Episode
487 - Podcasting Has Officially Surpassed Talk Radio.
- Podcast
- Podcast Answer Man
- Published
- Feb 27, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 3950
- Processing state
not_requested
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Summary
In this episode of Podcast Answer Man, I talk about a milestone moment that I never thought I’d see so soon. For the first time in history, audio podcasting has surpassed AM/FM talk radio as the most popular way Americans consume spoken-word audio. This episode is part industry insight, part personal reflection, and part behind-the-scenes look at what I’ve been building lately. I also share several important updates related to podcasting tools, events, and opportunities for creators. Podcasting Has Overtaken Talk Radio A close friend sent me an article this week. According to recent research, podcast listenership has officially overtaken talk radio among Americans who consume spoken-word audio. I walk through the data, what it means, and why this shift matters so much for creators, entrepreneurs, and anyone thinking about starting a podcast today. I also reflect on my own long history with radio. From childhood fascination with microphones and transmitters, to years of listening to talk radio, to the moment podcasting completely replaced radio in my own life. Why Podcasting Continues to Grow I break down why podcasting continues to grow year after year: On-demand listening instead of fixed schedules No fear of missing content due to live broadcasts The ability to choose exactly what you want to listen to Deep, focused engagement without constant interruption I also talk about how radio itself helped accelerate the growth of podcasting by educating audiences on what podcasts are, even if that wasn’t their original intention. People Really Do Listen. And They Binge. There’s a persistent myth that attention spans are shrinking too much for long-form audio. I address that directly in this episode and share a voicemail from a listener who has been binge-listening dozens of…