Activism on our airwaves

There’s a podcast for almost everything, from celebrity gossip to sports and true crime. Spotify, alone, organises its podcasts into 54 distinct categories, illustrating the sheer breadth of the medium. While I have always gravitated toward historical podcasts, lately I find myself encountering a growing number of video podcasts on my daily Instagram scroll. It is almost always the same format: hosts and guests sprawled on armchairs, microphone in hand, debating and dissecting some political discourse with increasing intensity.

This is not to say that politics is new to podcasts. Talk show hosts, like Joe Rogan, have long been integrating political commentary into their episodes and just look toward The Rest is Politics’ numerous live tours to see that the public has a clear appetite for politics.

However, in recent years, there has been a shift. Podcasts are no longer just about engaging with politics. They are shaping it. Political discourse now cuts across the entire podcast landscape, far beyond explicitly political shows. These conversations do not simply stay in listeners’ ears: they shape how people understand the world, what they feel compelled to care about and, at times, what they feel moved to do. The question, then, is whether podcasts are still just platforms for discussion, or whether they have become a new kind of activism.

Part of what makes podcasts so influential is the nature of the medium itself. Unlike traditional news formats, podcasts feel intimate. Their conversational and often informal style is a winning recipe for a listener’s trust. Listeners are not merely presented with headlines and detached written facts, but are guided by hosts whose voices become familiar friends over time. Speaking directly into someone’s ear, week after week, can become a persuasive tool that mainstream media just cannot replicate.

This accessibility has lowered the barriers to political participation, enabling a wider range of voices to contribute to political conversations

Through podcasts, everyone has the opportunity to claim a platform, articulate a perspective, and reach an audience. This accessibility has lowered the barriers to political participation, enabling a wider range of voices to contribute to political conversations. In some cases, this has allowed podcasts to amplify marginalised viewpoints, such as We the Unhoused. Created with the aim of “uplifting voiceless citizens”, Theo Henderson’s podcast explores the lived experience of unhoused people, with a particular focus on those based in Los Angeles. He provides interviews with unhoused people, charities, and activists, offering practical advice for vulnerable people, whilst simultaneously educating housed people.

The problem with this evolution in the media landscape is that a podcasts’s accessibility can make it a breeding ground for misinformation and radicalisation

With hopes to take the podcast internationally, Henderson has spoken on how mainstream media continues “to ignore and demonise, and dismiss unhoused experiences”. By mobilising his voice to aid his local community, Henderson demonstrates how podcasts can move beyond commentary into a form of grounded activism, reshaping the space in which we talk about the unhoused.

The growing strength of podcasts and advocacy must also be considered with the decline of mainstream media. With our lives becoming ever more digitalised, mainstream media outlets have had to reflect this change. Yet, when the cost of online news continues to rise, it is becoming harder to access. This inaccessibility consequently pushes audiences towards alternative and freely available sources of information, which is exactly what podcasts have to offer.

Their reach, conversational tone, and ability to amplify diverse perspectives allow them to shape understanding

The problem with this evolution in the media landscape is that a podcast’s accessibility can make it a breeding ground for misinformation and radicalisation, as everyone is given an unfiltered platform to share their views. Without editorial oversight or fact-checking, false or misleading claims can spread widely, gaining credibility through a trusted host’s voice. This openness also allows extreme or polarising ideas to reach highly engaged audiences, reinforcing echo chambers without the counterbalance of opposing perspectives.

Despite these risks, podcasts remain a uniquely powerful medium. Their reach, conversational tone, and ability to amplify diverse perspectives allow them to shape understanding, spark engagement, and inspire action. More than entertainment or discussion, podcasts are emerging as a tool for participation and meaningful social change.