Over the past year, Gen Z has fallen in love with podcasts for a few reasons. Podcasts are convenient to listen to, authentic, and provide listeners with diverse and interesting content.

Podcasts: The Beginning

The history of podcasts dates back to the early 2000s, with the term “podcast” being a combination of “iPod” (a popular MP3 player at the time) and “broadcast.” In 2005, Apple’s iTunes platform made it easy for users to subscribe to and download podcasts on their mobile devices. Ultimately, this increased accessibility to podcasts, and now millions of people listen to shows daily. Exploding Topics lists some podcast statistics for 2023 and estimates that there are around three million active podcasts. 2020 saw a 202.33% increase in total podcasts. 

What Makes Podcasts So Popular with Gen Z?

Podcasts provide on-demand listening on multiple platforms such as Spotify, Apple, and more. They allow you to access a wide range of content at your convenience and fit easily into your daily routine. Gen Z loves podcasts that provide unscripted conversations, which often turn into fun tangents, creating a sense of authenticity. It is also a way to get to know celebrities better. Best known as the brothers who played against each other in the Super Bowl, the Kelce brothers have a podcast called New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce. Here they give unique perspectives on sports and tell funny stories about their lives and experiences in the NFL.

What Podcasts Are Out There?

With over three million active podcasts, there is a niche for all of Gen Z, such as true crime, sports, self-help, and business. Podcast Insights has compiled a list of the Top 100 US Podcasts for 2023, which is updated every couple of days. Podcasts are a great resource to get daily news or listen to impactful stories that may not be covered in traditional media. Podcasts are an easy form of hands-free entertainment for any road trip, long walk, or house deep clean!