving online.

That is why online radio is gaining in popularity. With online radio, people can access programming through the internet. Therefore you can transform your podcast into a radio program to reach out to those that listen to radio programs.

You can also reach out to radio stations outside of your community, town or state and subscribe for a time slot to play your podcast as a radio program.

You can reach out to other nations of the world through podcasting and online radio. Traditional radio (unless they are streaming on the Internet as well) will only reach your traditional, local audiences.

Credit: Robert Thibodeau