To Pod or Not to Pod?

Podcasts are a form of media that gained most of their traction after the Covid pandemic. They come in a variety of genres: comedy, true crime, wellness, and most popularly, news. I love podcasts, especially when they provide a level of humility and humor from your favorite celebrities. However, much of this form of media has begun to take a turn for the worse, creating a whirlwind of misinformation. As podcasts start to increasingly function as informal news sources, their impact has outpaced the accountability structures that traditionally govern journalism.  

The problem with podcasts is that they are easy to make and even easier to access. Anyone can buy a mic setup and a computer, making it possible to spew piping hot political takes and unverified claims while influencing tens of millions of listeners (unlike formal news standards, where journalists are expected to be accurate, fair, and thorough with their reporting). 

A great example of this is Joe Rogan on the Joe Rogan Experience. Although a lot of his episodes are interviews and discussions of current events, he has been known to spread misinformation (especially during the pandemic) and to change his opinions frequently. A great example of this is his recent opposition to Donald Trump, despite having endorsed him in the 2024 election.

I’m not saying that people like Joe Rogan are the issue– ninety percent of the time they are just expressing their opinions. It is the fact that the unresearched comments they make on a whim can have a massive impact on their large demographic who hangs onto their every word. When influential hosts speculate without clear evidence, those statements can begin to circulate as fact amongst their devoted audiences. 

According to a 2025 Pew Research Center study, 54% of all adults listen to podcasts, and 67% of people aged from 18 to 29 listen to them as well. These numbers highlight the fact that podcasts are not a niche form of entertainment; they are a dominant source of information for most Americans, especially young adults. Applications such as Spotify or Apple Music should do a better job of calling out falsehoods and fact checking what people say due to the sheer volume of listeners. The study also found that 31% of politically right wing listeners and 15% of politically left wing listeners trust the news they get from podcasts as much as the news they get from other sources. When nearly one-third of right-leaning listeners place podcast news on par with traditional reporting, it underscores how seriously this medium is taken. 

Most people tend to engage in forms of media that support their existing political beliefs. This reality supports the concerns that podcasting without fact checks can be dangerous. Fake news spreads quickly through digital echo-chambers, where audiences solely encounter the perspectives that reinforce the ideas they already believe. 

At the same time, the accessibility of podcasts is what makes them such a great vessel of entertainment and information. They allow anyone to express themselves and their opinions freely, without being limited by big broadcasting networks or traditional cooperations. 

As much as the responsibility of sharing accurate information falls onto hosts, listeners also must develop media literacy and critical thinking skills in this new age of content. Doing your own research and informing yourself is just as significant as listening to other perspectives. We must look inward to our own belief systems and moral compasses to discern between what is right and wrong. 

This summer, blasting the Ride Pod felt harmless: and for the most part that is what podcasts are meant to be – carefree and fun. However, as they continue to dominate the landscape of media, the lines are beginning to blur between commentary and journalism. When the words of hosts are being heard by millions of people, their opinions begin to carry real weight. Podcasts are great because they are accessible and unfiltered – but that same freedom brings a responsibility to the platforms, audiences, and creators that take part in them.