The power of podcasts: From bedroom broadcasts to global media

Read the latest from Pete Price07:00, 27 Aug 2026The podcast revolution has exploded all over the world; some even say it is now bigger than radio.‌When podcasts first emerged in the early 2000s, few could have imagined they would grow into one of the most influential media formats in history. The term itself is a blend of "Apple iPod" and "broadcast."‌In those early days, pioneers - who were often laughed at by people saying, "that will never take off" - would record shows in bedrooms, offices, cellars, and under the stairs, sharing them online with small but dedicated audiences.‌Fast-forward to today, and podcasting is a global industry.Many shows are financially lucrative, earning hundreds of thousands of pounds per episode for an audience of more than half a billion listeners around th