Podcasts and their history

2005+
Nowadays, we all talk about podcasts.
Podcasts are the new thing, no one
really tunes into the radio anymore, but
what is a podcast? How is it different to Now one year later, 2005 was when
radio...? Well podcasts are spoken audio things really started to happen with
episodes/series that are all focused on a the great invention. The big compa-
particular topic/theme. Whether this is
nies at the time really started notic-
a series all about football or even a se-
ries on climate change, the list goes on
ing such a great opportunity. Apple
and on. There is always something suit- leading the way as they released
ing us all. Did you know that podcasts iTunes 4.9, which was the first actual
are even free to listen to? Always a great update with native support for the
bonus! You can access series of podcasts podcasts. Not only this but president
all over internet, YouTube and Spotify. at the time in 2005, George Bush
It used to be that everyone would tune Then again, with podcasts the was actually the first president to de-
into Heart Fm or Radio 2 on their way creators are aiming towards a liver their weekly address in form of
to work or whilst doing the chores but much more niche audience, this is a podcast. Then later on in the year
not so much now that podcasts are because of their particular focus the word ‘podcast’ was declared the
more exclusive. This is due to podcasts on the more individual topics word of the year by the New Oxford
having massively taken over radio for which suits us as an audience
lots of different reasons. One being that
American Dictionary. Pretty signifi-
more as there is always a topic cant at the time really.
live radio obviously cannot be edited suited for everyone. Rather than
whereas, podcasts are pre -recorded
having to listen to mixture of We go on through the years and
which is a great benefit. So, this means events and things impacting the
that once recorded its easy to edit and
completely different topics and
stories that you probably have podcast were recorded. 2006, dur-
adjust your podcast if something isn’t ing a keynote speech Steve Jobs
quite right or you want to add some- no interest in because really who
isn’t just going to get bored? The demonstrated how to actually make
thing. Another great feature that people
podcast is really a great way to a podcast through garage band. This
feel really pushes the podcast way above
radio is that we can download and make us feel relaxed, happy and was then a sign to all of the com-
stream episodes and podcasts whenever educated in ways. Allowing us to petitors that the podcast medium
and wherever, which allows more flexi- find a series all about something really was to be taken very seriously.
bility because we don’t always have the we are very interested in and to Then in 2007 the podcast popular-
time to listen to things at certain times rewind and take it all in. ity was going up and up and up all
like the radio. Podcasts are suitable for the time and the world record was
those with busy daily lifestyles so when
you’re finally getting the chance to sit
Back in time set by Ricky Gervais for the most
downloaded podcast, with a whoop-
down and chill out you can find a suit- Going back to the year of 2004, wow ing average of 250,000 downloads
able podcast without having missed it 18 years ago. Two men that go by per episode in the first month at the
etc like you would with listening to live
the names of Adam Curry and Dave time. Let’s skip a few years to 2013
radio. There is a key difference between
live radio and podcasts. But what? Ra- Winer created their first ever podcast when Giant brand Apple announced
dio stations aim is to appeal to a mass together. Mr Curry himself was a for- 1 billion, I repeat 1 billion podcast
audience by creating content focusing mer MTV video jockey and software subscribers!! It kept on growing as
on a very wide range of different topics developer, alongside partner Mr it was recorded than in 2019, just 3
available to their listeners. This then Winer who coded a program known years ago 165 million of us had lis-
increases their chance of staying tuned as ‘ipodder’ , enabling the pair to tening to a podcast with 90 million
which of course is a great benefit to download internet radio broadcast to Americans listening monthly at the
radio producers. their iPods. Wow, can you remember time. It was growing and growing
the oh so cool iPod back then? With- over the years and the podcast was
out these 2 the podcast just wouldn’t becoming more and more popular
exist and the way in which we people and here we are in 2022 with the
are consuming media today in 2022. podcast massively overtaken radio
and being the all-time thing as you
could call it.
 This style of podcast is very con- As it is not face to face, many peo-
sistent with a rotating or consistent ple have the worry of seeking help
group of different hosts providing as it’s so labelled as a mental health
commentary and conversation factor as if having a conversation
around certain, specific topics. about their health is like “counsel-
These podcasts are great in the ling” or “therapy”. Podcasts help
sense that they take the stress people to get comfortable and real
off one person by splitting the with their problems.
workload out among themselves. Podcasts are the new way to teach
The con to this type of podcast is new type of content. Students can
however, they can feel unwelcom- listen on their own and freeing up
ing to new listeners because of valuable classroom time for active
the long – running in – jokes and learning, a reason to why it is so
segments. Among these, the most educational for everyone. We all
popular genre of podcasts is the are so used to the annoying boring
conversational podcasts as these lengths of reading information
types of podcasts are so chatty and from school and work, Podcasts
easy-going which people enjoy and allow education and skills to be
impacts them making them feel listened to and processed that way
The Variety of podcasts laid back and relaxed. instead of straining the eyes. It’s
a known factor that listening to
If we are talking about the differ-
things is better than reading.
Let’s talk about the different gen- ent topics among the podcast, the
We often hear someone on the
res of podcasts. There are quite list is never ending. From comedy
table or phone but listening skills
a few different types of podcast to true crime, sport and politics,
determine the level of comprehen-
genres, including interview pod- food and music. Among all of
sion. Listening to things increase
casts, conversational podcasts, these it’s great that you can always
your reading accuracy by 52%.
monologue podcasts, storytell- find something for you. This is
Listening can do many things
ing and investigative podcasts, why podcasts get so much credit
that reading cannot, for example
roundtable podcasts the list goes compared to live radio nowadays.
it teaches pronunciation and the
on and on. An interview podcast It’s found that comedy is the most
brain accomplishes all this. By
involves one or two hosts who popular podcast topic at the mo-
translating heard words into words
speak to one of more different ment. Would you agree with this?
into your mind. Listening rather
guests during each episode in the
series. It is a really great way to Advantages than reading actually makes you
smarter, quicker and increases
be able to provide an opinion and your own intellect.
a range of different viewpoints, Podcasts are so enjoyable for the
however many people don’t like particular reason that it is casual,
how interview podcasts require feels up close and personal and
so much research. What about down to earth. Many people go
a conversational podcast? The towards podcasts as a “safe space”
name kind of explains what type as it feels like an enclosed confi-
of podcasts this is. Yes, a podcast dential talk between the listener
with 2 hosts having entertaining and the podcaster. Podcasts for
conversations among one and many can involve information or
other about specific themes and certain advice that people can go to
topics. This is quite similar to a for help and brief consultation on
radio as it is a very relaxed, easy their problems without it seeming
going and chatty type of podcast. like it’s a seek for help because it’s
It is very effortless to create when in a conversation like way and not
hosts work well together and are In person. Anxiety is a common
able to chat well, good chemistry factor through people of all ages
Emily Butler
is key for a quality show though. and podcasts help people to re-
Are you familiar with the term lease their stress and seek support 21st January 2022
‘Roundtable podcasts’? without the fear of their lack of
confidence and anxiety.