Podcasts have become nothing short of an international entertainment obsession. Much like radio, podcasts beam episodic audio snippets to their listeners – though unlike mainstream radio stations, podcasts are much easier for anyone with basic audio gear to set up and record, and content that appears on podcasts is largely unregulated.
Podcasts are entertaining for the casual listener, though for some, podcasts have also become an alternative source of news and information. The podcast has become a powerful example of citizen journalism, but at the same time, it might pose danger to anyone who takes the information they hear on podcasts as gospel truth.
According to Apple’s podcast rankings, the most popular shows of 2025 include The Joe Rogan Experience and Good Hang with Amy Poehler. They’re popular enough that you might have already seen interviews from either of these (or both of these) on your social media feed – even if you weren’t looking for a podcast in the first place.
What makes for a good podcast – and can they become a dangerous route to misinformation? Here’s an exploration of what you might find through the wonderful, odd universe of international podcasters.
An introduction to podcasts
Podcasts are, simply put, episodic shows similar to radio broadcasts – some are live, though many are recorded ahead of time and posted to channels like YouTube, Spotify and Apple. According to Guinness World Records, the first notable podcast was in July 2003 between broadcaster Christopher Lydon and software developer Dave Winer.
The term “podcast” was coined by journalist Ben Hammersley in 2004, combining the words “iPod” and “broadcast”. Today, podcasts aren’t exclusive to the iPod and can be found online (or via apps) through services like Spotify. Scrolling through reels or shorts will inevitably, somewhere, introduce you to a podcast that has spilled over into syndication or sharing.
The Sorry, Partner podcast covers everything to do with the game of contract bridge. The podcast Calling the Quarters will instead teach you more about Wicca and paganism. There’s everything you could think of – and even things you might not want to think of. Podcasts can give everyone a chance to speak their mind, whether they’re a gaming influencer, a gangster or a politician. When looking for podcasts, you might want to use your own judgement to decide what’s good – and, in some cases, research what’s true.
The allure of podcasts certainly includes their entertainment value, but also has a lot to do with their unpredictability and spontaneous flow. Good podcasts draw their listeners into the circle, and many follow the simple pattern of a friendly discussion. Sometimes unexpected things will happen, like the time a rapper accidentally fired the gun they had brought to the studio in their pocket.
Podcasts: South Africa
According to Mark Lives Media, South Africa’s podcast listeners are “primarily young, with 61% aged 18 to 34”. Podcasts require an attentive ear, though they don’t ask for fully focused attention on a screen to know what’s going on. It’s made podcasts an easy-listening format for car trips, studying, working or just relaxing – and having the comfort of something audible in the background.
Popular South African podcasts include mainstream news and radio outlets like Radio Sonder Grense (RSG) and the Mail & Guardian Podcast. For biting political satire, you could choose Politically Aweh, and for falling into the rabbit hole of zef entertainment and interviews, there’s Praating with Peach van Pletzen (or Groot Hond / Big Dog, as he’s called for the show). The more you dig into the wonderful world of podcasts, the more you might discover – and the faster you’ll notice what makes them addictive.
True Crime South Africa is one of the most popular podcasts, with a 4,9 out of 5 rating on the streaming service Spotify. The History of South Africa podcast, hosted by Des Latham, has 249 episodes at the time of writing, and takes listeners through an episodic, historically accurate journey of the country’s founding and formation. Music fans might enjoy The Best Kept Secret podcast, featuring Nasty C and Shekinah. If you want more local music entertainment, there’s also Voices of Da City, featuring Isaac Mutant and YoungstaCPT, interviewed on their home turf.
There are also podcasts out there weird enough to defy explanation. Nelson Mandela’s Ghostly Podcastings appears to be a remix of the historical figure blended into fiction. Here’s the description of episode 23 on Spotify: “After returning to the secret resistance base, Nelson Mandela and the Magpie reunite with Nelson’s father and learn that the resistance has been infiltrated by a spy.”
Locally and internationally, there have been questions about potential oversight over podcasts and their content. While podcasts have high entertainment value, it’s fair to say that anyone can say anything on a podcast – and sometimes with disastrous, harmful or libellous implications.
Podcasts: The Netherlands
If you’re navigating to the Netherlands instead, there are even more podcasts you could choose from – and yes, some of them are recorded in English, if you’re wondering about a potential language gap across international borders. The podcast Echt Gebeurd (Really Happened) discusses strange and interesting true stories in each episode. Onbehaarde Apen (Hairless Apes) is hosted by Gemma Venhuizen and explores sci-tech stories and interviews. Ervaring voor Beginners (Experience for Beginners) interviews various experts and aficionados about how they learned the rules of their trade. If you’re a gamer, De Ridders van de Retro Tafel is the perfect podcast to indulge in for gaming news and nostalgic titles.
Podcasts: Belgium
The Belgian Podcast Awards is one of many international podcaster-based organisations that award notable shows or presenters. From Belgium, you might encounter Nerdland (“science and technology news”) and Do You Speak Hip-Hop?, featuring Sara Rodriguez and Danny K. The interestingly named podcast 50 Koffies is career-focused and interviews professionals about their lives and work.
So?
For podcasters and influencers, it’s more than just a casual show they’re putting on – it’s often an entire production that requires planning, promotion and editing. Podcasts can be a side hustle or hobby, but can also be an income stream. Podcasts have something for everyone and transcend cultural and language barriers, adding to their international popularity. Some podcasts might not be suited to your personal playlist, though there’s no shortage of topics once you’ve started going into the almost endless library of what’s out there.
