What do people listen to when they drive home from school, while doing their homework, while working out? While many people would guess music, a growing trend has swung the pendulum the other way, to podcasts.
Why the Rise?
The surge in popularity ultimately marks a shift in the way the newer generations consume media. While older generations sought their news from the back of a newspaper or in a live newscast, the younger generations have found comfort in the “flexible, on-demand experience that caters to the busy lifestyles of modern listeners,” according to Global Media Journal.
Instead of being forced to find news from the same four news channels, audiences can hear from podcasters with unique perspectives that more align with their own personal views, making it easier for people to hear the stories they can find value in.
Podcasts are also building communities of people around specific topics, interests, and personalities, which offer a sense of belonging in the vast and sometimes bottomless pit that is social media. This allows listeners to champion their unique passions without judgment and seek support online.
“The Good Hang” with Amy Poehler
“The Good Hang” is a weekly video podcast hosted by actress and comedian Amy Poehler. Each week, Poehler interviews actors, comedians, and musicians about their early rise to fame, current projects, and future aspirations. Her podcasts are built around one simple goal; to give the audience simple ways to find happiness in their daily lives.
One way she does this is at the end of each episode, Poehler asks each celebrity one thing they are doing that makes them happy. This casual conversation style offers a genuine glimpse into A-list celebrities struggles with mental health and genuine personalities outside of their media persona’s.
Additionally, Poehler builds a celebratory environment by beginning each episode by calling up a guest’s friend or family member to talk well behind their back. According to the New Yorker, “while the exercise is about helping her to generate questions; mostly, it’s an opportunity to rhapsodize about the woman or man of the hour.”
“Therapuss” with Jake Shane
“Therapuss” is a talk show hosted by influencer and comedian Jake Shane where countless celebrities sit in a metaphorical therapy session with Jake as their amateur therapist. In the show, celebrities deep dive into their own careers, internet moments, and struggles with mental health.
The podcast also offers a unique opportunity for audience engagement with Jake’s viral Instagram series, Tell Me What’s Wrong, where listeners can write in and share their current struggles with relationships, friendships, or mental health. In response, Jake and his guest will provide lighthearted advice, often in the form of music or movies.
Jake has built a community of listeners who are unafraid to share their feelings, whether it be about love, careers, social media, and mental health. The podcast is unique in its conversational style, allowing listeners to feel like they are a part of the conversation and hanging out right alongside them.
“In Your Dreams” with Owen Theile
Picture the ultimate early 2000’s childhood bedroom; Britney Spears albums on the shelf, Disney Channel TV show posters taped to the wall, and a bed full of stuffed animals and colorful pillows. You might be surprised to learn that this is the actual set up of the hit podcast “In Your Dreams” with actor Owen Thiele.
Owen combines his chronic insomnia and internet connections into a podcast built on interviewing his favorite celebrities with unfiltered humor. From reminiscing about early 2000’s pop culture, laughing about current internet raves, and discussing relationships and mental health, Owen has built a community of chronically-online Gen Z’ers who just want to hear casual conversations from their favorite celebrities.
“The Dons Press Podcast” by Dons Press
The Dons Press podcast is hosted by members of the writing team within Dons Press. Student journalists cover news, both on and off campus, in short-form podcast episodes aimed to help students learn about what is happening in the world if they can’t find the time to read an article on the Dons Press website.
Carlin Fretwell, one of the beat editors for Dons Press, has experience as a podcaster on the Dons Press podcast. Carlin shared, “I really like making my own podcasts because you can really personalize how you tell stories or share news.” She continued by saying it “feels like conversations rather than just an interview.”
The next episode for the Dons Press podcast is set to air next week and will include conversations with seniors who will share their advice for the best high school experience. In the future, Carlin hopes “to hear about students’ views on the world right now and get a perspective that teens can relate to, rather than hearing everything from adults on the news.”
Be sure to check out any future podcast episodes on the Dons Press website.
