We’ve entered the era of the soapbox. The post-COVID digital world where everybody wants their voice to be heard.
Somewhere below the hills, cozied up in a Hollywood bungalow, a 20-something influencer sits in a blue-lit room while speaking into a fancy microphone. Maybe he’s talking about trading stocks. Maybe he’s ranting about traffic on the 405. Maybe, sitting beside him, is another podcaster of about 10,000 listeners, guest-starring on the show.
There must be something blowing in the Santa Ana winds that encourages content-creators to start a podcast. Suddenly, everybody feels the need to publicize their conversations with friends. Is this merely a trend, or a shift in ego tied directly to social media?
The act of creating a podcast implies the everlasting value of one’s words. Creators may believe that their sermons might help a certain population. A casual talk with a friend regarding breakups might hold golden advice worthy of sharing. Now, everyday people can record those key conversations and inspire the masses.
Why are the younger generations so inclined to preach? The craving for episodic chat-sessions began in the early 2000s. iPods gained popularity for their ability to make radio broadcasts accessible. People transferred audio files onto the small devices, letting listeners take this tiny new transistor radio everywhere. The components of radio were soon separated: iPod users either listened to music tracks on their own, or audio tracks deemed as “Podcasts.”
Nowadays, consumers enjoy the on-demand quality of a podcast. Listening is effortless — and so is recording one. Sure, podcasters have to invest in quality audio equipment, outline topics, and meticulously edit their final product. Still, this process is much more efficient than the production of a TV show or song. This new form of spoken expression relies on its simplicity.
In the mid-to-late 2010s, as influencer culture swept the nation, podcasts grew in popularity. Consumers enjoyed the sentiments of favorite YouTubers so much that they demanded more spoken word and less b-roll. Content creators like Emma Chamberlain took their witty humor to music streaming services, where podcasts became widespread. Conversations became commoditized, and vernacular gained monetary value.
Celebrities grasped onto the trend quickly, taking to Spotify and Apple Podcasts to share their thoughts. Dua Lipa’s “Service95 Book Club” inspired the younger generations to put down TikTok and pick up a literary classic. As late-night TV faced a decline in viewership throughout the early 2020s, hosts like Conan O’Brien transferred their humor into podcast form. “Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend” surpassed 10.5 million monthly listeners, becoming one of the most popular podcasts across platforms.
Podcasts are easy listening for the multi-taskers of today’s world. In the time it takes to travel from Marina Del Rey deep into Downtown L.A., one can hear an entire average-length episode. A podcast can be played during gym sessions, showers, or through noise-cancelling headphones at the coffee shop. That “SmartLess” episode you started at work can be finished on a morning run. Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett can laugh into your ear as you reach the 5-mile mark.
Lately, it seems that everybody has a podcast. At dinner parties across L.A., college graduates are being told how interesting they are, and that they should “start a podcast.” People would love to hear what they have to say.
Podcasts have moved beyond a trend — each episode advances the personal brand. Social media allows content creators to snapshot their lives. Now, a new medium can preserve their inner monologues and ideas. Listeners love to hear a podcaster’s brain laid out on a track. It bridges a connection between creator and consumer, stronger than any social media. Moving forward, podcasters can only hope to integrate listeners more deeply into their lives, as they speak enthusiastically for the invisible audience.
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