There is a golden age of political podcasts here in Connecticut.
Podcasts have proven quite popular among my generation. A study by the Pew Research Center last year found that 67% of people aged 18-29 listened to podcasts in the last year, while nearly half of that age bracket listen to podcasts at least a few times a week. It’s a harsh contrast with traditional media like television or radio, which young people lag behind in compared to their older peers.
This is an important disparity when we talk about politics. Young people need to remain informed on current events, just as much (if not more) than older people. Should young people be reading newspapers too? Absolutely. But the fact is that my generation has proven reluctant to do so, and much more favored towards new digital media like podcasts.
It’s great news, then, that political podcasts are flourishing in our state.
There are so many now to choose from that they’re difficult to list. One of the biggest is “The Wheelhouse,” a live podcast run by Connecticut Public Radio. It’s hosted by Frankie Graziano, but features guest speakers in every episode, there to produce dialogue and answer questions about the most important policy questions facing Connecticut. Connecticut Public also produced ‘In Absentia,’ a superb four-part series on Bridgeport’s history of political scandals that I cannot recommend enough. Honestly, it’s a must-listen.
The Connecticut Mirror, a nonprofit journalism organization, has long-since adapted to the digital world. It’s been online-only since its founding in 2010. They’ve also started podcasts to help inform the public. “Long Story Short” is co-run by the CT Mirror and WSHU, with Mirror articles being summarized in quick, ten-minute conversations for the listener’s convenience. “Steady Habits” recaps the most important events happening in Connecticut, and has most recently been the place to find the “In The Room” interview series, where John Dankosky sits down and asks the biggest questions to Connecticut’s biggest politicians.
These podcasts are almost fair and unbiased, with the caveat that no one is perfect. But for those interested, there are more ideological podcasts as well. “The Young Dems Table” and “Connecticrats” cater to the left, while “Y CT Matters” and “The Right Direction” cater to the right. There’s something for just about everyone to enjoy.
These podcasts are instrumental for young people. It gives them an equal level of quality information as traditional journalism does, while catering to their digital preferences. However, they’re not just for young people either! A whole range of people benefit from podcasts.
Take the people who are stuck at work. It’s not convenient, or perhaps not allowed, to carry the daily edition of the Hartford Courant around the factory floor. However, it’s far more convenient to have an earbud in your ear and listen to a podcast. Podcasts can also be listened to while commuting, just like radio. Unlike radio, they can be paused and unpaused whenever is convenient.
A major perk of this all is that podcasts are 100% free. Free! There may be the annoying ad break here or there, but they are still absolutely free for anyone to access. Interested listeners can try out a new podcast whenever they want. They can keep listening if they like it, or drop it if they don’t, with absolutely no cost to them, which is a major plus to poorer people who may not be able to afford, say, a newspaper subscription.
Does traditional media still have worth? Absolutely. I’m a fierce advocate for newspapers, and encourage everyone who can read them to do so. However, I also see the realities of our world. Some people don’t trust newspapers, or think they’re too formal. Some people can’t afford them, and some people just straight up don’t like reading them.
Podcasts fill a valuable gap in Connecticut’s political space by providing people, especially young people, with a free, convenient, and easily accessible way to stay informed on what’s going on in our state.