Here’s why Gen Z finds comfort in podcasts

If you have been keeping tabs on what Gen Z is up to, beyond their current obsession with matcha lattes and Labubu dolls, one trend that does not seem to be going anywhere is their love for podcasts. Unlike the fleeting social media fads, podcasting seems to have entrenched itself into Gen Z’s daily routine. It is no longer just a flex to listen to podcasts, but a tool shaping their personality altogether!

These days, India’s top celebrities and even politicians are hopping onto the podcast train, sitting across content creators and chatting about everything, from their nostalgic childhood memories to fintech and beyond. And for Gen Zers, it is definitely not background noise while doomscrolling. “Podcasting gives you a whole personality, it gives you conversation points among your peers,” says 24-year-old Darshit S., practising law in Chennai. “Most importantly, what makes it special is how it breaks the wall between the listener and the speaker. It is not like an interview, but more laidback and real,” adds Darshit.

The younger crowd is tuning in to podcasts on entertainment, lifestyle, global affairs, and crime, among other topics. What once started as a niche interest has turned into an everyday ritual among the listeners. And it is not just about listening anymore, Gen Zers from Chennai are making their own podcasts — especially college students looking for an outlet. Safa Salsabeel Z., a 22-year-old English literature student from Chennai, has already produced seven podcasts, covering everything from procrastination to how AI is reshaping literature, and even quirky historical topics like the origin of fans in pre-electricity times. For Safa, podcasting isn’t just a post-lecture hobby but calls it the loudest form of creative expression.

So, what makes podcasts the ‘thing’ for this generation, you ask. The podcaster breaks it down: “As Gen Z, we usually gravitate towards podcasts that feel real, relatable, and authentic. We don’t always look for perfectly polished interviews, professionally edited shows. What we love are conversations that sound like we are part of them,” says Safa. She further adds topics on mental health, productivity hacks, relationships, identity, personal growth, and even random ‘shower thoughts’ are what really clicks with her generation.

Platforms such as Spotify and YouTube are the go-tos for most Gen Z podcast listeners, including Darshit. “Honestly, it is not about the video, nothing much usually happens visually. It is all about what they are talking about. Podcasts let you get to know someone, especially celebrities, in a more authentic way. In a podcast, you end up listening your favourite cricketer speak about things you would never get from a well scripted interview in the 90s or 2000s,” he says.

Another big draw is that you can learn about any new topic from a well-researched podcast in just a couple of hours. But for many Gen Zers from the city, it is about the comfort of hearing personal stories they can relate to, anecdotes that are a little more human, and banter that makes them feel seen and heard!