Stories from NPR : NPR The hit list: hot summer podcasts
Jul 9, 2025
Join Lauren Ober, a narrative journalist and podcast host, Nick Kwa, a podcast critic for Vulture, and Davey Gardner, head of podcasts at the Tribeca Festival, as they dive into the need-to-know summer podcast recommendations. They explore the shift to video-first podcasting, the impact on audio quality, and funding trends for shows. Expect insights on unique formats like 'We’re Doing The Wiz’ and 'Signal Hill', plus compelling stories about climate activism and personal conspiracies. Perfect for road trips and beach days!
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Podcasts Are Becoming Video-First
- Podcast definition is shifting toward video-first consumption, especially on YouTube, changing how audiences engage.
- Nick Kwa says this alters business models and fragments resources away from audio-first narrative shows.
Video Focus Can Lower Audio Quality
- Video-first production can degrade audio quality because creators optimize for visuals over sound.
- Nick Kwa notes designers now prioritize visual clips that drive discovery rather than audio fidelity.
Use Festivals To Improve Discoverability
- Use festivals like Tribeca to boost discoverability for independent or riskier podcasts.
- Davey Gardner says festivals offer a platform beyond marketing budgets to surface unique audio work.