The “let’s‑kill‑the‑word‑podcast” manifesto has been circulating ever since YouTube’s 2025 Recap proudly listed Seth Meyers’ “A Closer Look” as the platform’s most‑watched “podcast.” Sure, why not? Let’s throw out a term that’s survived the rise of MTV, the iPod, and the TikTok algorithm, just because some late‑night TV clips now sport a video file extension.

**Claim #1: “Almost every major podcast now has a video component, so ‘podcast’ is meaningless.”**
If we accept that logic, we’ll also have to retire “book” because Kindle readers scroll on a screen and “newspaper” because news sites are online. The fact that *anything* gets a visual wrapper doesn’t erase its original medium. Good Hang with Amy Poehler, for instance, streams on YouTube, yet its core identity remains an audio‑first conversation. The video is a *supplement*, not a *redefinition*.

**Fact check:** In Q2 2024, Edison Research reported that 62 % of U.S. podcast listeners still consume content *audio‑only*, primarily via car infotainment systems and smart speakers. Video‑enhanced podcasts account for roughly 15 % of total podcast hours. The majority of “podcasts” remain, well, podcasts.

**Claim #2: “A decades‑old TV talk‑show format is now indistinguishable from podcasts like Armchair Expert or Club Shay Shay.”**
Indistinguishable? Let’s break down the ingredients:
– **Production pipeline** – TV talk shows are written, rehearsed, shot with multiple cameras, and edited for broadcast standards. Podcast episodes are often recorded in a single‑mic session, with minimal post‑production polish.
– **Distribution** – TV shows rely on network schedules, streaming platforms, and syndication deals. Podcasts leverage RSS feeds, directories, and recommendations algorithms that tailor to niche interests.
– **Audience intent** – Someone watching “A Closer Look” is primed for a visual gag, a cutaway, or a sketch. A listener of Armchair Expert is there for the deep‑dive, the “why‑did‑they‑do‑that?” analysis. Even if both are available on Spotify, the *why* of consumption differs dramatically.

**Example:** The “Meyers‑verse” segment runs under a 3‑minute time slot, perfect for a quick comedic punch. In contrast, Dax Shepard’s “Armchair Expert” often runs an hour, allowing for unscripted tangents that would never fit into a late‑night monologue.

**Claim #3: “The definition of ‘podcast’ has become pretty meaningless.”**
A word is meaningless only when we collectively stop caring about its definition. In tech circles, “podcast” still means “audio series distributed via an RSS feed.” The Oxford English Dictionary added “audio‑first series of digital episodes” to its entry in 2022, and major platforms (Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher) still categorize content based on *audio provenance*, not on the presence of a video thumbnail.

**Counter‑example:** “The Daily” (NY Times) is a pure audio news bite that tops charts without any visual accompaniment. If “podcast” were truly dead, the Daily would be a ghost, but it’s alive and thriving.

—

### Why the “retire‑the‑word” rally is more on the hype train than on solid ground

1. **Semantics vs. Substance**
Throwing out terminology because of a fringe trend is like cancelling the word “book” because audiobooks exist. The core experience—listening to a curated conversation—remains unchanged.

2. **Market Data Disagrees**
Spotify’s own 2024 “Podcast Insights” report shows a 23 % YoY growth in audio‑only listening hours. Video podcasts, while growing, still make up a minority slice of the pie.

3. **Creator Identity Matters**
Many podcasters brand themselves around the *audio* experience. Changing the definition would force them to re‑engineer their entire identity, marketing, and monetization models.

4. **SEO Implications**
From an SEO standpoint, “podcast” is a high‑volume keyword (over 6 million monthly searches in the U.S.). Dropping the term would break a whole ecosystem of discoverability for creators and listeners alike.

—

### Bottom line: Keep the word, but let the formats evolve

The media landscape is a mash‑up of video, audio, and text—a “media buffet,” if you will. The term “podcast” is the plate that holds the audio portion of that buffet. Ask yourself: would you rather call every sandwich a “bread‑and‑filling combo” just because some cafés serve it on a plate with a side of soup? Of course not.

So, dear readers, let’s retire the hyperbole, not the word. Embrace the fact that podcasts can be *visual*, *audio*, or *both*, but they’re still fundamentally a series of curated audio episodes. The next time a late‑night clip gets a YouTube “podcast” badge, smile, roll your eyes, and remember: the medium may be morphing, but the terminology isn’t contagious.

*Keywords: podcast definition, video podcasts, audio‑only listening, YouTube Recap 2025, Seth Meyers A Closer Look, podcast vs TV, media consumption trends, podcast SEO, Spotify podcast insights, Good Hang with Amy Poehler, Armchair Expert, Club Shay Shay*