Over the past four years, we’ve seen social media trends come and go, from the launch of Instagram reels to Spotify Wrapped to influencing becoming a full-time job. However, one unexpected trend that crept up on us and has taken the digital media world by storm: the rise of podcasts.

How It All Began

One of the most notable podcasts that jump-started the rise of podcasts in modern digital media launched in 2018. Within just two months after its launch, Alexandra Cooper and Sofia Franklyn generated 2 million downloads on their ‘Call Her Daddy’ podcast. The girls-tell-all podcast changed the way we communicate online. It was the first large-scale unfiltered, raunchy, “locker-room talk” environment in the modern digital era. Since then, relatable, conversation-like, and advice lifestyle podcasts have boomed.

The Current Rise

The rise of podcasts increased a whopping 300,000 since 2018, to a total number of 850,000 current podcasts. This includes a total of 48 million episodes on global streaming platforms such as Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. The most listened-to podcast of 2021 was Spotify’s exclusive show, “The Joe Rogan Experience.” On this show, the comedian conversationally interviews high- and low-profile celebrity guests over the course of 2-3 hours. In just the last four years, the rise of podcasts shows this trend has taken digital media by storm and is here to stay.

What’s Next for Podcasts in 2022?

A new popular trend has grown as a branch of the rise of podcasts: videocasts. These are just the same as podcasts, except visually streamed as well as audio so the audience can see the hosts and co-hosts conversing. One of the most popular videocasts is “Frenemies” on YouTube, co-hosted by Trisha Paytas and Ethan Klein. Their opposite backgrounds split down the middle on the same table display their eccentric personalities, bringing their conversation to life. In 2022 will we see more podcasts shifting to videocasts? Only time will tell as the rise in podcasts continues.