I’ve started listening to podcasts on my longer runs (it’s been hard to get my NPR fix since my 80-mile daily commute came to an end), but only after an extended battle with my iPod shuffle.

The new shuffle is way more complicated than it needs to be when it comes to podcasts (IMHO). After a few failed attempts to try to get my playlist to play both podcasts and music (considering I worked with tech companies for the last 3 years I should probably be more embarrassed about how difficult this was for me…), my very resourceful, very handsome husband took time away from studying neuroanatomy to get on Google, figure it out, and explain it to me.

So for those of you who have the new shuffle and are either too lazy or dumb (like me) to read and understand the instructions Apple provides online, here is how to do it:

• Download the podcasts that you want to listen to
• Drag each particular podcast episode that you want on your playlist onto the separate “Podcast Playlist” (dragging them onto a normal music playlist along with your songs doesn’t work, only the songs on that playlist will play)
• Select the playlists you want on your shuffle, including “Podcast Playlist”, and sync your shuffle.
• Start up your shuffle, keeping it on the “play in order” setting.

• When you want to change from what you are currently listening to to another playlist, hit pause and hold down the voiceover button.  It will run through all of the different playlists you loaded onto your shuffle.  When it names the podcast that you want, just hit play.  Note: if you have chosen episodes from different podcasts (ie: NPR Fresh Air and ESPN Pardon the Interruption) these will come up as two separate playlists, even though they are both on the Podcast Playlist.
• Enjoy Fresh Air with Terry Gross

Ta da!  Magic.