In October 2016, I launched the Social Media and Politics Podcast, an interview-driven podcast aimed at delivering first-hand insights to policy makers, academics, and the public about political initiatives in this ever-evolving social media space.

Frustrated with the pace of academic publishing, I turned to podcasting to quickly delve into and communicate the information that I thought relevant for society. My motivation was never to reach the “top of the charts,” but rather to provide an openly accessible resource for anyone interested in the issues that I work with on a day-to-day basis.

As it turns out, there is an audience for these long-form discussions on niche topics in podcast form. Students have found the episodes helpful in getting a leg up in their studies, and academics find them helpful in assigning supplementary materials for their courses. Tech journalists have used them to pick up stories, and digital campaigners tune in for the latest research findings – and to scout out what their competitors are thinking.

My favorite aspect of broadcasting this content is that it helps humanize the people driving academic research, political campaigns, or whatever else the podcast covers. In my view, no other media can deliver that feeling of really getting to know a person like podcasting – there’s just something about it.

As any podcaster will tell you, knowing that people their spend time tuning into your content is incredibly rewarding. Podcasting has quickly become one of my greatest passions, and it’s all thanks to the listeners and guests who contribute their valuable time to support the show.

You can find the Social Media and Politics Podcast on any podcast app for your mobile phone : Apple Podcasts and Spotify tend to be the big ones.

Feel free to get in touch if you have any questions, suggestions, or feedback for the show – I take everything on board!

-Michael