Research Article | Open Access
Why India Pods: Studying the Motivations of Indian Independent Podcasters
Sneha Mehendale
Pages: 2612-2618
Abstract
Podcasting is increasingly popular in India, with a lot of independent podcasters joining the production fold. The
podcasters' population of India seems to be mainly comprised of independent podcasters who do not belong to
any existing media network or a professional journalistic setup. They are independent content producers. They
are essential because they make highly individual contributions to the spectrum of media culture of any place.
This paper presents the findings of a study exploring their motivations behind podcasting. Through semistructured in-depth interviews with the podcasters, the study reveals intrinsic and extrinsic causes of Indian
independent podcasters. Passion, recognition, and becoming an alternative medium were found to be
motivations behind starting podcasting. Community building emerged as a motivation not to start but to
continue podcasting. These motivations are contextualized in a broader frame of technology penetration and its
challenges, declining trust in media, and the increased intersection of the virtual and real world.
Keywords
Independent podcasters, Motivations, Podcasting, frame, Community, penetration