With so many podcasts available, it can be hard to find one that is reliable and appeals to you. This is a personal choice, but before you start listening to a health podcast you may want to consider the following:
Credibility
- Who created or produced the podcast?
- Hospitals, universities, national health organizations are good sources for health information
- A podcast created by a doctor or researcher who specializes in a condition may be a good source
Timeliness
- Can you find the date of the podcast?
- Is this podcast updated regularly?
- Is the date of the latest episode recent?
Note: some topics like mental health or mindfulness can remain relevant for a longer period.
Accuracy
- Can you verify the information in the podcast from another reliable source?
- Is it clear when they are discussing personal experience?
- Do they refer to studies to back up what they discuss?
- Do they quote doctors or researchers that you can check online?
Things to watch out for:
- Opinions that are not supported by facts
- Podcasts that make you react with emotion instead of giving you information on how to cope with your situation
- People speaking on a topic for which they have no training
Purpose
- Who is the intended audience for the podcast?
- If it is for patients and community members, it should have easy to understand language
- If it is for medical professionals, it will have technical terms and may be harder to follow
Coverage
- Is there an overall theme of health in all of the podcast episodes?
- Does the podcast make it clear what will be discussed in each episode?
- Do they stick to this plan or wander off to other topics?
Sound and Organization
- Does the speaker’s voice appeal to you?
- Is the sound quality good, easy to listen to?
- Does the introduction or description let you know what to expect for the rest of the episode?
Advertising
- Does the podcast have ads? Some very good ones have no ads.
- Do they tell you if they have a sponsor? Is it clear what is the podcast and what is information about the sponsor?
- Is the sponsor’s product related to the topic of the podcast? This could influence the content.
