Should I listen to Podcasts?
This is a collaborative post
Do you listen to podcasts? In our fast-paced modern society, the way we sit and absorb information is changing dramatically. Gone are the days of having an hour or two where you can give your undivided attention to classroom-based learning or webinars, entertainment or debate. These days, more and more users want to be able to listen and learn on the move, as and when it suits them, allowing them to engage in activities flexibly and fit them around busy working lives.
By 2023, it is estimated that 1 billion people will be listening to a podcast at least once a month.
Brits listen to almost 60 million hours of podcasts every single week (which is 50% more than in 2019) and whether it’s ‘Today in Focus’, a podcast by The Guardian that covers a crucial fact in just 20 minutes, or ‘Eat Sleep Work Repeat’ by Bruce Daisley (Vice President of Twitter), there are absolutely loads of podcasts to choose from, with new ones appearing almost daily.
If you are yet to embrace the world of podcasts, here are some of the benefits:
What are the benefits of podcasts?
- Podcasts are convenient – nearly everyone can find time to listen to a podcast. Normally relatively short in duration (around 20-30 minutes) you can easily listen to a podcast on the school run, whilst making your evening meal or even whilst doing your make up in the morning as and when suits you. You don’t have to watch at a particular time, on a certain day of the week or check-in live. These prerecorded sound bites are there to be listened to around your schedule – whether that’s first thing in the morning or last thing at night.
- Podcasts are Portable – Unlike tv programmes and documentaries, podcasts can be listened to on the go, in privacy, with headphones and taken outside of the home environment.
- A multitasker’s dream – The portable nature of podcasts opens up some real potential to learn new things, no matter how busy your day maybe. Whilst you may previously have struggled to find in your day to sit and concentrate on one task, a podcast enables you to complete two tasks simultaneously (maybe more!)
- Less screen time – there are proven risks of too much screen time, in particular, the impact that an excess amount of blue screen can have an impact on sleep patterns, altering the amount of melatonin produced in your body. Have too much screen time and you may struggle to relax, switch off and get a good night’s sleep. Podcasts offer the same level of interaction and information, without the need to be glued to your device.
- Learn more about your niche – Podcasts tend to be very tailored to their audience, meaning if there is an area you want to know more about, a podcast allows you to learn more from experts, without some of the biases and restrictions you may find on mainstream media.
- Learn a new skill – podcasts can also enable you to broaden your horizons and learn something entirely new. For example, Babbel, the world’s first language app, has launched numerous podcasts to help language learning, presenting and introducing relevant cultural elements, helping improve pronunciation and conversation and explaining new linguistic forms of speech.
- Mindful activity – Listening to a podcast can be a great mindful activity, helping your brain to switch off and relax, whilst reducing symptoms of stress and anxiety.
What podcasts are you enjoying at the moment?
Learn more at ‘What can podcasts teach you?’
