So what is a podcast? By the way, this is a controversial take. What is a podcast? I wish more people asked that before they made one. [laughs] What is a podcast? Today, we're asking five podcasters that very question.
I'm Josh from Double Audio, and this is Too Long; Didn't Listen. One question, five expert takes, 60 seconds each. I'll catch you at the end in just a few minutes. But first, what is a podcast?
Too Long; Didn't Listen with Double Audio. Hi, my name is Thuy, and I am a junior producer at Dream Jobs of the Future. So what is a podcast? By the way, this is a controversial take.
A podcast, the nature of it is on-demand streaming, which mean that you can have access to it everywhere. So I think a podcast is a story to be told and to be put on the internet.
It could be in audio, it could be in video, it could be both. Or even if you go to a live event and you record it and you put it on the internet, that's still a podcast.
So the definition of a podcast is really flexible, and it has evolved through the years. Back then, you can only listen to it. Now, you can watch it on your computer or even on your TV at home.
And I think podcast is kind of a disruptive media that will keeps evolving throughout the years. Hi, my name's Deeyana Safiye, also known as Dee, and I am a writer and a podcaster.
I have a true-crime podcast called Switchblade Sisters Social Club, where me and my cohost Isla exploit our worst fears for your entertainment.
As a Palestinian, I'm also really proud to host a twice monthly podcast for the Britain Palestine Project. What is a podcast?
That question sounds like it was asked by my dad, and I'm constantly trying to explain it to him. And I used to tell him, "It's like Netflix, but for radio."
But now that video is being reintroduced into the podcasting world, I guess it's Netflix, but for video. And you've also got podcasts, like My Favorite Murder, actually on Netflix.
So now I'm kind of confused as to what a podcast is.
But, uh, whether it's audio or it's video, it has to be either a fresh take on a much-discussed topic or almost any take on a topic that's not been discussed very much.
My name's Adam Batty, and I am a writer and producer. I am the maker of the podcast MF Doom: Long Island to Leeds. Um, I co-present it with Afrodeutsche, broadcasting legend. So what is a podcast?
I've been thinking about this since you, uh, sent me the message a couple of days ago.
Um, and my go-to answer is usually it's about the intimacy of the, uh, the experience between the, uh, the listener and the, and the speaker.
Um, but actually thinking about it now, what, what for me a podcast is, is it's a vehicle for delivering... It's a tool.
It's a vehicle for delivering information in a way that works for me, uh, in a specific sort of set of circumstances. So for example, the podcast that I've just worked on, uh, works as a podcast.
It wouldn't work in any other way, shape, or form. Um, you know, it might be tempting to make it as a video documentary or as a, you know, a film.
Um, but for me, the joy of a story about sound being told using only sound is, is beautiful. Hi, I'm Kevya. I'm a narrative podcast producer.
My latest work is called Vine: Six Seconds That Changed the World, and it's the wild true story about who killed the internet's favorite app.
And one of Twitter's founders listened to it and then decided to relaunch Vine. So I think that makes it worth listening to. What is a podcast? I wish more people asked that before they made one.
[laughs] But I'd say it's a story or a conversation that's worth listening to. Uh, the best thing about podcasting is that it's open, and anyone can publish one.
The barriers to entry are so low, and all you need is a mic and a compelling format. You don't even need to wash your hair.
And it's a medium that's really built for connection, so you're dealing with an audience who want to invest their time in quality content. You're talking right into their ear.
You're moving about their day with them, which makes it personal. And that kind of intimacy is rare to foster these days. I'm Em. I host the film history podcast Verbal Diorama. And what is a podcast?
A podcast is passion. It's not just rocking up to a studio and reading a script for 30 minutes. It's full-on dedication to a subject you love.
All the painstaking specifics of production and editing, making sure every scrap of research is complete and the full story is there for the audience to consume, and putting every ounce of yourself into your chosen topic.
Without passion, it's just a voice in a file. But with it, it's the drive to tell your story, someone else's story, or have that conversation. That's what a podcast is, passion.
I'd like to finish with a quote from my favorite TV show of all time, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. "Passion is the source of our finest moments, the joy of love, the clarity of hatred, and the ecstasy of grief.
It hurts sometimes more than we can bear. If we could live without passion, maybe we'd know some kind of peace, but we would be hollow, empty rooms shuttered and dank. Without passion, we'd be truly dead."
And that's episode one. If you're listening to this or watching, uh, then you're probably aware that podcasting is in an interesting space at the moment.
So we thought it would be cool to curate some of the best voices within the game, uh, and get their quick takes on some of the biggest questions right now.
Massive thanks to everyone who has supported us so far, and please do check out the work of our brilliant guests via the links in our show notes.
And if you fancy helping us out, please subscribe or send it to a mate who might actually like it. That'd be lovely. And yeah, that's it. Until next time. Too Long; Didn't Listen with Double Audio.