Are you voting with your ears?

Hey honeys and hustlers,

Today is Election Day – in case fall daylight savings time didn’t throw your focus, schedule, and emotions out of wack already. Normally, I would suggest turning on your favorite show and tuning out the world while the election results roll in. However, podcasts have played such a pivotal role in this presidential election season, that you may not find comfort in them right now. Podcasts have effectively become the modern-day town hall, providing an intimate setting for political discussions that are reaching audiences who may not tune into fact-checked political news. This format allows for more nuanced conversations, allowing candidates to express their views in detail and voters the chance to hear unedited, long-form discussions. Their growing influence in the political sphere is undeniable, with candidates and voters alike turning to podcasts for in-depth conversations and unfiltered perspectives.

At the Afros & Audio Podcast Festival, there was a stat revealed during the closing State of Black Podcasting session that genuinely shocked me: over 70% of political podcasts were right-leaning, with the remaining being moderate or left-leaning. This likely explains why many of the shows that the presidential and vice-presidential nominees appeared on were not explicitly political podcasts.

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Notable appearances include:

• Joe Rogan Experience: Featuring appearances by J.D. Vance and former President Donald Trump, these episodes sparked intense debate and garnered millions of views. (I was also surprised to see that this is the most listened-to show by Black podcast listeners in a study shown at Afros and Audio)

• Call Her Daddy: Vice President Kamala Harris's appearance on this podcast, known for its frank discussions, allowed her to connect with younger, women voters on issues like reproductive rights and climate change. (hosted by Alex Cooper)

• Club Shay Shay: Another platform where VP Harris engaged with voters, focusing on social justice issues and economic policies affecting minority communities. (hosted by Shannon Sharpe)

• Subway Takes: Not technically a podcast to some, but a video series on Instagram where Tim Walz made an appearance to share his hot take. (hosted by )

• The Running Interview Show: Not technically a podcast to some, but a video series on Instagram where Tim Walz made an appearance on a run in Central Park NYC during a campaign stop. (hosted by )

These podcast appearances seem to have played a crucial role in shaping the political opinions of many who prefer not to consume political news. They offered voters a chance to hear candidates speak at length, often revealing aspects of their personalities and policy positions that might not come across in more formal settings like debates, rallies, or press conferences (though we do love a good SNL skit). While podcasts have undoubtedly enriched political discourse this election cycle, they have also raised concerns about bias and the potential lack of fact-checking. Surprisingly, I would argue that many podcast hosts have shown a commitment to accuracy that sometimes surpasses traditional debate moderators (Alex Cooper did a phenomenal job).

With Kamala Harris becoming the nominee nearly 4 months before Election Day, many may see her turn to podcast guesting as a sign that the medium provides a viable platform for short-term campaigns, as they should. It's clear that podcasts will continue to play a significant role in future political campaigns and how elected officials (both current and former) communicate with their constituents. There's even speculation about the revival of "fireside chats" in podcast form, allowing presidents to communicate directly with the public in a more intimate setting. Okay, you caught me. I’m the only one speculating but hear me out. This could actually be a space where AI makes positive improvements in a creative medium. In the best of cases, we could see more interactive podcast formats being experimented with (i.e. live translations and captioning) or even AI-driven fact-checking in real-time during political discussions. One can dream, right?

I know a lot of people have election anxiety, so I hope you’re taking care of yourself today.

Please Hustle Responsibly,

🤙🏾✨

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