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Since the release of the popular true-crime podcast Serial more than a decade ago, podcasts have exploded in popularity.
About 42 percent of Americans age 12 and older have listened to these on-demand audio programs in the past month, according to Pew Research Center estimates. And in the past year, 42 percent of adults 50 to 64 have listened, plus 28 percent of adults 65 and older.
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If you’ve been reluctant to join in, here are three reasons why you might want to give them a try:
- Unlike radio, which is mass media aimed at general audiences, podcasts typically serve niche interests.
- You can listen on your schedule, not your station’s.
- And while you need a device for listening and an internet connection for downloading or streaming, the podcasts themselves are generally free.
Podcast ratings can give you an idea about quality
With millions to choose from — including Today’s Tips from AARP and The Perfect Scam — there is bound to be one to satisfy your curiosity, whether that’s knitting or retro video games. And because podcasts are audio, you can listen on the go or while doing other things.
Kymberly Deane, a senior manager with the nonprofit News Literacy Project, says it’s best practice to check a podcast’s reviews and ratings on the app.
“Platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify allow you to read other listeners’ feedback on the quality and reliability of the podcast,” she says.
The most common reason listeners 65 and older cite for choosing podcasts is learning, Pew found. And you tend to develop a mental connection with the hosts, such as Julia Louis-Dreyfus who hosts the Wiser Than Me podcast.
How to find your new favorite podcast
Think of a podcast directory as a sort of search engine for finding content that feeds your interests.
1. Download a free podcast app to your smartphone if it doesn’t already have one — Apple Podcasts and Samsung Podcasts are already on those devices — and create a free account. Google retired its Google Podcasts app in April 2024. They all work similarly.
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