Using audioblog technology, Christopher Lydon launches the news podcast Open Source to discuss the Iraq War in a space outside of the mainstream media. Open Source now claims to be the world’s longest-running podcast
“Podcast” is named word of the year by New Oxford American Dictionary
NPR launches a podcast version of the weekly radio show, This American Life. The programs currently reach 2.5 million and 2.2 million listeners, respectively
HowStuffWorks.com launches the educational podcast, Stuff You Should Know, which currently records more than 1 million downloads a week and consistently places on iTunes’ Top 10 podcasts chart
The comedy podcasts WTF with Marc Maron, The Joe Rogan Experience, and Comedy Bang! Bang! are launched. Due to its popularity, Comedy Bang! Bang! gets a television spinoff on IFC (2012-2016)
The news satire fiction podcast Welcome to Night Vale launches. In 2013, it ranks on several top podcast lists, including #1 on iTunes’ Top 10 podcasts chart, surpassing This American Life
This American Life launches the investigative journalism podcast Serial, which tops the iTunes’s podcasts chart before its debut and stays there for weeks
Serial becomes the first podcast to win a Peabody Award
Writer and producer Aaron Mahnke launches the folklore documentary podcast Lore, which receives the iTunes “Best of 2015” award
My Favorite Murder launches. In 2019, the true crime podcast earns $15 million in revenue, making its hosts the #2 highest-earning podcasters of the year
The New York Times launches The Daily. In 2020, the news podcast generates 2 million listeners each weekday and wins the Webby Voice of the Year Award
Stuff You Should Know becomes the first podcast to reach one billion downloads