By Writeside Blonde
Though some still delegate what songs make it on their road trip playlist, others fill their headspace with a fresh kind of news and entertainment while on commutes, podcasts. I remember when I heard about this idea about 20 years ago, back when mp3 players were making their debut. We are so used to the polished sort of information, the kind that is sternly shared from behind business attire. Back then, the concept of normal people commanding the airwaves to share their knowledge with the world did not seem like the kind of idea that would be successful long term.
Boy, was I wrong.
Running a search today on any streaming platform will bring you thousands of online podcast options, ranging from topics like motivational business tips, murder mystery stories, ghost tales, to learning how to speak another language. Want to learn German? French? Spanish? Japanese? Italian? _______ (fill in the blank), you get the point. The options seem endless!
Everyone (and their cats and dogs) has a podcast these days. The notion that anyone can be a motivational speaker, even if said person has no experience in leading anything other than people to his or her podcast, is a familiar one. Despite this, creators have achieved success from simply sharing what they know.
We are a busy bunch. People like to multitask. Why not learn how to speak French while driving to work or folding laundry. In-laws coming over this weekend? Learn how to cook a gourmet meal over your lunch break. When you take our busy lifestyles into account, the convenience of listening while completing other tasks, is priceless. Most offer the option to listen or watch if you find the time.
Distrust for the mainstream media has led new viewers away from the tried and oftentimes not-so-true, to the raw, authentic type of news as well. When stories we were told on evening news did not match up with what Citizen Journalists were discovering, credibility was instantly on the chopping block. Gone are the days of blindly trusting corporate media, and that is not a terrible thing. You know the saying. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
The entire model of information dispersing has shifted. Americans are the news now. Through podcasts and other online mediums, we can share what is happening in real time easily from our smart phones.
Though its clear most pertinent topics have a wide array of coverage, with the ever-changing landscape of technology and the way business is done now more will inevitably emerge. Come to think of it, I did not see a podcast that covered how to draft an article about podcasts. Maybe … I should start one.
Is there a podcast about how to ‘leave a reply’?!
Since I unplugged the TV a few years ago, podcasts have been my link to the world. Podcasts are important because WE get to choose what topic to learn about (and think about) instead of the script we are given on the nightly news on television.
Podcasts are important because they are a way to share what we are thinking about, and if people don’t want to hear it they can just turn it off.
By the way, do you ever catch yourself trying to remember the perfect road trip albums? Albums (cds) that you don’t have to skip thru to the next good song? An album that everyone in the car would like? Oh well, I haven’t made that list yet because I’m always too busy to go on a road trip.
I grew wary of the polished presentation of information and needed to hear more from fellow humans, to hear their actual voices.
Thank you for keeping ‘George’ alive.