New report reveals podcasting’s ugly truth: lack of diversity as white men rule the mic

A new study from the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative at the University of Southern California has pulled back the curtain on podcasting’s diversity problem, and the findings are hard to ignore. According to the report, 64 percent of top podcast hosts are male, and 77 percent are white, painting a troubling picture of who gets to control the mic in one of the fastest-growing media industries.

The research analysed the top 100 podcasts of 2024, then expanded to examine 592 shows, finding that men made up over two-thirds of hosts while women of colour represented only a small fraction. The study concludes that podcasting remains overwhelmingly dominated by white male voices despite being promoted as an open, inclusive platform.

Lead researcher Dr Stacy L. Smith described the results as “a reminder that even in new media, old inequalities persist.” The imbalance, she said, shows that podcasting’s reputation as a free space for every voice is more myth than reality.

Genre data painted a similarly stark picture. Women were more likely to appear in true crime, culture and education podcasts, but barely appeared in technology, business and sports categories. Over 60 percent of episodes studied featured no female guests at all, reinforcing the industry’s reputation as an insider’s club.

The revelation has sparked heated discussion online, with many listeners calling for platforms like Spotify, Apple and Amazon to take accountability for representation. Creators are urging networks to push more diverse talent forward, while others argue that algorithmic bias keeps minority-led shows from reaching wider audiences.

Despite the backlash, the data speaks for itself: the voices shaping mainstream podcast culture are still overwhelmingly white and male. The question now is whether the industry will finally confront its bias or continue to silence the rest.