What is a podcast?

Podcasting, a word combining a reference to Apple's "iPod" and "broadcasting", is a method of publishing audio files to the Internet, and allowing folks like you to subscribe (usually free)  so you can receive new shows automatically. (More on how to do that below) It first became popular in late 2004, and has grown tremendously in popularity since then. 

The beauty of a podcast show is that, unlike a radio show, you can listen whenever and wherever you want to.  And if you miss something good, you can rewind and go over it again.  It puts you in control of your listening while getting current and useful information on exactly what you want to hear about - which is of course GENEALOGY! 

Does it cost money to subscribe the Genealogy Gems Podcast?

Nope -  It's absolutely FREE!

Whatâs the Genealogy Gems Podcast about?

My goal is to provide folks who are researching their family history with nuggets of  inspiration and innovation to help them get the most of out their research time.   Episodes are published on a weekly basis, and run from approximately 25 minutes long.  Show Notes with "how to" info, photos, and reliable resources are also published weekly at www.genealogygemspodcast.com. 

So how do I subscribe to the Genealogy Gems Podcast?

 If you donât already have itunes installed on your computer â

• Go to http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/
• Enter your email address in the box on the left & click the âDownload itunes 7.1 Freeâ? button
• Follow the prompts.
• Once installed, open up itunes on your computer

 Now youâre ready to subscribe to Genealogy Gems Podcastâ

• Use your curser to highlight the following address:  http://genealogygemspodcast.com/rss
• Press the Control key and the letter C key on your keyboard at the same time to COPY the address to your computerâs clipboard
• In itunes, Select ADVANCED and SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST from the menu
• A small window will open. 
• Press the Control key & the letter V key at the same time on your keyboard to PASTE http://genealogygemspodcast.com/rss into the box.
• Click OK

The podcast will automatically load into the Podcasts section of your itunes Library. You will now receive new episodes whenever they are published, & be able to listen to them in itunes anytime you want!

Do I have to have an ipod to listen?

Absolutely not.  You have lots of options to listen, but here are the easiest:

In Itunes  (where you have subscribed to this podcast.  See "How do I subscribe" FAQ above.) 

• Open itunes on your computer by clicking on your desktop icon.
• In the left column under LIBRARY click Podcasts (these are the podcasts that are in your library file on your computer)
• All your podcasts will be listed on the screen
• Click the triangle to the left of the name "Genealogy Gems Podcast".  This will "open" the podcast so you can see all the episodes.
• Double click the episode you want and it will begin to play in itunes. 

On this website - just click the media player in the upper right corner of each show.

Of course I love using my ipod to listen whenever and wherever I want.  I just plug it into my computer's USB plug, open up itunes and itunes automatically loads my ipod with new episodes it has "caught" for me since the last time I plugged it in.  Hence the term "podcatcher"!

How can I get started in researching my family tree?