Top Podcast Fun Facts of 2022
“I Was Listening to a Podcast and I Learned...” Podcast School 2022 Yearbook
By: Arielle Nissenblatt
Podcasts have been blowing my mind since 2014. That’s when I started really listening and thinking, “wow, more please!”
I was never a huge reader. Marathon reading sessions of novels or non-fiction never came naturally to me. Every so often, I’d find a book that did it for me. But sitting down to read a book or to crack open a newspaper or magazine never really held my interest — it never gave me that warm, fuzzy feeling that people talk about so fondly…the curling up with a book imagery of it all. So when I started listening to podcasts and discovered that learning and being entertained through my ears was my favorite way of consuming content — and that I got that warm, fuzzy feeling — it opened up a bunch of doors for me.
Of course, you can use podcasts to learn about the news…to stay up to date. You can hit play on a podcast to be exposed to new viewpoints — or viewpoints different from your own. You can also listen to a podcast to gain practical knowledge, like understanding the fundamentals of search engine optimization, or even just how to feel less alone with grief. But it’s the little tidbits of knowledge that keep me coming back for more. The ones that might seem insignificant, but they’re just a lot of fun to know.
My friends are probably sick of me showing up to dinner and starting every sentence with, “I was listening to a podcast and I learned…” But. Can’t stop. Won’t stop. And to celebrate this mentality — and the podcasts that create these tidbits — I asked friends from around the podcast world to share their favorite podcast fun facts from 2022.
This Year, I Learned…
Decoder with Nilay Patel: “Rent the Runway CEO Jennifer Hyman thinks fashion rental is inflation-proof”
Miriam Tinberg (@miriam_tinny), TikToker who cannot stop sharing what she’s listening to:
Rent the Runway is the largest dry cleaner in the U.S.
Lenny’s Podcast: “Gokul Rajaram on designing your product development process…”
Adam Thornhill, Founder of Podup:
Poach the best lieutenants from other companies and give them the promotion they’ve been striving for.
60 Songs That Explain the 90s: “Yellow Ledbetter – Pearl Jam”
Rebecca Lavoie, Host of Crime Writers On...and NHPR's head of podcasting:
That the lyrics to "Yellow Ledbetter" published on the internet probably aren't the lyrics to "Yellow Ledbetter.”
The Modern West
Joni Deutsch, Vice President of Podcast Marketing & Audience Development at The Podglomerate:
Indigenous Mexican vaqueros inspired the culture of the American cowboy (and that stylized image of the agile horseman with the big Stetson hat).
The Ballad of Uncle Drank
Mike Wiston, CEO of mowMedia:
The music industry is likely every bit as wild and crazy as we a led to believe it is (and then some).
Podcasting 2.0: “Poll Juice”
Alberto Betella, Co-founder of RSS.com:
I really loved Adam Curry's anecdote about the giraffe when he was in the Amsterdam zoo. The giraffe is a quiet and peaceful animal, but she can do like a kung fu whirlwind and slice you into bits... and that's what RSS is!
Empire: “Killing for the Koh-i-Noor”
Sam Sethi, CEO of Podfans:
Britain stole the Koh-i-Noor diamond from a 7-year-old.
Things Fell Apart w/ Jon Ronson
Annalise Nielsen, Senior Manager of Business Development at Pacific Content:
I learned about the story of Tammy Faye advocating for those suffering with AIDS on her Christian evangelism show in the 1980s.
Off The Grid: “Leaving Social Media Without Losing All Your Clients”
Alexandra Cohl, Founder and PR & Marketing consultant at POD.DRALAND:
I learned about the phrase "energetic sovereignty" and how to think about it in terms of my (and our) relationship(s) with social media, as well as in terms of how I engage with my business and professional work as a marketer and PR consultant. Another point that really stuck out to me was when Mary Grace says: "When you're scrolling you're kind of passively consuming content and...the Algorithm is deciding what it is." That hit me like a ton of bricks and has been reshaping the way I think about picking up my phone and has encouraged me to start to make different choices that will help me (and my business) become less reliant on social media as we go into 2023.”
Death of an Artist
Marina Hanna, marketing lead at Pacific Content:
The life, death, and mystery of Ana Mendieta. And that one can be accused of being part of a “feminist cabal.”
Blood & Gold
Marco Palmieri, Senior Creative Executive at Realm:
One of the most eye-opening things I learned in 2022 was how 19th-century outlaw Joaquin Murrieta is remembered as a freedom fighter and folk hero among both Mexicans and Americans of Mexican descent. American history paints him primarily as a desperado, but his legend is so much more complex, with a deep political and social justice component.
The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett: “Dame Dash”
Anna Ratala, CEO & Founder of Zvook:
A quote that stuck with me: "Don't dream cheap cause dreams don't cost a dollar" (by Dame Dash). I’m thinking about this a lot as an entrepreneur, especially as we kick off the new year!
Brains: “Writing Nonfiction”
Jeremy Enns, Founder of Podcast Marketing Academy:
I heard this analogy about building an audience around creative work on an episode of the Brains podcast that I haven't been able to stop thinking since. He was talking about the importance of creating the type of work that you are personally interested in rather than catering to what you think people want and he likened it to dating. At some point or another in our dating lives, we've probably all tried to appear more like what we think the other person is interested in. Of course, the cliche (but true) outcome of this is that we end up with someone who doesn't like the real us, and as such, we don't ever feel like we can truly be our authentic selves as long as we're in the relationship. What Tim pointed out, however, is that there's another, even more devastating potential outcome of failing to be our true, authentic selves, which is this: There's a good chance that we might meet someone who is looking for someone *exactly* like that true, authentic self... the one that we happen to be covering up because of our own insecurities or ideas about what this other person is looking for.
The Tim Ferriss Show: “How to Start a New Country”
Courtney Kocak, Podcast Bestie creator and curator:
I learned about the Overton Window – which is the range of politically acceptable policies and ideas within a larger spectrum that extends to the radical and unthinkable – and how it shifts depending on the sentiments that are in vogue at the time.
The Industry: “How Superman IV Became a Disaster: Christopher Reeve’s Two-Picture Deal”
Mark Asquith, Co-founder of Captivate.fm:
I learned the story of Superman 4, the movie... which sounds very bizarre but the inner workings of the movie industry and how this movie came to be is startlingly becoming reality for how large IP podcasts are being funded, traded, and developed.
I Said What I Said: “The ‘Let's Talk Money’ Episode”
Ona Oghogho, Founder & Creative Director of Blk Pod Collective:
That people actually make up stories that they write in to shows to have a juicy story. Now I keep thinking about all the stories I’ve heard on podcast, wondering if they were true!
Teaching Texas
Ellie Kotapish, Marketing Coordinator at QCODE:
That the Texas Board of Education played such a large role in our country's public education via textbooks.
American Hysteria: “Toy Riots”
Tim Villegas, Founder of Think Inclusive, MCIE's blog and podcast:
That the craze of Beanie Babies in the late 90s actually caused a murder.
Homoground
Charlye A, audio engineer & beatmaker:
I found Focus Time through a podcast called Homoground. Focus Time is an online coworking space curated for queer people to meet and work from all over the world! The community is so dope and I love their sessions.
Race to 35: “Esther Perel” (part of Armchair Expert)
Shira Moskowitz, podcast listener:
The concept of ambiguous loss, that it's okay to grieve something intangible or the idea of something, in relation to the fertility journey. I had one of my ovaries removed at 23 and had never been able to articulate why I cried so much when I found out I would loose my ovary — until hearing this term. I love when podcasts help me better understand previous experiences from my life and make me feel less alone.
Making Contact: “Ollas Populares - Lessons from Lockdowns”
Rosina Castillo, reporter:
The importance of "doing" for unlocking creativity.
Sold a Story
Dave Keine, Chief Product Officer at Podchaser:
There's a very popular framework for teaching kids to read that doesn't actually teach kids to read.
The Doc Project: “The Dosing Room”
Skye Pillsbury, reporter at The Squeeze:
I learned that ketamine is a legal treatment for depression in Canada.
Talk Easy: “Jenny Slate in 2022”
Rachael King, CEO of Pod People:
Jenny Slate is the most charming, vulnerable, creative human on earth (and she will make you cry).
The Only One In The Room
Laura Cathcart Robbins, host, creator, author:
Perfection is boring. The episode is more interesting when I leave in my mistakes.
Articles of Interest
Roger Nairn, Founder & CEO of JAR Audio:
Just how much today’s American preppy/ivy style (ie. Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger) was supercharged in Japan.
My First Million: “Dopamine Fasts, Cruise Ship Investing, and Elon vs Bezos with Andrew Wilkinson, Co-Founder of Tiny”
Jonathan Barshop, Podcast Growth Manager at HubSpot:
Anhedonia is the inability to feel pleasure and is something I've found myself experiencing the last year. It’s hard not to with all the over-stimulation from social media, podcasts, etc.
Rabia and Ellyn Solve the Case: “Laci and Scott Peterson”
Lauren Passell, Founder of Tink Media:
Scott Peterson didn't do it.
Ologies with Alie Ward: “Thanatology (DEATH & DYING) Updated Encore with Cole Imperi”
Melissa Locker, Nevermind Media:
Alie Ward talking about grief and death while grappling with her own grief is something I think about a lot.
Life Kit: “When it comes to exercise, ‘all movements count’”
Motunrayo Oladeji, podcaster - Life in Brown:
That all movement counts as exercise.
Wild Boys
Julie Shapiro, Executive Creative Director of Novel:
I had never heard of "orthorexia" — a condition in which someone maintains an unhealthy/extreme focus on eating healthily — until hearing about it in a podcast this year.
Preconceived
Zale Mednick, Host of Preconceived:
From a financial perspective, buying isn't necessarily better than renting a house
Aubrey Marcus Podcast: “Mapping The Spirit And Our Ancient History w/ Graham Hancock”
Harry Duran, Host of Podcast Junkies and Vertical Farming Podcast:
Just how old our ancient civilizations are!
Bad Blood
Michele Cobb, Executive Director of The Podcast Academy:
The fact that blood testing machines were allowed to operate without regulatory approval from the FDA.
Maintenance Phase
Hannah Weilbacher, The B-Sides:
The way we talk about weight has nothing to do with health and everything to do with anti-fat bias.
Political Gabfest: “Did You Apologize to Manchin Yet?” (Third segment)
Michael Osborne, Co-host of Famous & Gravy:
I heard an episode about an article written earlier this year. The author told a story about a street in Florida which holds the dubious distinction of being the deadliest for pedestrians anywhere in the country. The author coined the term "stroad," which is a blend of the words "street" and "road." The idea is that a road is a thing that is meant to take you from point A to point B (like a freeway). A street, on the other hands, is a place where you go to be – whether it's shopping, bars, restaurants, or whatever. The problem with large parts of America is that we have stroads – we haven't really decided ahead of time if the thing we're driving on is meant to take us from A to B or if it's designed for hanging out. It's a description of urban sprawl, in a way, but one that is also specific to our car culture. Anyway, I can't drive anywhere anymore without seeing stroads.
The Glo Podcast: “Building an Inward-Facing Practice with Ivorie Jenkins”
Lee Schneider, Lead Producer at Red Cup Agency:
During a podcast about yoga, one of the yoga teachers quoted this: “Comparison is the thief of joy.”
Flightless Bird: “Leaf Blowers”
Carly Puch, Conscious Living Coach and content creator of Consciously Clueless LLC:
That leaf blowers are a hot button issue.
All The Wiser: “Lessons on Grief and Gratitude from a Two-Time Plane Crash Survivor”
Frank Racioppi, Ear Worthy podcast blogger:
I listened to a young man who had lost his family in two separate airplane crashes. From that tale of tragedy, grief and redemption, I learned that any life challenge can be overcome with the proper motivation and the reservoir of strength we all have trapped inside us.
Immigrantly: “Tap Dancing As a Way To Communicate”
Saadia Khan, host and producer
I learned about the racial history of tap dancing and how this particular art form was created as a resistance tool against Black enslavement and persecution.
Bone Valley: “Chapter 2 | Combee Critters”
Natalie Gregory, Producer of The Opportunist:
Central Florida's Phosphate District is full of fossils, which is why it's called Bone Valley.
Club Random with Bill Maher: “Richard Dawkins”
Ryan Estes, Co-founder of Wildcast:
Did you know Richard Dawkins has never tried psychedelics!?
ADHD for Smart Ass Women with Tracy Otsuka
Elsie Escobar, Director of Community and Content at Libsyn & She Podcasts Co-founder
I learned that I am neurodivergent.
Colouring in Britain: “Princess Campbell”
Matt White, Podimo / Global Content Development
Princess Campbell was a nurse who became the first Black ward sister in Bristol in the U.K. She was an amazing, trailblazing woman whose story is absolutely incredible and truly inspiring. One moment I remember from the podcast about her is that right at the end of her life, she was in hospital herself. Someone who knew her found a picture of her as a young woman graduating as a nurse and put it in a frame next to her bed. They wanted everyone who came to treat her to know who she was and what she had done in her life. I remember hearing it on a train and just starting to cry. And I think about that story a lot. It reminds me to phone my parents more, to not just rush a quick “hello” to my neighbour, and to remember that one day, I’ll want someone to take a moment to find out a little more about me than the old man they see before them.
There ya have it! I absolutely love how specific some of these tidbits are. Big thank you to everyone who participated. If you’d like to be featured next year, make sure you’re subscribed to my newsletter, This & That with Arielle Nissenblatt.
