What is a Podcast? 5 Types With Examples

A podcast is an online audio program that you can download and listen to on your computer or mobile. It’s a bit like a public radio show, but there’s a difference. With a podcast, you can listen to episodes or a live podcast whenever you like.

Listening to podcasts is a chance to learn new things, hear different perspectives, and build a connection with your favourite creators.

In this comprehensive guide, I’ll explain how they work, the different types, and how to find a podcast that aligns with your interests. I’ll also provide some top podcast examples that may just pique your interest.

Podcasting is a relatively new concept. The term podcast is a portmanteau of the words ‘iPod’ and ‘broadcast’ and only came into use in February 2004. But since then, the media format has gone from strength to strength. Here’s how the process works.

1. One or more digital audio creators (known as ‘podcasters’) use recording software to create audio or video files of themselves discussing a topic.
2. The podcasters undertake audio editing to refine that recording, eliminate background noise, add sound effects as needed, and prepare it for release.
3. The podcasters release media content to their audience, usually on a platform like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube.
4. The audience can then listen to the recording on-demand or download it for later if they prefer.

Podcasts can be about anything, but they usually centre on one key topic, like cars, gaming, lifestyle, or fashion. They can be monologues or conversations between two or more people. They can be entirely non-fiction or entirely fictional audio dramas. Sometimes, a podcast can simply be a person telling humorous stories from their life.

The creator can also release podcasts however often they like: daily, weekly, or monthly. These podcasts can be any length, and in any format the podcaster chooses. In short, anyone can make podcasts about anything. The only challenge is convincing people to tune in.

Podcast listening is enjoyed by millions of people around the world every day. But why? What’s the point of it all? Here are six reasons listening to a podcast can benefit you:

• Learning new things: Podcasts are one of the best ways to learn about niche topics. Listening to experts boosts retention and makes it easier to understand tricky concepts.
• Convenience: In addition, podcasts let you learn whenever you like. You don’t need to find time to sit down and read a book. You’ll find most people listening to podcasts while handling other tasks.
• Mental well-being: Listening to a podcast can help you relax, laugh, and feel more positive. It engages your mind and diverts it from stress, offering some much-needed downtime.
• Listening skills: Audio podcasts have no visual cues, so they’re great for building active listening skills.
• Affordability: Podcasts are often free or cheap to access, giving you a wealth of content at little to no cost. That’s some solid value for money.
• Personal growth: Podcasts often contain real-life stories, experiences, and ideas. This makes them excellent for understanding new perspectives and supporting personal growth.

Podcasts can be about any topic, and there are no limitations to this. That said, most types of content for podcasts fall into one of these categories.

Whenever you think of a podcast, interviews are likely the first one that springs to mind. These podcasts often feature a consistent host who interviews or chats with a new guest each episode.

For example, Salesforce’s Executive Conversations podcast features interviews with leading CEOs and thought leaders. Each podcast centres on a critical business topic, including real-world examples, unique perspectives, and future trends.

The result is bite-sized insights and lessons that everyone, from seasoned business leaders to budding entrepreneurs, can use to grow and thrive in their industry.

Conversational podcasts are usually co-hosted. This podcast format is closer to what you’d expect from a radio show, featuring two or more podcast hosts who commentate on recent events or hold entertaining conversations.

The Hamish & Andy Podcast is one of the most famous examples that follows this style.

What started as two mates who enjoyed each other's company has quickly turned into Australia’s best-loved comedy double act. The pair talk about random topics and recent events with a touch of absurdist humour. Listening to the podcast feels like being in on an inside joke.

Also known as monologue podcasts, this category features a single host who speaks for the entire episode. This style is particularly suited to educational and narrative podcasts, where the podcaster is an expert in their field who can talk in-depth about a specific topic.

For example, embodiment coach and mentor Beatrice Kamau hosts The Self Love Fix, a weekly podcast series helping women of colour achieve self-confidence, happiness, and wellbeing. Beatrice chooses a podcast topic each week, from addressing hopelessness in dating to finding your purpose.

As an expert in her niche, Beatrice has amassed a global following throughout Australia, Malaysia, the US, and the UK.

Educational podcasts focus on teaching a specific topic, like history, geography, or entrepreneurship. These podcasts can be either solo, conversational, or interviews. The podcaster will often include show notes to help consolidate the lesson.

Science Vs is an educational podcast that battles against myths and misconceptions with evidence-backed science. Each episode tackles a unique and varied topic, from fibre and the climate crisis to microplastics and menopause.

Thanks to its no nonsense style and easy-to-understand content, Science Vs has risen to the top 5 educational podcasts in India, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

Narrative (or scripted) podcasts are all about telling stories, either in one episode or an entire season. These stories can be non-fiction, as is common with true crime and documentary podcasts, or fiction podcasts, such as creating fantasy stories with voice actors.

For instance, The Stories of Mahabharata by Sudipta Bhawmik is a serialised retelling of The Mahabharata—an epic from ancient India.

Bhawmik posts new episodes on occasion, and viewers can tune in to hear the next part of one of India’s greatest tales. This is an excellent example of how a podcast can be both entertaining and educational.

Podcasts are known for being audio-exclusive, and many of them are. But nowadays, it’s also common for podcasts to include video clips. This could be footage of an interview taking place or graphics to support the host’s monologue.

Video is especially popular for interview and conversational podcasts, where audiences often want to see and experience the interactions between hosts and guests. For instance, we upload our Executive Conversations podcast as a video, both on our website and on YouTube.

The good news is that podcasters don’t necessarily have to pick one type of podcast to create. Video and audio can both be recorded simultaneously, allowing the podcast creator to edit the same raw material for different platforms.

Take Steven Bartlett’s Diary Of A CEO, for instance, which features a new, engaging guest each week to speak with the host about a niche topic. The podcast is available audio-only on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, as well as alongside a video on YouTube.

Audio and video podcasts both have their perks. Audio is easier to listen to on-the-go and allow the subscriber to multitask while they do so. Videos require a little more attention, but they can help podcasters reach a wider audience. Video is also a welcome accompaniment for users who struggle to process audio without visual cues.

There are dozens of different places to listen to podcasts, both on your computer and mobile phone. Below, I’ve listed some of the most common podcast listening apps and platforms to get you started.

• Spotify isn’t just for music. The platform also features thousands of varied podcasts. Just know that you’ll need to listen to ads unless you’re a premium subscriber on the platform.
• Apple Podcasts is the best way for iPhone users to listen. It’s a built-in app that is free to use. As a plus, the app will provide you with recommendations based on your listening habits.
• Amazon Music also offers a large variety of podcasts alongside their music streaming.
• YouTube is the easiest way to find popular video podcasts like Joe Rogan. These are accessible on any device provided you have an internet connection.
• Audible is ideal for narrative-style podcasts and documentaries. The platform also features some exclusives that are only available on the Audible platform.
• Podchaser offers an ultimate podcast directory, allowing you to find top-rated podcasts in every niche.
• Reddit’s r/podcasts is a community-driven subreddit featuring podcast recommendations, reviews, and discussions.

These are just a small selection of recommendations, but the fact is that podcasts are everywhere. Search for what you’re looking for and you’ll struggle not to discover the perfect fit.

Let’s run through some of the top podcasts that Australians have downloaded and listened to more than any other.

The Hamish & Andy Show is the upper crust of Australian podcasts. With over 800,000 monthly listeners, the duo have won the country’s hearts with their hilarious conversations, absurd anecdotes, and good-natured banter.

True crime podcast Casefile has quickly become one of Australia’s finest. Each podcast episode presents an interesting and unforgettable case file, complete with gripping narration via an anonymous podcast producer known as ‘The Host.’

Conversations with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski is an interview-style podcast that introduces new guests each week. Unlike other interview podcasts, Conversations doesn’t rely on celebrity appearances. Instead, they invite interesting, often ordinary people who’ve experienced or done remarkable things.

Podcasts as a form of media may have only existed for two decades. But with more people tuning in each year on their favourite listening platforms, it's clear the format isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

The best part about podcasts is that there’s always a perfect fit for your tastes. Interested in rugby? There’s a podcast for that. Want to find out more about the political situation in your country? No problem. Fascinated by pens and want to learn about all things stationery? There’s a niche podcast for that, too.

And when you do find the perfect podcast, you’ll have the chance to learn new things, broaden your mind, or simply relax a bit more on your morning commute.

Are you intrigued by the world of business, artificial intelligence, sales and marketing but don’t know where to start? The Salesforce Executive Conversations podcast features diverse perspectives and valuable insights from some of the world’s biggest executives and thought leaders. Subscribe now to stay up to date with all the latest episodes.

A podcast is a series of audio episodes that you can listen to online. They come in a variety of formats, such as interviews, stories, news, or educational documentaries.

Podcaster hosts record podcast audio files using podcasting equipment and audio recording software like Adobe Audition. They then use editing software to refine the content before uploading these episodes to their favourite podcast apps and platforms, like Spotify. Their audience can then stream the episode directly, or download it for later.

There are dozens of different platforms that host podcasts, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Amazon Music, Audible, and YouTube.