The Word podcast has been put out, on a more or less weekly basis, since 2006. It doesn’t attempt to be a “rockumentary” or anything similarly dull. It sometimes has musical guests, it sometimes doesn’t. It meanders across all kinds of subjects. It’s as spontaneous and unscripted as a conversation ought to be.

Mostly that conversation is between Mark Ellen and David Hepworth. From time to time they’re joined by Word regulars like Kate Mossman, Andrew Harrison Paul Du Noyer, Andrew Collins, Jude Rogers, Danny Baker and Fraser Lewry. Then there are occasions where musical guests such as Nick Lowe, Neil Hannon and Wilko Johnson turn up to talk and play music.

The Word Podcast has been described as “one of the very few things you really need in life”. It is the perfect accompaniment to dog walking, car washing or commuting. Some people listen to it at their desk. Others download it on to their iPods and listen to it on the move. However you do it,it seems to make a lot of people happy.

A free 15 minute taster of each podcast is available for free on iTunes. If you want the full, unexpurgated, album-length deal you have to subscribe to the magazine. If you’re already a subscriber go to www.wordpodcast.co.uk and enter your Web ID in the box provided. You’ll only have to do this once to make sure you keep getting the podcast as long as your subscription lasts. If you don’t already subscribe then maybe this is the perfect time, particularly when we’re running this special offer that gets you twelve magazines, twelve CDs and all these podcasts for just £40.