Podcasts and political listening: sound, voice and intimacy in the Joe Rogan Experience

Abstract

Podcasts are an increasingly popular medium, however, their potential for political listening remains largely unexplored. This article examines the opportunities and challenges that podcasts provide in literally hearing voices. It analyses the globally influential Joe Rogan Experience podcast to consider its acoustic impact on audiences. It finds that audiences are highly attuned to the aural nature of this platform and can listen with a critical ear. This technology holds the capacity for challenging power in its production processes outside the state and market, its shift to informal speech and its intimate nature. Ultimately, this article argues that paying attention to sound through podcasts can extend our understanding of political listening and the media.