About the FUS "Podcast"

What's a podcast ?

A podcast system (or "RSS" feed, which stands for Really Simple Syndication) is a technology which allows you to subscribe to web content exactly as you might subscribe to a magazine or newspaper, rather than going to a newsstand each week and buying them. Once you establish a subscription to the FUS Sermon Podcast, our FUS audio sermons will be automatically delivered to your computer whenever they are published, so you can listen at your leisure. And if you do have an MP3 player, you can optionally use it to take the sermons on the road.

Despite the name, you don't need an iPod. All you need is a computer with audio software (like the popular and free program iTunes).

Like a newspaper of magazine, you may want to try a single copy first. We encourage you to do so! To download sermon audio from FUS without subscribing, just use this link to go to the Sermons web page, select a sermon you wish to hear, and click on the MP3 or Windows Media links below the sermon description. You may need to follow the instruction on the right side of that screen to listen.

How do I do it?

The first step is to download and install some Podcast software. These vary from small free programs that are maiintained by volunteers, to elaborate commercial ones that sell music and movies along with free content.

iTunes

iTunes is one of the latter programs. Though it is riddled with musical advertising and more recently, television programs and full length movies, it is also a relatively easy-to-use product. A bonus is that there are thousands of podcasts on many topics available through iTunes, including over 50 UU related podcasts. You may have to search a bit to find them though.

Use the following link to Download iTunes onto your computer. Mac users will already have it installed, unless you Mac is very old. iTunes is a cross-platform program (works on Windows and Mac OS)..

Once you've installed iTunes, open it, and click on the link below to open our podcast. You will then be presented with the opportunity to subscribe. To download sermons without subscribing, go to our Sermons web page, and click on the (MP3) links below each sermon description.

This is the iTunes link for the -->  First Unitarian Society of Madison Sermon Podcast

Other Aggregators

Numerous other software alternatives exist to iTunes that lack its commercial quality. Most are free.
Juice is a good example. Another is iPodder. A quick web search will find other alternatives.

Use the "RSS link" below to subscribe to the FUS Sermons Podcast with these Pocast programs. You may also paste this link directly into iTunes in the "Subscribe to Podcast" option under the "Advanced" option on your menu. This is an easy shortcut.

This is our RSS Link http://www.fusmadison.org/sermons/sermons.xml

What if it doesn't work?

If something doesn't work, try one of the options in the Help menu of your software. Still having problems? Our staff will be happy to try to help. Call (608) 233-9774 extension 122, or tell me what's up with this form. You should be aware however that our one web staff person is only available during business hours, so please be patient. We'll do our best to give you a hand.

Feedback Please!

We would really appreciate it if you let me know how it's going, good or bad. Love the podcast? Tell us! Hated them? Tell me! Needed help understanding all this convoluted language? Tell me! Here's that feedback form again.