Here are just a few of the quotes and resources featured in the article, “The Power of Podcasting,” in my alumni magazine, Macalester Today: https://www.macalester.edu/news/2022/04/the-power-of-podcasting.
Podcasting officially became a thing when Adam Curry began sharing audio recordings of his everyday life in 2004. Many people consider his podcast, Daily Source Code, as the first podcast.
But many listeners began seriously listening to podcasts ten years later when Serial, a true crime podcast, first became available in 2014.
51% of Americans over the age of 12 listened to a podcast in 2021 (Edison Research).
32% of Americans listen to at least one podcast every month.
There are about a million podcasts being created and distributed daily, weekly, monthly, or for a limited series (10 to 12 episodes).
Because podcasts are portable and many episodes are moving or informative, podcasts can create a real intimacy between the podcaster and the listeners.
Podcasting has the power to deliver exceptionally good stories. Many of the most listened-to podcasts feature stories. That’s why podcasts of novels and works-in-progress can generate such large audiences and dedicated fan groups. If you are a novelist, you should be podcasting your stories as you write them (or podcast previous novels, one page or one chapter at a time).
Audio communication fills a unique niche for people, with podcasting in particular lending itself to engaging and deeply investigative storytelling. — Curtis Gilbert, correspondent, American Public Media
Students find podcasting fun, flexible, and interactive. Plus, it’s relatively easy to do. … Podcasting helps students build digital literacy skills while learning to communicate information to a broader, more general audience, rather than a strictly academic one. — Tamatha Perlman
Podcasting, especially audio drama, gives storytelling a different dimension than TV or books. It’s an engaging, immersive experience that’s intimate, close, and allows you to be an active listener. If it’s done well, you don’t want to miss a minute. — Davy Gardner, curator of audio storytelling at Tribeca Enterprises
Podcasting is a step toward helping Global Teck Worldwide up our branding. My advice? If you own a business and you’re not podcasting, you should be. — Rolando Rosas, founder of Global Teck Worldwide
My advice? If you are a book author and you’re not podcasting, you should be.
Need help with recording and editing your podcast? Check out The Podcast Shop, founded by Katharine Heller, another Macalester alumnus.
The Power of Podcasting