Why Podcasts Are the Medium of the Moment

Open your phone, put on your earphones, and you’re seconds away from entering someone’s mind. That’s what a podcast is,unfiltered, unhurried, and surprisingly intimate. Unlike video content that fights for your attention or text that demands your eyes, podcasts meet you where you are. Cooking, walking, commuting, zoning out at 2 AM,there’s always a place for them.

What started as a niche corner of the internet has become one of the most democratic forms of media today. With a mic, a voice, and an idea, anyone can start a podcast,and many have. As a result, the space isn’t just growing, it’s fragmenting. Which is good news for listeners: there’s now a podcast for every mood, ideology, and attention span.

Some people listen to unwind, some to learn, some to eavesdrop on conversations they’ll never be invited to. And that’s the charm. Podcasts don’t try to impress you with heavy editing or polished scripts (well, most don’t). They linger. They digress. They feel like thoughts unfolding in real time, because they often are.

In India, the scene is growing fast,and weird in the best way. Genre boundaries are loose. One episode might be political commentary, the next a rant about dating apps. The hosts don’t always sound “professional,” but that’s not the point. The point is that it feels real.

Take Untriggered with Amin Jaz, a show that never pretends to be anything it’s not. Or Prakhar ke Pravachan, which feels like your elder brother got philosophical and won’t shut up, but somehow, you’re still listening. Chaar Yaar delivers that exact group-chat energy, except in audio form. And The Having Said That show  balances cynicism with curiosity.  

Here are a few others worth checking out:

1. Dostcast – Long-form, raw, and unpredictable. Feels like stumbling into a conversation you didn’t know you needed.
2. Rumours by Bound – Deep dives into viral stories and internet mysteries—fact-checked, thoughtful, and gossip-friendly

     3.The Internet Said So – Stand-up comics discuss random internet stuff, shower thoughts, and childhood trauma (in a funny way).

     4.Chaar Yaar Podcast – Four friends, four mics, endless laughter and banter. Like a hostel conversation that got recorded.

     5.Having Said That – Chill conversations with comedians and creators that casually veer into surprisingly deep stuff

6. All About Now – Politics, pop culture, and layered context. Think of it as the opposite of hot takes.

There’s a reason podcasts keep growing while other forms of media feel stuck. They don’t need to sell you something every second. They’re allowed to be quiet, slow, or even a little boring,because sometimes, that’s exactly what we need. Another reason podcasts hit differently? Anyone can make one. You don’t need a million-dollar setup. Heck, half the podcasters you follow probably started with a Phone and a dream. (And maybe a chai and some good ‘ol friends)

That’s the beauty. Podcasts democratize voice. They allow people with perspectives,not necessarily clout to share stories. The girl rants about capitalism. The guy decoding Freud( with swear words). The chaotic duo fighting over pineapple pizza. It’s all there. Raw. Funny. Unfiltered.If you're tired of corporate-speak, marketing filters, and AI-generated “inspiration” posts, podcasts are your rebellion.

Podcasts for Every Personality (You Pretend to Have)

Not into interviews? Cool. Prefer absurd comedy? Done. Want soft Hindi poetry? Covered.Want to hear friends talk? Done.

There’s a podcast for literally every mood, niche, and personality

Podcasts offer presence, not performance.

There's space for rambling. For context. For nuance. When was the last time you got that on a reels?

So if you haven’t already fallen down the rabbit hole, maybe it’s time. Not every episode will change your life. But a good podcast will make you feel less alone inside your own head. And that’s no small thing.

By Aditi Sawarkar