It's High Time We Rethink the Term 'Podcast'

The Evolution of What We Call Podcasts

In recent years, our understanding of what constitutes a 'podcast' has dramatically changed. Just last year, I would have claimed that segments like Seth Meyers’ “A Closer Look” are merely TV clips. However, by 2025, almost every mainstream podcast incorporates visual elements, rendering the traditional definition of 'podcast' almost obsolete. The lines have blurred so much that distinguishing between a syndicated TV segment and a popular podcast is all but impossible.

A New Era for Multimedia Formats

Nowadays, when I browse YouTube's podcast section, what I find are not just audio discussions but also talk show snippets, video essays, and food critique segments. This is a shift from the days when podcasts primarily meant auditory storytelling or group dialogues.

Fast forward to 2026, and I suggest we dismiss the term 'podcast' completely. It echoes the way 'web series' once thrived but now seems dated in the digital lexicon.

The Case for Rebranding as 'Shows'

Moving forward, how do we label this diverse content? It's unlikely we'll invent a completely new term. More likely, we'll repurpose existing nomenclature. For instance, Ashley Carman highlighted at a recent event how various media executives, like Georgie Holt of FlightStory, prefer to call their productions 'shows.' This shift is aimed at making content more universally appealing and marketable.

Within Vox Media, and beyond, the term 'show' is gaining traction, mainly for its advertising potential. Presenting content as a 'show' allows for broader sponsor pitches, transcending the confines of podcasts and appealing to both auditory and visual platforms.

Trends in Nomenclature and Marketing

As this trend continues, fans might start adopting the term 'shows' as readily as they’ve accepted terms like 'influencers.' This shift is reflective in changing sign-offs from “Find us wherever you get podcasts” to more YouTube-focused language.

The Centralization of Content

Simultaneously, the decentralization that podcasts once offered is eroding as companies like YouTube and Netflix consolidate content. YouTube boasts about having millions of 'talk show-style podcasts' that already rival traditional late-night formats, reinforcing the migration of content from open podcast platforms to closed-network spaces.

In consequence, next year we might not be recommending new podcasts but rather discussing the latest 'shows' we watched. This shift signifies a merging of media consumption environments, with audio and video blurring into one.

The Future of Audio-Only Content

Even with these changes, audio-exclusive formats aren't likely to vanish. Many people listen while commuting, during which they won’t be engaging with a screen. Though large media houses focus on video content, independent creators will persist in producing audio-centric offerings.

Thus, the classic term 'podcast,' tied to its iPod heritage, might finally fade. In the years ahead, perhaps the question 'What is a podcast?' will not need answering as 'What is a show?' becomes the new norm.