A Brief History of Podcasting

Podcasts are everywhere these days, but have you ever wondered where they actually came from and how podcasting began?

While they might seem like a recent phenomenon making a significant impact in the media landscape, podcasts have actually been around since the early 2000s. Many people feel like they emerged out of nowhere, but their roots run deeper than you might think…

Radio Roots

Before podcasts took over, there was—and still is—radio. Since the 1920s, families around the world have gathered around their radios to catch the latest news and enjoy their favorite shows. But if you missed a broadcast, tough luck! There was no way to catch up because radio programs aired once and only once.

Fast forward to the 1990s, when audio technology started to take a huge leap forward. Suddenly, people could download and listen to audio files whenever they wanted. This breakthrough opened the door to a whole new way of enjoying audio, leading to the audio revolution we know today.

The Birth of Podcasting

It was 2001 when the first podcast was birthed. Software Developer, Dave Winer and former MTV Video Jockey, Adam Curry, both laid the groundwork for podcast when they both worked on a way to automatically deliver audio content via RSS feeds. Working as a team, Winer wrote the code and Curry developed the application known as ‘iPodder’. This application those with iPods the ability to download shows directly to their devices.

This development paved the way for creators to produce and distribute their audio content easily. It was revolutionary, liberating audio storytelling from the confines of traditional radio and making it available to anyone with an internet connection!

Dave Winer & Adam Curry

A Name is Born!

The word ‘podcast’ was officially coined in 2004 by a Journalist named Ben Hammersley. In a Guardian article, whilst discussing the growing phenomenon of audio blogging, he decided to combine the words ‘iPod’ and ‘broadcast’, which of course, created the term we all now know - ‘podcast’. After the article was published, the term caught on and quickly became synonumouse with the new wave of audio content at the time.

Ben Hammersley

The Rise of Podcasting and Celebrity Hosts

As the first podcasts started to gain traction and become popular, major networks began to take notice and jump into the podcasting scene. Companies like Gimlet Media, Radiotopia, and Wondery emerged, each producing their own unique and high-quality shows across various genres. With podcasting's growing popularity, celebrities like Joe Rogan and Oprah Winfrey launched their own podcasts, drawing even more attention to the medium.

Golden Age

By the time the 2020s arrived, podcasts were more popular than ever, with over 2 million available on major platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts. Then came the COVID-19 pandemic, which kept people at home and fueled podcast growth even further, with many turning to hybrid podcast formats. Thanks to affordable recording equipment and user-friendly editing software, podcasting became accessible to just about anyone with a story to share.

We hope you've enjoyed learning about the history of podcasting! It’s amazing to see how podcasts have evolved, and there's no doubt they'll continue to soar.

Want to be part of podcasting history? Get in touch with us today, and let us help your voice take flight! 🦩