🎧💪 Stat of the Day: Podcast Power

Warning: Objects in the podcast industry may be bigger than they appear.

The 21st-century version of radio shows generated $7.3 billion in global revenue last year, according to a new estimate from research firm Owl & Co—or over 2.5x the size of prior industry estimates.

However…Previous figures, compiled by the Interactive Advertising Bureau, put ad sales at $2.4 billion in 2024, but that only covers the US and only includes audio advertising. Owl & Co.’s estimate is global and all-encompassing, meaning it also accounts for China’s massive podcast culture, subscriptions (ex: Patreon), and video revenue on platforms like YouTube—where more than 1 billion people are believed to watch podcast content every month.

Big picture: Following a presidential election where the candidates visited many popular podcasts, the industry is becoming even more mainstream. The Golden Globes recently announced podcasting will have its own category starting in 2026.

🤔 Did You Know? In 2007, archaeologists discovered a Stonehenge-like structure at the bottom of Lake Michigan that’s estimated to predate Stonehenge by ~4,000 years.

📰 Worth a Read: How curiosity rewires your brain for change