Podcasts are Annoying

Seriously op, there are thousands of podcasts on a huge range of topics. Most not presented by celebs. If you don't like one type there are so many more to choose from. It's not complicated.

The name comes from pod as in ipod + cast as in broadcast.

The idea originally was that it was a sort of personalised radio show you could download and listen to with your music that you had on iTunes.

Of course now they are on whatever platform you like, not just iTunes.

I find substack is good for reading. I like reading but I like podcasts as well. A transcript is never as good as a properly written article. I'd rather listen to it in that case.

Who is tying you down and blasting them at you? They sound annoying.

I like podcasts but considering the pod part of the name originally came from ipod - they're meant to be consumed individually. Or, you know, not.

I do find it annoying when a podcast maker thinks they are on a radio show and does any or all of the following:

Has a pointlessly long intro explaining what their podcast is and what they are going to talk about. Just fucking talk about it then! If I've got this far I've probably read the description!

Instructs people to "stay tuned"

Keeps interrupting the flow to recap what's already been said and summarise what's coming up. Again. Nobody is starting from halfway through! This is especially annoying if it bulks out 15 mins of content to half an hour or so. Just a waste of my time. Have a short podcast and cut the waffle, or a long one where you actually get to the interesting part of the conversation.

And then my last pet peeve is boring and completely irrelevant segments like you'll have an interesting podcast and then randomly they'll have a segment where they review a biscuit recipe of the week or something. I don't care! If I wanted to listen to a podcast about recipes, I'd look for that.

The annoying ones are annoying. The not annoying ones are not annoying. HTH

Is everyone okay today?

First people drinking water was 'performative' and now podcasts, something you literally do not have to engage with unless you choose to, are 'annoying'.

And I thought I was in a bad mood...

That’s like saying films are crap, or food is shit. Ot depends what you listen to. I listen to really insightful podcasts. If you’re going to actively listen to the Loose Women podcast yeah, it’ll be shit, but I listen to true crime stuff, archives from Desert Island discs, I find podcasts where my favourite comedians are interviewed.

Yes there are a few and I'm appreciative of them! But not par for the course yet.

Have you checked your favourites don’t have transcripts? Some of the pods I listen to do - there’s usually a link in the show notes.

There are lots of really good quality podcasts out there.

There are some brilliant podcasts out there on all sorts of subjects. I listen to social history and crime ones mainly, and learnt all sorts of things. Some of the best ones have been those that aren't BBC, but from other producers, such as Wondery. Particular standouts were a short series on Hurricane Katrina from the point of view of people living in New Orleans, and one about Curtis Flowers, wrongly convicted for a triple murder and who spent 20 years on death row. I watch a lot of documentaries on tv, so podasts are the same, just a different format, for me!
I hate celeb podcasts, but I also wouldn't watch things like Love Island or MAFSUK either.... you like what you like...

The good ones annoy me because I want to consume the information and discussion but not by listening. I would rather read a transcript, which would take me 5 minutes rather than an hour. I don't have an hour! I miss blogs. I'm disappointed in the world for preferring listening to reading.

I listen to podcasts at the gym on psychology, history and true crime. Love that I can time my workout to them as well and you get what you expect with little distraction unlike radio.
I wouldn’t listen to celeb podcasts, just like I don’t watch reality tv. It’s not for me. Each to their own.

I gave up on the Today programme a long time ago. These days I much prefer The News Agents and the various The Rest is Politics podcasts to other analytical news programmes.

It is basically radio. I listen to a lot of things on radio 4 on catch up. I've never understood how podcasts not just a cheaper version of radio. A bit like pirate radio stations but not illegal because you don't have to pay so there is a nothing illegal about it

Well... no. Lots of podcasts aren't popular, as you pointed out in your OP. Some of the good ones become popular, and people like those ones because they are good. Nobody 'likes all podcasts because they are popular'. People like podcasts that are about things they are interested in.

Honestly, try applying your points to other forms of media and it will become obvious that they don't make sense.

Or are they popular because people like them…?

Personally, I don’t like them because they’re popular but rather because they’re the only medium that has lots of new content on subjects I’m interested in. TV and radio rarely covers niche topics in any depth.

No different to TV shows, music, anything really. Lots of crap things are hyped up.

Podcasts mean I can listen to what I want, when I want. I love Radio 4 but my favourite programmes aren’t always on at a time that suits me.

god I love a podcasts and listen to a huge variety across loads of subjects as I walk the dog. So YABU

Not all podcasts are overly edited or even edited at all though.