Podcast Listening and Informal Learning

Abstract

Listening to podcasts is a popular way adults learn outside of formal school settings. Examining podcast listening through the lens of informal learning is an important and underexplored area of inquiry. This is especially important considering the growth of the adult population in the United States and the new opportunities for learning and recreation. In this research, we interviewed 31 adult podcast listeners from across the United States about their experiences listening to and learning from podcasts. We open coded and refined the analysis to three themes. There was a strong connection between listening, learning, and personal growth among the participants. The participants experienced meaningful changes in their perspectives and behaviors from what they learned in podcasts. Finally, the unique features of the medium of podcasting such as its convenience and ease of production were integral to this learning.