SNOQUALMIE – Broadcasting is so five decades ago. Everybody knows podcasting is the media of the moment … or at least they do now, thanks to Joe Givens.

Podcasting is like a radio broadcast you listen to on your iPod, or any digital audio player or computer with the appropriate software.

Snoqualmie’s very own Givens, 46, is quite possibly the Valley’s premier podcaster. He started his podcast about all things Snoqualmie two months ago and has been dishing on the likes of cloud formations, forgotten doggie doo and the troublesome spelling of “Snoqualmie” ever since.

Every now and then he’ll throw in a hardy rant (phlegm is bad) or political discussion (policeman are nice), just for good measure.

Podcasting is a way of publishing sound files on the Internet, allowing users to subscribe to a feed and receive new audio files automatically. Podcasting differs from broadcasting and Webcasting in the way that content is transmitted. Instead of a central audio stream, listeners download audio files remotely and automatically.

Givens chanced upon podcasting only recently when he and his friend, a fellow Ridge dweller, were tossing around the idea of producing a radio broadcast.

“Just a little goofy thing within a 2-3 mile radius, but we figured it’d cost too much and we’d have to get FCC approval. He said why not do a podcast? I got on the Web and looked it up and jumped right in,” Givens said.

Podcasting also differs from other types of audio content delivery because it uses a protocol that enables anyone to become a producer, creating self-published, syndicated radio shows. While the radio spectrum is heavily regulated and personal broadcast licenses are difficult to obtain, podcasting allows individuals to easily transmit content worldwide without these requirements.

With just his computer, a little audio software and a tiny microphone, Givens is reaching the masses from the comfort of his home office. A Metro bus driver by trade, Givens has met a lot of different people and knows a thing or two about human nature and the small, yet interesting details of life. His podcast reflects that in his musings over trifles such as cougar sightings in the Valley.

“I’m using very limited tech equipment, a mic that came with the computer and audio software I found for free. I kind of learn as I go,” Givens said.

Givens is a native of New Mexico who lived in Washington during the 1970s and then moved to California for about 12 years. But he made good on his pledge to return to Washington about three years ago when he moved to the Ridge. Givens is married to Debbie who has two sons, Ryan and Alex.

Givens is a fly-by-the-seat-of-his-pants sort who solves his own tech problems and never writes a script for his show.

“Everything comes right off the top of by my head. I’ll think of things as I drive the bus, but never write anything down,” he said.

Most of Givens’ shows run about 15 minutes, but take two hours to make due to editing and mistakes.

Givens keeps his shows pertinent to what’s happening in the Valley, but may start to interject some segments about “people in general and how strange people are.” Friends have urged him to add a “tales from the bus” segment, and Givens is considering it “because they’re so hilarious.”

Givens would not divulge many details about this segment, but said upcoming stories may feature bus regulars such as “Listerine Man” and “Backpack Woman.”

Anyone with a computer can download Givens’ shows at www.joegivens.com/SnoqualmiePodcast.htm. His site also has links to free audio software. You can also find Givens’ shows at www.podcast.net or www.podcastalley.com.

Givens posts links to his show on the Snoqualmie Yahoo group page. This is where Snoqualmie City Councilman Matt Larson discovered Givens’ show, listened and decided to be Givens’ first guest, along with Gil Tumey of the Snoqualmie Planning Commission, to talk about the police issues in Snoqualmie.

“I didn’t mean it to be a political forum, but if it is sometimes that’s great,” Givens said. “I’m not going to make it a point/counter point, but if there’s an issue in the Valley and people want to come on and talk about it, that’s fine.”

Listeners can subscribe to podcasts using “podcatching” software (or “aggregator” software), which regularly checks for and downloads new shows.

Podcasting does not require an iPod. Listeners can download iPodder software from Given’s Web site.