I spend lots of time in cars and airplanes and behind strollers (running and walking). Thank goodness for podcasts. And for iPodder and similar applications. When things that interest you are being automatically delivered to a device you have with you all the time, you don't need to "make time" to listen. Time makes itself. Driving around, getting an oil change, etc. Whenever I'm going to be stuck somewhere is when I listen. So, some days I catch a few shows, some days I catch a whole bunch, some days none. This translates into lots of intellectual candy for me, and no more "what am I going to listen to?" thoughts or housekeeping before running out the door. I love the degree of control it gives you over the signal:noise ratio in your life.

As far as the intersection of podcasting and the legal field, as with blogs this is a great vehicle for lawyers and firms to demonstrate expertise and distribute information on important, complicated, and/or controversial topics. Or maybe just to lighten up a little. It also strikes me as a great tool to use internally: in-house MCLE, training, informational meetings, etc. could be captured as podcasts for those unable to be there in person or even virtually at the particular scheduled time. There are a whole host of internal administrative uses I would think.

But enough about that — I couldn't agree with Marty more about timeshifted and portable appellate oral argument. Though forward-looking courts are Webcasting, I really hope we'll start to see some syndicating their audio before long as well, or adopting an encouraging attitude toward those who want to do so.

As far as excellent production values and relentlessly engaging material go, it's tough to beat Evan Schaeffer and his various podcasts including "Law Related Things That Suck." The current installment is some biting political commentary regarding the Schiavo case: "In these sorts of complex cases, when it comes to judges President Bush and Congress want a judge who's less like Flounder and more like Dean Wormer — in other words, a good old-fashioned federal judge."

Also, podcasting will only get more and more accessible on both the production and listener fronts. Witness the Podcast Hotel Corante is planning, and BlawgCast, as examples.