Sometimes its nice to just sit back and listen. There are several places on the Internet where you can do just that and learn about Ohio at the same time. Here is a sampling of such online places where you can listen and learn about Ohio’s past, as well as the state's unique culture and way of life. All of them can be enjoyed on your computer itself, and some of them can also be downloaded into your mp3 player and taken with you to enjoy on your evening walk.

Life in Ohio Podcast – The Life in Ohio Podcast, delivered monthly, is composed of a little bit of… well, everything. According to its creator, the podcast is “…about my life in Ohio, What there is to do in Ohio, Ohio History and Ohio News. I also promote ANY Ohio based band..” Editions have included trips to the Ohio State Fair, Circleville Pumpkin Show and the Motts Military Museum in Groveport. Its not all about Ohio history per se, but it is a lot about what its like to live in the Buckeye State in the early 21st century.

Discover Ohio -- The Division of Travel and Tourism of the Ohio Department of Development has a wide range of podcasts that touch on local Ohio history. Listeners can experience “scary Mansfield” through virtual trips to the Ohio State Reformatory and Malabar Farm, and can learn about the history of glassmaking in Tiffin. Another podcast features an interview with Vicky Branson of the Ohio Historical Society, who reviews a wide range of heritage attractions (click on “Celebrate Ohio History.”)

Ohioana Authors – This website includes dozens of radio that “…showcase Ohio’s rich literary heritage.” Learn about the lives and works of writers, poets and dramatists such as James Thurber, R.L. Stine, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Hart Crane, Gloria Steinem, Sherwood Anderson, and many others. Click on a given name, and the podcast is at the bottom of a page of information concerning that author – just click on the arrow to begin.

The Inside View – This series focuses on specific artifacts of Ohio’s archeological history as an accompaniment to the display “Windows to Our Collections: Ohio’s Ancient Past” at the Ohio Historical Society. While each episode is presented online in a video format via YouTube, each can also be downloaded on an IPOD or other mp3 player. Viewers and listeners can learn about specific items such as animal masks and boatstones, as well as learning about various archeological sites.