CATchat podcast: it's about Catalonia, not cats!

The modern world is all about the flow of information and communication exchanged over the internet and, more often than not, for free. As a result, in the past few years we have seen a proliferation of online media formats, from blogs and websites to social networks and apps. One digital format that has become increasingly popular is the podcast. A sort of regular online radio programme, from both amateur enthusiasts and established media outlets, podcasts can be downloaded or streamed, providing their subscribers with news, information, advice, discussion or debate, on just about every topic imaginable. And, as with anything these days, it promotes interaction between podcasters and their listeners due to a shared interest that costs nothing and provides an original alternative to conventional media formats.

The good news (especially if people like it and subscribe) is that Catalonia Today has started its own podcast, called Catchat. As with our magazine, the Catchat podcast will deal with issues related to Catalonia in English (there'll be very little about cats!). At the beginning of every month, when the new issue of the magazine comes out, a group of us will get together for an informal discussion of some of the issues of the moment, bringing you up-to-date on what we are up to at Catalonia Today and creating a forum for us to interact with our subscribers, readers and listeners. The pilot episode to test that everything is ship-shape and working is already out there on the Soundcloud audio platform (soundcloud.com/cataloniapodcast) and will soon also be available from other major podcast distributors, such as iTunes. Also coming soon will be a Twitter account and Facebook page for the Catchat podcast, so that you the listener can get involved as well as keeping abreast of all the latest podcast related news.

The Catchat team is made up of myself (as host), editor Marcela Topor and long-standing Catalonia Today contributors, Matthew Tree and Barney Griffiths. Yet, we hope to make the best use of this audio space to bring you other contributors and special guests in the future. However, above all, we want listeners to give us feedback so that we can incorporate your suggestions and requests so as to make the podcast as relevant, informative and as much fun as possible. One of the great things about podcasts is that there are few rules, it is a free space we can do whatever we like with, and when I say 'we' I mean both the podcasters and the subscribers. Join the revolution and see (or rather hear) for yourself!