As old media has withered on the vine due to its consistent cow-towing to the political and corporate master’s voice, the emergence of the iconoclastic podcaster serves as a harbinger of things to come.
The vacuum that is old media has finally imploded. The pressure of compliance bending its back like a camel in the hot sun bearing a load beyond its capacity. But what replaces it? Has the camel that has seen us through wars and recession really been replaced by the braying donkeys of the podcast world? It would appear so.
Cultural leaders or vulture-like feeders?
That, as they say, is the question. The silent compliance of the old has cranked the volume of the new to eleven. The democratization (I hate that expression) of media has given us a new and powerful means of individual expression; a voice that can be broadcast globally ad infinitum to anyone with a phone. But what effect is this having on the collective (un)conscious? What are we listening to? Who is listening to whom and why? What is the zeitgeist?
The drinking buddy
It's easy to sit back and decry the old without critically examining the new. After all, it’s new. The novelty has not fully worn off. Joe Rogan remains an entertaining, well-informed, compassionate, funny and approachable guy. The type you could get happily drunk with and go cow-tipping or take some shrooms and explore consciousness. What’s not to like? It’s like sitting at the bar listening to that one friend that can talk about anything all day and still keep you interested. From conspiracy theories and UAPs to political interviews, Rogan’s reach is broader than most. So broad in fact that he has become a sort of gatekeeper of the acceptable. If you perform well on the Joe Rogan Experience, it’s the equivalent of a violent hazing at a British public school – you get accepted as one of the boys.
The parent
Then we have the likes of Stephen Barlett (Diary of a CEO) and Lex Fridman – kind-hearted and well-balanced individuals that come across as genuinely interested in making you a better person through their own explorations of humanity, psychology and philosophy. Less polarizing, Fridman and Bartlett’s goal is self-improvement, rather than public humiliation. Sorta like Dr. Phil, but nicer and more erudite.
The preacher
With podcasters like Dr. Jordan Peterson you reach another level in the modern podcaster’s inferno. Peterson, who has a deep and thoughtful understanding of human nature, and more recently scripture, offers us something else entirely. Like a bullhorn in a tea shop, Peterson’s anger-instilled pontification, which are usually spot on it must be said, reflect the darker side of the podcast world – the fear and loathing side if you will – aimed at saving his listeners from eternal damnation of socialist government (equally bad in his eyes). Having tasked himself with saving western culture and providing a narrow pathway back to God for those who have lost their way, Peterson’s pronouncements often drown out his guests and take up more of the available airtime that others. If Rogan is your friendly bar mate, Peterson is the manic street preacher who wants you to agree with him. He wants to save your very soul. And for this he can be forgiven.
The giggler
Our friend Tucker Carlson, a refugee from right-wing old media, a nouveau conspiracy theorist that peddles truth like a catatonic jack-in-the-box, occasionally breaking his meditative stare to giggle furiously at the insanity of big government, gives us more. He is the truth seeker supreme. The veteran journalist who understands the establishment and has come to detest it. His role, it would appear, is to pinpoint the ‘good souls’ in the cesspit, and throw them a line. How many careers has he helped to resuscitate? My guess is many.
Impact on society
These podcasters have not only entertained but educated and mobilized their audiences. Joe Rogan's episodes have led to public movements on issues like psychedelics or free speech. Lex Fridman's dialogues have sparked interest in AI ethics and future implications, potentially guiding policy and public perception. Jordan Peterson's influence is seen in how personal development intertwines with political identity, influencing political activism - particularly among young men who now have clean rooms, while Carlson's podcast continues to shape conservative discourse.
This power comes with responsibility. As these podcasters expand their reach, the ethical implications of their influence become ever more important. While they must evolve or die, like the rest of us, the danger will always lie in the desire to please or create the latest buzz. To educate and help navigate a confused world is one thing, but they must treat the fine line between advocacy and influence as they help to reshape society from the ashes of old media.
Free speech is the rallying cry, as well it should be, but balance is of equal importance. Speech remains free only when both sides are heard (and listened to). To secure a meaningful conversation continues it is vital that our ‘podstars’ avoid the inward-looking topic bubbles that have bedeviled social media algorithms in recent times.
These are truly exciting times, unless you are working for CNN.
