this post was submitted on 12 Feb 2024
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I don't get podcasts. Like, I've tried, several times over the years, but I'd really rather read something in five minutes than hear it dragged out for an hour.
So "where" I get my podcasts is already question-begging. I was pointed to one last week where the intro was all about things "everyone" experiences ... getting the kids to school, what fast-food place to go to, arguing with the spouse about decor, usw. None of these applies to me, so I saw no reason to listen to the meat of the thing.
Don't assume your audience is like you. Sure, some people may get warm fuzzies that others have experienced the hell of deciding to pop out a kid, but distilling the human experience to having kids and all that comes with that is going to turn off a lot of people. We know it's hell. That's why some of us noped the fuck out.
Sir, this is a Wendy's.
I find the opposite to be true for me, but I'm the type that will sit down and read a textbook for entertainment as well. Purely informative podcasts, not entertainment etc. I've learned a lot of philosophy and ancient history via Spotify actually, it's a very useful medium for information access, for those so inclined.
That is the correct answer. You don't read a book while doing the chores. I also don't whip out a Terry Pratchett novel while commuting when I know I have to change trains in 10 minutes. A podcast will do and you can keep listening while waiting on the platform. In the car I often listen to music instead, but sometimes I get bored and I'm more in the mood for an interesting podcast. Especially if I'm stuck in the car for a bit longer.
When deliberately doing one thing only, I like to read. I can read the paragraphs as fast or as slow as I like or just skim them.
The "secret" is: You have to find the podcasts you like. Some are just chat and drivel, some are more condensed. You might also like Audiobooks with stories instead of factual information. I don't think you can make an absolute statement. Well, unless your brain isn't wired for audio content. I'd get that nothing appeases you if that were the case.
Nowadays everyone and their grandma has a podcast. Quality varies greatly and most of them are more talk and not anything of substance. it's not easy to find the good ones in all of the noise. But they exist.
So, podcasts are not ADHD-friendly, it seems. Because for me it’s either full focus or none at all.
I have ADHD and almost always have an audiobook (TTS, technically) or podcast on while driving it doing chores.
What I like about TTS is that I can speed it up enough (~6× speed) that my mind doesn't wander, to match my adHd. Podcasts I usually max out at 2.0× speed because human voices are harder to understand at higher speeds. Any slower and they can't keep my attention. 1.0× speed is painful, and I don't take anything in.
So all Podcasts are bad because this one particular example was stupid? Why did you feel the need to bring that up? What you described you can find plenty in books, magazines or everywhere else.
There are all kinds of podcasts for all kinds of interests. And the best thing is that people like you and me can make and publish them. I dislike many podcasts because they are superficial, loud, hectic or whatever but there are many others that just work for me.
I usually listen to them while on a run, in the car or to fall asleep to.
Unfortunately I don’t have recommendations for you because most of my subscribed podcasts are German* and the others are in the „fall asleep to“ category of men talking about tech. But if you’re interested in the latter, start at atp.fm or something on the relay.fm network.
*if you are German speaking, I’ll gladly give recommendations
I think they just gave an example for how podcasts often feel to them. And I can relate, most podcasts feel like the podcaster assumes a certain norm and presenting topics as absolute truths. Someone here mentioned darknet diaries for example and I tried listening to this podcast but was deterred by his assumptions of how everyone wants to accumulate money and how he is obviously very oblivious of his political bias (i.e. trying to be apolitical but thus supporting a government's military and political decisions). I guess this problem of thinking one is apolitical while actually talking about highly political stuff is more prevalent in cis male dominated spaces like tech (imo because of the combination of less empathy, a more self-centered viewpoint and a confidence in one's own correctness). But as given per example by the other commenter, societal norms at large give people the feeling that they are correct in their views and that things just are a certain way (e.g. sex differences, certain experiences etc). Well, just wanted to give my mustard to it ;)
My problem is I don’t see how that relates to podcasts. It’s just a medium. Everything you describe can happen everywhere else.
Edit: Maybe what you’re missing are journalistic standards. Most podcasts are for entertainment and you might need to dig a little deeper to find professional journalism.
oddly specific objection aside, where podcasting really shines is fiction. it's the modern version of the radio drama. fiction podcasts like Welcome to Night Vale and Find Us Alive have narratives that are tailor-made for episodic audio and would not work in any other medium. a good fiction podcast is truly wonderful to listen to
Not exactly what you're talking about, but LeVar Burton Reads is amazing, too. It's like Reading Rainbow for grownups.
I’d toss The Magnus Archives on that list too, especially since it had a full 5 season arc with satisfying conclusion.
A “sequel” series just started, too! It was good from what I listened to
And I'll just add the Lovecraft Investigations to the list. Absolutely brilliant series.
Just going to quickly shill for The Amelia Project as well. Really fantastic little show.
and here I am listening to hardcore history at slow speed for what was uploaded as an 4 hour episode but then again I do the same thing for audio books
@Powderhorn I didn't get podcasts either at first. But they're basically just an equivalent to radio shows, only that you're listening to them recorded already and you can pick which one(s) to hear and in what order.
@alyaza
Have you tried S-Town? Sure, you could probably read the transcript, but it’d be a lesser experience
I only really listen to them while driving 3+ hours.
My mind needs some engagement or I'll fall asleep.
I listen to Dark Net Diaries because I'm interested in Cyber security, this American life because of the varied stories, wait wait don't tell me because it's light hearted, and car talk because of the nostalgia. I'm planning on grabbing a prairie home companion because my father listened to it, makes me think of him.
That being said. Dark Net is becoming a little more dramatic than I'd like, but it's still good content.
I'm with you ... I've struggled to find one that's really interesting to me. I think some people build a relationship of sorts with the people hosting the podcast... And I've never been able to feel that way about a one-way dialogue.
The closest I ever came was https://www.jupiterbroadcasting.com/ haven't listened to them in a long time though now (long before podcasts were the big resurgent craze they have been the past few years).
Linux TechTips WAN show ... I can sometimes enjoy but it is a very long format thing which also turns me away.