Podcast Passion: How The Podcast Has Created Internet Stars
The wave of podcasters and new podcasts has exploded in the last five years. From launching the careers of unknown internet celebrities to giving influencers and celebrities a platform, podcasting has become extremely powerful. One of the reasons for podcasts becoming popular was COVID-19. COVID-19 drastically impacted people’s hobbies, where outdoor and virtual hobbies became more popular. People seeking connections in a time where they could actively socialize partly drove the popularity of podcasts.
Additionally, podcasts, particularly in the realm of self-development and personal interests, allowed people to still enjoy and learn through their hobbies in an accessible way. During this time COVID-19 also drove the popularity of hobby-related podcasts in niche areas. A niche podcast that gained traction and was started during the pandemic in 2021 was a business-related and casino industry podcast by Lloyd Melnick.
No, the casino industry and gambling aren’t very niche but at the time online gambling and online casinos were gaining popularity, not all the rage like they are now. Seemingly podcasts started at this time and capitalized on trends, like the trend of playing in online casinos during COVID-19. They became popular for the same reasons as podcasts: accessibility, virtual entertainment, and limits on entertainment at this time. Therefore, those who would play in the online casino for real money could experience their interests outside of the casino and listen to a podcast about casino games or the industry, for example.
While not everyone has niche podcast interests, podcasts on all subjects exist now. In health, lifestyle, well-being, self-development, comedy, relationships, etc, there is a podcast for everyone to enjoy! But above all else podcasts have propelled the careers and the fame of many people online and have done so in different ways.
The Appeal of Niches
As briefly stated, podcasts tend to lean more into niche areas. Although many internet stars have sit-down-and-chat podcasts, many excel in certain niches. Joe Rogan, for example, although not an internet star, has consistently had the number one podcast on multiple platforms.
Yes, he is a comedian but now Rogan is known for his interesting podcasts and the extraordinary guests he has on his show, including Donald Trump. His niche isn’t a subject or an interest, but his podcast is niche because he manages to get huge stars on the show and ask them hard-hitting questions, equating to millions of views and huge levels of engagement. The Joe Rogan Experience has shown a new generation who Rogan is and has managed to get them to engage with his podcast because his niche is getting impossible guests on the show.
COVID-19 and Boredom
Podcasts have launched internet stars because of COVID-19. The limits of entertainment during the pandemic, which we covered, did not cover the trend of people beginning podcasts in 2020 and why.
Internet star Trisha Paytas has been posting on YouTube since the 2000s, but she became well-known in the podcasting community when she launched the Frenemies podcast with fellow YouTuber Ethan Klein, also known as H3.
The podcasts propelled the two’s careers during the pandemic for almost a year, as the dynamics between Trisha and Ethan were interesting. They weren’t friends or enemies but still could have in-depth conversations about internet drama, their lives, mental health, and other subjects. The idea of starting the podcast randomly out of boredom with two people who weren’t even friends allowed Ethan Klein to later come back to his H3 podcast with more people aware of who he was and the kind of podcast he did.
Celebrity Guests
Celebrity appeal and star power have had a part in podcasters becoming internet stars. If we take Alex Cooper, for example, the host of Call Her Daddy, celebrities helped to drive her podcast’s popularity. Because Alex became known for interviewing mainstream celebrities like Miley Cyrus, her views and legitimacy as a podcaster have been cemented. Before when she ran the podcast with Barstool Sports the podcast was more personal and about advice-giving, but when it became an interview podcast, Cooper gained more recognition because of her celebrity guests.
Thus, the podcast was given a $60 million deal by Spotify. In conclusion, celebrity interviews and guest appearances on influencer podcasts drive views, engagement, and podcast reputation. As celebrity interviews are common in the media, they also offer internet stars the chance to become prominent interviewers or even give them access to opportunities in Hollywood that they may not get by themselves.
Viral Moments
Viral moments online often create internet stars, but these moments are usually fleeting. However, controversies and viral podcast clips get people to notice podcast hosts and their names. Even one viral moment can create the careers of podcast hosts, like social media star Hailey Welch, who started her podcast because of a viral internet moment in 2024.
However, controversial podcasts can also create career-defining moments. The Cancelled Podcast is built on the idea of being ‘canceled’ online and polarizing discussions. This podcast has over 2 million subscribers and although it didn’t launch the careers of the hosts, has offered them new opportunities such as a podcast tour and an obsessed fan base who actively buy their merch and tickets to the podcast's live shows.
Primarily the podcast’s popularity is thanks to the viral clips posted on TikTok as they generate discussions in the comments about the subjects the hosts are talking about, without needing to commit to listening to a 1-hour episode.