I've subscribed to a blues music feed. Seemed like a good idea at the time. Automatically, iTunes downloads the music. But I don't subscribe to any 'radio-type' podcasts. I think, were I a commuter, I may do. I occasionally download a podcast, but it's straight off a website, so it's not 'cast' as such. More like downloading a sound file.

I've created one or two feeble attempts at my own 'radio show' but they're not worth sharing.

This said, I know there is mileage in the enclosure element in RSS feeds, which is where the sound file resides in a proper, automatically, downloaded podcast. If you've more time commuting, or walking the dog, sound is more useful to you. However, I think there is going to be a big, big rise in videocasting. Same feed element, but it's a video instead of a sound file. Though, it will need to be tied in with a torrent server, so that the bandwidth involved in sending out, say a feature film to 100,000 users is feasible.

Imagine watching Eastenders on your computer. I know, I know, you can do that on the telly. But what about the long tail of all those old episodes of Eastenders. Or, the millions of other programmes that aren't on broadcast TV. These are coming.

I've read this thread, and it seems that the Sony Minidisc is the way to go. The Minidisc is cheap on eBay at less than £30. But I don't know about getting it off and converted to MP3. {Later: I find out that there's too, too, too many steps with the Sony format of ATRAC. You need to use SonicStage to convert to WAV, then something else to MP3.]

The iRiver also came out well in the Edgadet thread, but it's interface was hard — apparently. Though the iRiver looking good in this 2005 PodcastPickle thread. The 799 and 890 look good. [I'll have to come back to the eBay search]

Whichever, it's down to the best mic that is affordable.

However, this thread was from 2005. So, there may still be a better, more current answer out there.

I tried Audacity for my very first podcasts, years ago. It was complex, for me, who knew nothing about sound. I want completely easy, zero learning curve for my lovely, non-geek Heads. Otherwise it just won't happen. Even with the above method, they'd need a long, long extension from computer to assembly hall. They'd have to convert from WAV to MP3 too. Too, too, too many steps. (Though there is an app that's better than the default Windows recorder, but not so complex as Audacity, but it's $27.)

But this a cheap way.

And this is a good (USB) microphone at $79. So, with this method, we're looking at about £40 total.

Another expensive beast, still, it's less than the Sony, at $299 — don't know if this price is available in Blighty, as I see it at £240.

What I like about both of these is, you can create your MP3 then put it straight onto your computer (loaded as a mass storage device) and you're done. No editing, balancing or any other software required. Just uploaded straight from there.

At $1300 or £689 It is very expensive, still, it's just the job to record morning assemblies.

Endgaget thinks that the amount of compression you'd use to make a small MP3 would negate the quality of this mic's recording. (They also have it at $1,200.)