Paring down the podcasts

As a freelance writer/editor/whatever who worked at home, the podcast allowed near-constant companion while I procrastinated between assignments or worked out during my gym's antithesis of rush hour, 10 a.m.

But I recently started a new gig, one that requires ties and - at least for the time being - leaving the house and keeping regular hours with ears open. Thus, the iPod is tucked away for breaks in training and eating lunch (somewhat creepily, I admit) in my car. Only this change in schedule truly revealed how my desire to consume and review this medium had turned overwhelming. I was the equivalent of the TV couch potato, the Web commenter who writes in "First!" or longtime-listener-first-time-caller on the radio. I had become a pod person.

Here is a list of my current iTunes subscriptions, which includes the removal of Max Kellerman's radio show since his recent departure for a destination to be named later:

• Adam Carolla Podcast
• APM: Sound Opinions on Demand
• Baseball America
• Baseball Prospectus Radio
• ESPN First Draft
• ESPN: Dave Dameshek on Demand
• ESPN: Fantasy Focus Baseball
• ESPN: The B.S. Report with Bill Simmons
• House of Punte: The KSK Podcast
• The Joe Sports Fan Show
• NPR: All Songs Considered Podcast
• NPR: Planet Money Podcast
• NPR: Pop Culture Podcast
• The Official Lost Podcast
• On the DL with Dan Levy
• Onion News Network (Video)
• This American Life
• TV Barn
• USA Today's Pop Candy
• The 404 (CNET)

That's a lotta podcast. Thankfully, I delete the files pretty quickly after listening, because I don't think I'd like to see that "total time" listing on the bottom of the iTunes window. I'm not helped by the fact On the DL and Fantasy Focus just went daily, either.

For a while I didn't understand why the whole world hadn't embraced the podcast. Now, I better understand the plight, not of content but that nemesis of all creative endeavors: time.