How to Listen to Podcasts for Learning: 4 Tips to Get More Value

This blog post was originally published on 06/05/2023. It was updated on 03/01/2026.

Podcasts are one of the easiest and cheapest ways to learn something new, stay up to date in your industry, or develop a skill without signing up for another course or training programme.

But how to listen to podcasts and learn something isn’t quite as easy as simply pressing play and passively listening.

Many people listen to podcasts regularly but struggle to retain what they hear or turn those ideas into action.

Why?

Because a lot of people listen to podcast episodes whilst doing something else. In fact, one of the main times and places that people listen to podcasts is when they are driving the car.

Yes, you can listen whilst driving, but you can hardly grab a pen and write down something you’ve learned or want to remember further down the line.

Because of where we listen to podcast shows, episodes can end up becoming background noise. We listen to so much information that information overload sets in, and suddenly, you’ve listened to a tonne of content without feeling any more knowledgeable than when you started.

If you use podcasts for personal or professional development, a more intentional approach to listening can make a huge difference.

In this post, we’re going to cover 4 tips for how to listen to podcasts and actually get value from these episodes.

1. Choose the Right Podcast for You

With so many podcasts available, it’s important to choose the right one for what you want to learn about.

• Consider your interests, hobbies, and goals when selecting a podcast to learn from
• Look for podcasts that align with your values and provide valuable information or entertainment
• Read the show notes and show descriptions. Are the episode titles telling you what you’ll learn, or are they vague and non-directional?

This will give you a better idea of the format, tone, and content of the podcast. Some podcasts may have a specific theme or focus, while others may cover a variety of topics.

Don’t be afraid to try out new podcasts and don’t feel obligated to stick with one that doesn’t resonate with you.

One of the top ways in which people discover new podcasts is through recommendations from friends. So if you know someone who has similar interests to you, ask them if they know of any good podcasts on the topic.

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2. Make Time for Listening

One of the most important tips for getting the most out of podcast listening is to make time for it.

This might be easy to say, but, if you want to learn from a podcast then you need to dedicate time to that learning.

Depending on how much time you have will likely affect the shows you listen to. For example, if your commute is 20 minutes long, then an hour-long podcast episode probably won’t be for you.

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3. Use a Podcast App to Organise Your Subscriptions and Stay Consistent

Keeping track of all your favourite podcasts can be overwhelming, especially if you subscribe to multiple shows.

Using a podcast app (which is provided by a podcast directory) can help you stay organised and manage your subscriptions more efficiently.

Many podcast apps allow you to create playlists, mark episodes as played or unplayed, and even adjust the playback speed. Some popular podcast apps include Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and GoodPods.

My personal favourite app to listen to podcasts on is Apple Podcasts. And take note of that if you’re a podcaster, by the way.

Like nearly 40% of podcast listeners, I use Apple Podcasts to listen to podcasts. In fact, Apple Podcasts has the largest listenership of any podcast directory. (And for reference, Spotify comes in second).

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4. Match Your Podcast to Your Activity

When listening to a podcast, the way to get the most out of the episode’s content is to match what you are listening to with the activity you are doing at that time.

If we go back to the example of driving, this is when I tend to listen to light-hearted interview-style podcasts, or podcasts that are designed for entertainment. This way, I can focus on the primary task (driving) and I don’t feel like I’m having my attention diverted trying to remember something that I want to learn.

In contrast, I tend to listen to how-to guides when I’m going walking. Walking is a low-focus activity, and I can let my mind wander and consider what I can learn from the episode I am listening to. I can pause the episode and consider how what I’m listening to can be relevant in my life, and then hit play again when I’m ready to continue.

True, I’m not taking notes whilst walking, but I can also pull out my phone and quickly tap on a link in the show notes to come back to later, something I can’t do when I’m driving.

Knowing when and where is best for you to listen to certain types of podcasts and podcast episodes will dramatically improve your listening experience with different types of shows.

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Conclusion

If you listen to podcasts purely for entertainment, there’s no right or wrong way to do it.

But if you’re using podcasts as a learning tool, a small shift in how you listen can lead to far better results for your time spent listening.

By choosing podcasts with intention, matching episodes to your attention span, and being mindful about when you listen passively versus actively, podcasts can become an amazing (and free) form of ongoing education.

If you already have podcasts built into your daily routine, whether that’s during your commute, on the school run, or while doing housework, you’re halfway there. With intention, those same listening habits can help you learn more, retain more, and get real value from the content you consume.