Why do people start podcasts?
Though the internet is overflowing with content, the human voice has a special power to connect. This could be one reason why podcast listenership continues to grow, with over 34% of Americans now tuning in to podcasts weekly.
Podcasting offers something truly special: the ability to speak directly to your audience in an intimate, engaging format that creates genuine connections.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, creative, or someone with stories to share, podcasting offers the potential to reach millions of new listeners.
Let’s explore all the reasons why people grab a microphone and press record, and why you might want to join them.
Top Reasons to Start a Podcast
- Share your passion – Dive deep into subjects you love and connect with fellow enthusiasts. Unlike mainstream media that needs massive audiences, podcasts thrive with dedicated communities who share your specific interests.
- Build meaningful connections – Create authentic conversations and community around shared interests. Podcasting bridges gaps and combats isolation by fostering genuine relationships between hosts, guests, and listeners.
- Establish thought leadership – Position yourself as an expert in your field. Regular episodes demonstrate your knowledge and unique perspective, building credibility that traditional advertising simply cannot match.
- Grow your business – Reach new customers and build brand awareness. Your podcast becomes more than marketing content – it creates a gathering place for your most engaged prospects and customers.
- Express creativity – Experiment with storytelling, interviews, and unique formats. The medium offers complete creative control, letting you blend journalism with personal narrative or create entirely new approaches to content.
- Document your expertise – Share knowledge and help others learn. Break down complex concepts into digestible pieces, making specialized knowledge accessible to beginners and fellow professionals alike.
- Process personal experiences – Work through challenges and growth publicly. Speaking thoughts aloud has a clarifying effect that’s different from simply thinking them, often leading to unexpected personal breakthroughs.
- Have fun conversations – Enjoy unhurried discussions with interesting people. There’s something uniquely satisfying about thoughtful conversation that unfolds at a natural pace, exploring nuance and complexity.
- Amplify important voices – Give platform to underrepresented perspectives. Fill gaps you see in available content by creating space for communities and viewpoints that aren’t adequately represented in existing media.
- Develop new skills – Learn audio production, interviewing, and content creation. These transferable abilities prove valuable well beyond the podcast itself, often opening doors to new professional opportunities.
More Reasons People Start Podcasting
We’ve covered the top reasons people start podcasts, but here are several more that just might convince you now is the time to launch a show for yourself:
- For pure enjoyment – Sometimes it’s as simple as wanting to try something new and fun.
- To combat loneliness – Creating content connects you with others when feeling isolated, especially during challenging times like the pandemic.
- To make knowledge accessible – When not everyone can afford one-on-one coaching or consulting, podcasts democratize access to expertise.
- As a creative outlet with friends – Many successful shows start as regular conversations between friends that become worth sharing.
- To counter misinformation – Experts in various fields use podcasts to set the record straight on topics plagued by inaccuracies.
- To document niche interests – From vintage cars to obscure hobbies that mainstream media overlooks, podcasts give space to specialized passions.
- For career transitions – Professionals use podcasts to maintain connections to previous industries while moving into new ones.
- To raise awareness – From wrongful incarceration to environmental issues, podcasts amplify important causes.
- As academic projects – What begins as a college assignment often becomes a long-term passion.
- To simplify complex topics – Breaking down complicated subjects for broader audiences who need accessible explanations.
- For self-expression during major life changes – Processing transitions, healing, and growth through creative content.
- To create uplifting content – Focusing on positive, inspiring stories in a world that often feels overwhelming.
- Because someone has a story worth sharing – Many podcasts exist to help others get their important messages out.
As you can see, the reasons to create a podcast are as diverse as podcasters themselves.
Whatever your reason for launching, it can spark a show that resonates with listeners worldwide.
Are You Ready to Start Your Podcast?
Now that you know why people start podcasts, let’s get you ready for launch!
It takes less equipment and know-how than you might think to launch your very own podcast. It’s never been easier to start a podcast, making this the perfect time to get started.
At its most basic, you’ll need just five things:
We’ve created a video titled Podcast Setup for Beginners (Gear, Software, Hosting & More) that covers everything you’ll need for a successful set up!
With RSS.com podcast hosting, you can get started completely free. You’ll get everything everything you need to launch including:
- Unlimited episode uploads
- Detailed, real-time analytics
- Free transcriptions in multiple languages
- Automatic distribution to all major podcast directories like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music
- Audio-to-video conversion for YouTube Podcasts
So whatever the reason for why you want to start a podcast, it’s time to hit record.
Your message deserves to be shared, and your voice deserves to be heard. Click here to start your podcast with RSS.com now!
