It’s 2022! (And no, we’re not at all concerned that it’s pronounced 2020, too..)
But in all seriousness! We’re super excited for the year! We’ve dreamed up some big goals and we’re rearing to get started!
But what we’re really excited about is all that we predict (and hope!) will be taking place in the podcasting space this year!
Keep reading to find out just what we’re most looking forward to as we head into all 2022 has in store!
1. Our Birthday!
The first big thing of 2022 that we’re super excited about is our birthday, which happens in February. Yes, it’s a little ways off, but we can’t wait! It’s always a treat using our big day to reflect back on all that has happened since our last birthday celebration. We always come away with deep feelings of gratitude for all the opportunities we’ve had and all the cool people we’ve met along the way.
There’s also the possibility of some other cool celebratory things happening so watch this space! (And sign up to our newsletter if you haven’t done so already you can stay-up-to-date and in the know!) There will also be cake! And that in itself is enough to get excited about!
2. The Launching of New Podcasts
We say this every year, but that’s because we’re so excited by ‘it’ every year! A new year means the launching of new podcasts! And I don’t know about you, but I cannot wait to find out all the new podcast creators we’ll meet along the way.
And if the offerings of 2021 are anything to go by, 2022 is going to be an epic year for podcasts! 2021 brought some stellar shows to our ears! We made a whole list of 21 shows that grabbed our attention last year.
In case you missed these podcasts, check out our list here: 21 Of The Best Podcasts Of 2021…So Far!
3. The Development of Cool, New Tech
Just what that ‘cool, new tech’ is going to be we have no idea, but that’s what makes this one so exciting! Who knows what awesome tech especially for the audio space is going to be launched in 2022? We can’t wait to find out!
Within the last year and a bit, we’ve seen the rise of social audio, witnessed Apple Podcasts’ glam-up, and watched podcast-focused platforms like Podchaser find new ways to push the listener experience and the podcasting industry as a whole, forward. And the myriad of podcast hosting sites are all working on ways to enhance the quality of podcast episodes by creating ways for hosts to seamlessly produce excellent audio and give the listener so much more.
Let’s see what happens in 2022!
4. A Greater Push Towards High-Quality Podcasts
We’re talking both in terms of audio production as well as the content itself. As podcasts continue to cement themselves as a valuable source of entertainment, information, and engagement, listeners will become more and more discerning of what they lend their ears to.
And this means that podcast creators will have to consistently be pushing themselves to create podcast episodes that are worthy of their audience’s attention. And this means that high-quality podcasts will be in abundance!
The only negative to this will be finding the time to check out all these top-notch shows!
5. Exciting Projects
We’re already brainstorming some big projects for 2022! And let me tell ya, we’re excited! We love all the motivation and momentum a new year brings and we love seeing the Trello boards fill up with possibilities!
We’ve got big dreams and fun plans in the pipeline and we can’t wait to share them with you! But for now, we’ll just say, “Watch this space!”
6. More Podcasts Brought to Life On-Screen
A very cool thing happened in 2021! Apple TV+ brought the much-loved podcast The Shrink Next Door to life in an eight-part series. Starring Will Ferrel and Paul Rudd, it was a real treat to see this unbelievably true story brought visually to life.
And with the success of The Shrink Next Door, as well as offerings like The Thief Next Door, we think more production companies will start looking at podcasts for inspiration when it comes to finding new scripts and stories they want to bring to life on screen. Just think of some of your favorite podcasts…now imagine them brought to life in a binge-worthy series! Exciting, right!?
7. Podcasting in Mainstream Media
We love to see podcasting playing a big role in mainstream media! And we think 2022 will be podcasting’s time to shine!
In 2021, we saw the legendary Steve Martin and Martin Short team with the Selena Gomez to bring us Only Murders in the Building. The three all play true-crime podcast fanatics who use their love of the podcast genre to solve a real-life murder! Podcasts have a starring role in the movie, and we think we will see tons more of this in the new year.
8. More Podcasting Celebs
We are pretty certain more celebrities will launch their own podcasts in 2022. (Although we’re not sure who’s left? Tom Cruise?) 2021 saw the likes of Meghan Trainor, Lindsay Lohan, and Seth Rogan throw their hats in the podcasting ring. But that’s not exactly what we’re excited about…
What we’re excited to see…ahem…hear is actors exercising their acting chops on scripted podcasts! There have been some pretty perfect voice performances to date. Demi Moore in Dirty Diana, Rami Malek in the thriller series Blackout, or the voice-acting ace Richard Armitage who brings two seasons of Wolverine to life are just some of the examples of the audio magic that happens when acting greats lend their talents to our ears. Here’s us hoping that this year brings us many more such pairings!
9. Greater Urgency to Make Podcasts More Accessible
We also think there will be a great push towards making podcasts more accessible and inclusive.
Do you remember last year’s cautionary tale of SiriusXM lawsuit? We think that this will spur forth podcast hosts to do their duty in making podcasts accessible to as many people as possible.
Whether that’s simply providing show notes, or using tech to offer subtitles in real-time, or any way really that you can make your podcast and your overall brand stand out, the need for accessibility and inclusion in the audio space is a must! And we’re excited to see more and more podcast hosts taking the steps to make their podcasts accessible to as many people as possible!
10. The Podcast Community Continue to Grow
Lastly, one of the things we’re most excited for this year is the growth of the podcasting community.
We love being a part of this community! Why? Well, the reasons could fill a post on its own. But right at the top would be the people. The podcast community is full of some incredibly talented, passionate people. And this fact is a large part of what makes the podcasting industry such an exciting place to be.
While we all play different roles, we love the fact that, overall, there is a collective drive to push the industry forward, to maintain the integrity of the medium, and to always strive for the highest quality when it comes to content as well as audio production. And this it amazing because it means we’re a part of a community that keeps pushing us to up our game!
And we can’t wait to rise to that occasion in 2022!
We love being a part of this industry. And we can’t wait to see the bonds strengthen and the community grow overall in this next trip around the sun!
Closing Thoughts
2022 promises to be a big year for podcasts and the podcasting industry as a whole. And we’re so excited to be a part of the action! We really can’t wait to see all that the year holds, the new podcasts that will be launched, and the developments that will be made!
Stick with us, and you’ll have a front-row seat to all that 2022 has in store for the podcasting industry! We’re so excited to see all that this year holds!
What are you most excited to see happen in the podcasting space this year? Share with us! We’d love to hear about it!
