What’s in a Name?

I was recently browsing through my Netflix library when I came across something confusing and slightly enraging.

There is a newer “podcast” listed on the streaming service titled The Pete Davidson Show.

Before I go on - let’s be clear - my frustration comes from what Netflix is doing, not the show. I am not even the targeted audience for this show, so who cares if I like the content. My beef is with the terminology. Let’s continue.

The show is listed as a “podcast” - it has a cute little podcast icon on the artwork for easy recognition that it’s what Netflix calls a podcast - and upon starting the episode, it even displays text that says “a netflix podcast”. Check out that cool lowercase styling.

When you watch the show, it’s just two guys talking as they smoke. They each have a lapel mic. There is minimal editing, and the focus is on the conversation. Is that all that’s needed to be called a podcast?

“So what is it that makes this show a podcast?”

You know what else has two people talking? Television shows - aka Talk Shows - be it daytime or late night.

YouTube channels also have this.

Movies have this.

Radio programs have this.

So, what is it that makes this show a podcast? No - seriously. I’m asking, because it has none of the prerequisites.

Apparently, I have turned into THAT guy who says the following: If you don’t have an RSS feed, you don’t have a podcast. RSS feeds can support audio-only AND video podcasts, but you need that feed. It’s what makes a podcast special. It’s the magic in what lets a podcast be shared to all of the podcast listening applications out there, like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, and more. It’s also what allows podcast creators to maintain control of their content and not be beholden to all of the rules and regulations of other platforms, unless you would choose to upload your content to places like YouTube for example. The RSS feed is yours to distribute where you choose.

Fun fact: You know where I can find The Pete Davidson Show podcast? Just Netflix. It’s not on any of the standard podcast listening apps. It’s exclusive to Netflix.

So, I ask again - why is this labeled a podcast?

Maybe we should be asking WHAT is a podcast and WHY it matters to have a definition.

We tackled the WHAT to some extent already. I would argue the delivery system of using an RSS feed is the magic of what makes a podcast a podcast. Let’s move on to the WHY it matters.

“ … you need that feed.“

Imagine this scenario. I go to purchase music or sound effects for my podcast. When I purchase the music, there are usually various kinds of licenses for sale. This is where I get to start reading the fine print on the website to see how things are defined and how this impacts my usage of any digital goods. And guess what? Most of the time, when you read the end user agreements, or the terms of service, or the breakdowns of the licensing - it takes the time to define where all the music may be used. Often the fine print specifies if something can be utilized for podcasts, YouTube, television or other methods, and it distinguishes each of those distribution methods, because that impacts the costs for people creating content. The licensing costs for using music on television or streaming services are usually much higher than for podcasting.

Here’s where I’m going with this. If we can’t define what a podcast is, and then the legal language on my license agreement states it’s okay to use for a podcast … what the heck does that even mean?

OR - and just hear me out - we could - as a podcast industry - clearly define what a podcast is, so that we avoid legal gray areas, services can be fairly priced, and it’s clearer from a consumer standpoint what you are about to see or listen to when you access a “podcast”.

My example is just one, but it doesn’t take too much effort to expand those legal concerns to other scenarios.

If you cannot clearly define something - then it’s just whatever people want it to be - and that isn’t anything at all. That’s a weird nebulous area that lacks consistency and standards, and it doesn’t do any favors for the creators or consumers in the land of podcasting.

Just for kicks and giggles, imagine someone new to podcasting asks you what they need to know in order to start their own podcast. How would you answer that question? Are you about to say, “It depends,” and then go on some long tangents that will just intimidate newcomers to the podcast industry? Maybe the lack of a simple answer is a symptom of a larger need. Until that need is met, we can at least be intentional about when we use the word “podcast”.

Clear definitions make for clear decisions leading to clear paths.

So, remember - sayeth the guy screaming into the internet - if it doesn’t have an RSS feed - it’s not a podcast.