10 min
The Podcastiness of Podcasts (Episode #2) Beside the Rabbit Hole
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- Society & Culture
This episode continues my exploration of why it is that the video podcast has generally failed to take off in popularity. Even as technology has improved, podcasts remain a distinctly audio phenomenon. Perhaps this is because of some fundamental characteristic of podcast that makes them better suited for audio. I call this characteristic the "podcast-iness" of podcasts.
A better way to think of this podcast-iness is in terms of intimacy. Podcasts are unique because they create a close connection between the podcast producer and the podcast audience. Because they are often in the audio format, this relationship often feels personal and deeply intimate. We listen to podcasts in ways that are deeply integrated in our day-to-day lives: in the shower, while commuting, and so on.
But if you were to add video in to the mix, it becomes a lot more difficult for the podcast to create that intimate relationship. By adding video, we get a clear signal that the podcaster is not there alongside us as we listen. Video actually makes a podcast feel less intimate, which is a large reason why video podcasts are not as popular as audio ones.
Questions? Comments? Concerns? Get in touch with me - bpettis@wisc.edu or see my website www.benpettis.com. You can also tweet at me @ben_pettis_.
Music Credits:
Voxel Revolution by Kevin MacLeod
Pamgaea by Kevin MacLeod
Cherry Blossom by Kevin MacLeod
License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
This episode also includes short clips from the following podcasts:
Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me
Up First
99% Invisible
Additional Works Cited:
Lindgren, Mia. "Intimacy and Emotions in Podcast Journalism: A Study of Award-Winning Australian and British Podcasts." Journalism Practice (June 25, 2021): 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/17512786.2021.1943497.
Rae, Maria. "Earwitnessing Detention: Carceral Secrecy, Affecting Voices, and Political Listening in The Messenger Podcast," 2019, 20.
Spinelli, Martin, and Lance Dann. Podcasting: The Audio Media Revolution. London ; New York: Bloomsbury Academic, 2019.
This episode continues my exploration of why it is that the video podcast has generally failed to take off in popularity. Even as technology has improved, podcasts remain a distinctly audio phenomenon. Perhaps this is because of some fundamental characteristic of podcast that makes them better suited for audio. I call this characteristic the "podcast-iness" of podcasts.
A better way to think of this podcast-iness is in terms of intimacy. Podcasts are unique because they create a close connection between the podcast producer and the podcast audience. Because they are often in the audio format, this relationship often feels personal and deeply intimate. We listen to podcasts in ways that are deeply integrated in our day-to-day lives: in the shower, while commuting, and so on.
But if you were to add video in to the mix, it becomes a lot more difficult for the podcast to create that intimate relationship. By adding video, we get a clear signal that the podcaster is not there alongside us as we listen. Video actually makes a podcast feel less intimate, which is a large reason why video podcasts are not as popular as audio ones.
Questions? Comments? Concerns? Get in touch with me - bpettis@wisc.edu or see my website www.benpettis.com. You can also tweet at me @ben_pettis_.
Music Credits:
Voxel Revolution by Kevin MacLeod
Pamgaea by Kevin MacLeod
Cherry Blossom by Kevin MacLeod
License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
This episode also includes short clips from the following podcasts:
Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me
Up First
99% Invisible
Additional Works Cited:
Lindgren, Mia. "Intimacy and Emotions in Podcast Journalism: A Study of Award-Winning Australian and British Podcasts." Journalism Practice (June 25, 2021): 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/17512786.2021.1943497.
Rae, Maria. "Earwitnessing Detention: Carceral Secrecy, Affecting Voices, and Political Listening in The Messenger Podcast," 2019, 20.
Spinelli, Martin, and Lance Dann. Podcasting: The Audio Media Revolution. London ; New York: Bloomsbury Academic, 2019.
10 min