Educating for podcasting: "ASSIPOD", "Casa del Podcast", and the spreading of (independent) podcasting culture in Italy

Making a podcast is a widespread practice, but nowadays it often requires high-level creative skills and technical expertise due to the increasingly high-quality products being put on the market. Consequently, this proposal aims to explore innovative podcast teaching practices in Italy by the analysis of the educational offer and practices developed by “ASSIPOD” and “Casa del Podcast”. ASSIPOD is the Italian Podcast Association, and Casa del Podcast is its operating base, based in Rome. This association is unique in Italy and is the first to bring out the issue of the popularisation of podcasting with a physical location and a rich and constant variety of events. In this study we conducted a participatory observation following the initiatives proposed by Casa del Podcast, and a series of interviews with board members and teachers. The observation aims at understanding the best practice to teach podcasting and to evaluate the results of the activities of ASSIPOD and the contribute of a place like Casa del Podcast.