This is kinda off topic but I've had several people approach me (especially during the pandemic) about starting a podcast and I've always looked at them crazy.
It takes a special kind of narcissism to think your mundane conversations with friends or even just your general stream-of-consciousness rants, are not only worthy enough to be recorded and broadcast to the wider world, but in fact, content people should be eager to pay for. Absolute delusion.
Very interesting topic. It does seem everyone and their grandmother thinks they can start a podcast today. When I think about it closely there are two types of podcasts.
1. A person or individuals who speak on a topic at length for a few ours.
2. A person or individuals who interview special guests.
It is extremely difficult bro success with the first option. Unless the host/co-hosts are household names and have the intelligence to come up with new ENGAGING content every week. This is how I found respect for Joe Budden, it is NOT easy to have a successful podcast with he same panel every week.
You are MUCH more likely to succeed with (2) as you can bring in an interesting guest every week who people want to hear, and pressure on the hosts is reduced. Joe Rogan is an example.
People who think they can get a bunch of friends together and have thousands of people listen in on them week after week are delusional. Because most the time these people have ZERO accomplishments to their names, except 'started a podcast' smh.