Fascinating observations and well-written as always; Thank you! I suffer from a different affliction - impatience. Video Podcasts take too long to get to the point of what they’re trying to communicate. I would rather read a transcript, an activity that consumes 10 minutes (or less) of my time, than sit through 25 minutes of a video podcast. TIME is our most precious commodity, and if I cannot multitask through an audio-podcast, then I will not consume at all.
I sometimes read the AI summarizations. You can get extensions that make this very easy. This might eventually allow YouTube or Spotify, etc., to compete with Substack and Medium with the written word!! Oh how the screw turns ;)
That works even better than reading a transcript! When reading, my brain stutters over the visual “uh’s” and “oh yes” that are included in transcripts.
Thanks, Daniel. You've officially made me feel old with this post. I've always considered podcasts as the media for long walks across camps or the drive home. The last thing I need is another screen in front of my face.
I'm in my early 60s so I may be proving your point but although I love podcasts I haven't really taken to video podcasts much. I tend to listen to podcasts while I"m out for a walk, cooking, or at night because it helps me fall asleep. When I was a kid I used to love listening to CBS Radio Mystery Theate in bed on my little transitor radio (when I wasn't listening to one of the Top 40 AM stations in Chicago). (As an aside, anyone else remember listening to the radio and hoping your favorite song would get played?) Listening to podcasts at night in bed gives me some of the same effect. I don't thing seeing them on video would add much.
Everyone who wants a new podcast app: PocketCasts is the truth. I have made it my goal in life to get as many people as possible to use this beautifully minimal app. I got so fed up with Apple Podcasts and Spotify -- both of which are geared towards helping me "discover" new shows, when 99% of what I want is access the podcasts I subscribe to -- that PocketCasts hit like a blast of cool, free air. This is not an ad and I don't work for them, though I should.
Yes! I noticed this weird trend as some of my faves tried it or a YouTuber would start their own pod only on YT. It's uniquely strange to me as well but I do find myself turning it on in the specific situation of working from home. If in office I listen to pods with earbuds but when at home the video can also be on and occasionally I'll look over so perhaps that was a major contributor to the acceleration of this trend
I listen to "Well There's Your Problem" which bills itself as a podcast about engineering disasters, with slides. They release audio-only versions on (audio-only) podcast apps, but also put the slides on youtube. The video content is truly topical material from the topic at hand, not video footage of them rambling. It's certainly better to see what they're talking about, but it is still a good show without the visual aids.
Actual-play role playing game podcasts, which are recordings of nerds playing things like D&D, have jumped the gap to video. The most popular example is the Critical Role empire. I feel that the video adds more manic energy to the show, with actors hamming it up for the camera, and video editing suddenly being important, which creates a barrier to entry. It leads to enshitification.
1h • 1 hour ago • Visible to anyone on or off LinkedIn
A huge announcement from Acast today - a new strategic video podcast partnership with Spotify 🚀
Soon Acast creators will be able to publish video podcasts to Spotify from their Acast dashboard, and unlock access to premium video revenue through the Spotify Partner Program (SPP).
Fascinating observations and well-written as always; Thank you! I suffer from a different affliction - impatience. Video Podcasts take too long to get to the point of what they’re trying to communicate. I would rather read a transcript, an activity that consumes 10 minutes (or less) of my time, than sit through 25 minutes of a video podcast. TIME is our most precious commodity, and if I cannot multitask through an audio-podcast, then I will not consume at all.
I sometimes read the AI summarizations. You can get extensions that make this very easy. This might eventually allow YouTube or Spotify, etc., to compete with Substack and Medium with the written word!! Oh how the screw turns ;)
That works even better than reading a transcript! When reading, my brain stutters over the visual “uh’s” and “oh yes” that are included in transcripts.
Thanks, Daniel. You've officially made me feel old with this post. I've always considered podcasts as the media for long walks across camps or the drive home. The last thing I need is another screen in front of my face.
I'm in my early 60s so I may be proving your point but although I love podcasts I haven't really taken to video podcasts much. I tend to listen to podcasts while I"m out for a walk, cooking, or at night because it helps me fall asleep. When I was a kid I used to love listening to CBS Radio Mystery Theate in bed on my little transitor radio (when I wasn't listening to one of the Top 40 AM stations in Chicago). (As an aside, anyone else remember listening to the radio and hoping your favorite song would get played?) Listening to podcasts at night in bed gives me some of the same effect. I don't thing seeing them on video would add much.
Everyone who wants a new podcast app: PocketCasts is the truth. I have made it my goal in life to get as many people as possible to use this beautifully minimal app. I got so fed up with Apple Podcasts and Spotify -- both of which are geared towards helping me "discover" new shows, when 99% of what I want is access the podcasts I subscribe to -- that PocketCasts hit like a blast of cool, free air. This is not an ad and I don't work for them, though I should.
Well, shit. As one of the "begrudging hosts" that refuses to transition to video... Guess I'm going to be fighting a losing battle.
Who has time to "watch" a podcast?
Yes! I noticed this weird trend as some of my faves tried it or a YouTuber would start their own pod only on YT. It's uniquely strange to me as well but I do find myself turning it on in the specific situation of working from home. If in office I listen to pods with earbuds but when at home the video can also be on and occasionally I'll look over so perhaps that was a major contributor to the acceleration of this trend
Cory Doctorow coined a term for this cultural homogenizing that no one asked for: enshitification. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enshittification
I listen to "Well There's Your Problem" which bills itself as a podcast about engineering disasters, with slides. They release audio-only versions on (audio-only) podcast apps, but also put the slides on youtube. The video content is truly topical material from the topic at hand, not video footage of them rambling. It's certainly better to see what they're talking about, but it is still a good show without the visual aids.
Actual-play role playing game podcasts, which are recordings of nerds playing things like D&D, have jumped the gap to video. The most popular example is the Critical Role empire. I feel that the video adds more manic energy to the show, with actors hamming it up for the camera, and video editing suddenly being important, which creates a barrier to entry. It leads to enshitification.
Ironically(?) I enjoyed *listening* to the audio transcription of this piece.
News just in from Ireland...probably worldwide. Hannah Connolly
Partner Manager (Development), Acast | Podcast Host 🎙Partner Manager (Development), Acast | Podcast Host 🎙
1h • 1 hour ago • Visible to anyone on or off LinkedIn
A huge announcement from Acast today - a new strategic video podcast partnership with Spotify 🚀
Soon Acast creators will be able to publish video podcasts to Spotify from their Acast dashboard, and unlock access to premium video revenue through the Spotify Partner Program (SPP).
Further updates to come in 2026 & more info here: https://lnkd.in/d_98ttc3
Worst. Invention. Ever.
Well, I’ll sometimes begin watching, then switch to listening as I do some mundane task. 😉