Podcasts are on the rise globally, and Monterey County is no exception.

Erik Chalhoub here. Despite the term being around for more than 20 years, I never understood the difference between a podcast and a radio show.

I grew up listening to the radio, mostly KSJO out of San Jose in the 1990s, back when it played new rock music from such bands as Metallica, Nirvana and Stone Temple Pilots. The station had regular talk shows, probably more adult-oriented than I could understand at my age.

At face value, podcasts and radio are similar: In their most basic description, they both consist of people talking into microphones.

The key difference is in their availability. Radio shows are live, while podcasts are available on-demand over the internet.

After working on this week’s cover story, I finally understood what makes a podcast a podcast, and what makes radio, radio.

For many, podcasting is a full-time job, and it certainly involves that commitment and more. I checked in with a few local podcast hosts to learn their motivations behind their shows, as well as what it takes to ensure they have a high-quality production. The financial cost of entry is relatively little, but don’t let that fool you: the cost of time is significant.

Also in the cover story, staff writer Pam Marino discovered that there is a podcast mogul in our midst. Stephanie Wittels Wachs co-founded Lemonada Media, producing podcasts from the likes of Julia Louis-Dreyfus and David Duchovny, all from her base of operations at her Pacific Grove home.

Staff writer Celia Jiménez highlighted a few local podcasts, showing the breadth of subjects covered by people and organizations in Monterey County, from the furry adoptable friends at the SPCA to the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

I encourage you to check out the cover story, and perhaps discover your new favorite podcast. What’s your go-to show?