What Can Podcasts Teach Us?

What are podcasts?

Podcasts are a form of audio and video broadcasting which can be downloaded and played on a computer or portable device. These broadcasts typically consist of audio files that are either uploaded to the internet or distributed by e-mail.

Podcasts are a great way to learn new skills, develop your knowledge on a certain topic, or just have some downtime. Whether you're commuting to work or cleaning the house, podcasts are always there for you. Podcasts are an excellent resource for people who want to learn more about a specific topic. They are also great for those who want to listen to interesting stories.

Listening to podcasts has been proven to help people stay focused and improve their concentration. It also helps them be more productive at work and improves their social life by making them more knowledgeable on topics they're interested in.

Podcasts are also an excellent way of staying up-to-date with the latest trends in marketing, technology, and entrepreneurship so that you can keep up with the competition.

The history and future of podcasts

By 2023, 1 billion people will be listening to them at least once a month: Podcasts (a loose combination of the words "iPod" and "broadcasting") are carving out an increasingly important space in our daily routine.

Not only light topics are covered: In fact, edutainment (education + entertainment) podcasts are becoming more and more popular. That's why Babbel - the world's first language-learning app -  created the infographic "What can a Podcast Teach You?", to explain this global phenomenon through lots of fun facts and data, while also offering a series of useful tips for learning languages... by listening to podcasts.

As the infographic explains, in 2021, Brits listened to almost 60 million hours of podcasts every week (+50% compared to 2019 and 17 times more than in 2015). In 2022, even more growth: +2.9 million listeners are expected in the UK. From "Today in Focus", a podcast by The Guardian that covers a crucial fact in 20 minutes, to "Eat Sleep Work Repeat" by Bruce Daisley (Vice President of Twitter), there are many podcasts loved by the British.

Babbel has also launched numerous podcasts to help language learning. In fact, there are many educational benefits to listening to Babbel's podcasts: They present and introduce relevant cultural elements, they help improve pronunciation and conversation and they also explain new linguistic forms of speech.

Getting into podcasting yourself

If you want to get into podcasting, the best way to do it is to start listening to podcasts. When you find a show that you enjoy, subscribe and listen regularly. You can also look for a show with a similar topic and see if they have an open slot for guest hosts. If so, reach out and offer your services as a guest host. This is the perfect way to get started in podcasting without any experience or equipment!

So, are you ready to put your headphones on and press "play"?