Podcasts are like Magazine Subscriptions.

With a magazine subscription you register for a magazine (podcast) and then every so often the publisher (podcaster) will send one to your house (your computer).

If you are familiar with downloading mp3's to your computer, you may wonder what the difference is. A podcast is a service you subscribe too and instead of searching or going to a website to download your mp3 of choice, it will automatically be downloaded to your computer.

Like a magazine that you have subscribed to, you decide when you want to read it ( or hear it ) or when you want to throw it away ( or delete it in this case)  You can also cancel any subscription at any time.

Just like a magazine, you have the option of going to the store to purchase it.  In this case, just simply visit the site and listen online.