I used to be annoyed by them, but I get it now. I started listening to them at work, it's pretty nice to find a highly researched audio only format so I can focus on my work and learn something I care about
To me, they are an incomplete form of entertainment. They are not engaging enough to just sit down and listen to them without doing anything else. But I also can't listen to them while doing something more complex at the same time.
But they are a perfect companion for playing a video game without story. Or caring for a baby.
I like the idea in theory, but in practice,it's always a pattering mess that I've yet to complete a single episode of. I've tried many genres and creators. Never works. I really wish it was normal for podcasts to come with subtitles
They operate as a kind of niche lifestyle thing that doesn't apply to everyone. It's a great option for those instances where you aren't actively doing any mental work but want something to listen to:
transportation
household chores
as a break between tasks
Music can also fit this niche, as well as audiobooks (I do all three).
That's when I let my inner voice organise my thoughts. I have a firm belief people are missing out on being bored. It puts my motivation through the roof.
I listened to a podcast once. I wondered how this was different than radio. I listen to NPR and it seems real similar. Except the podcast was going on and on and on about their sponsors. At last NPR just says they're sponsors names and a quick tagline only.
To be fair, the more podcasts, the more competition in making podcasts more high quality, the more quality podcasts I can listen to, the more reason I have to do boring chores or exercises.
I do the same but with audiobooks and the simple fact is, the more choice there is, the more fake reviews and shite quality you have to wade through to find something worth listening to
I love podcasts, but I wish more of them were more like a... miniseries or something, or like how writers will submit to long-form magazines. Whatever amount of content you have for your idea, shoot your shot and be done with it. 3, 5, 10, 20 episodes, whatever it is. But, I understand that goes against the plan of hopefully getting sponsors and monetizing. I don't know how to explain it properly....
There are some fictional podcasts that do that. They generally are part of a network and do a lot of cross promotion to make the monetization work out. There's one "podcast" I like that does small runs of shows one after another on the same feed.
I only search for podcasts that interest me anyway. If someone made a podcast about something that doesn't need to be a podcast I'd never hear about it so why would I care?
Me someone without an illness who can sometimes process sound: Podcasts are a thing?
(I'll just naturally tune out random people talking about random things. Hell, I'll tune out just about anyone talking to my face about pointless topics. It's not intentional, it's just that my brain doesn't care and has more important things to concentrate on.)
I get this is an attempt at a joke but...who cares? Something that seems stupid and pointless to one person is fascinating to another. Niche interests are always fun to explore.
Also, if someone wants to do a podcast on the anthill in their backyard, why not? It's not hurting anybody. They're just making something, and I admire anyone that follows through on actually making something and puts it out there, even if it's not great. Just let people enjoy their lives, y'all.
Because shitting on people doing their weird thing is shitty and discourages them from doing said weird things, and isn't remotely the same as someone making something harmless?
This is some weird "you have to tolerate my intolerance" tactic you've chosen.