There are two kinds of people out there: those who listen to podcasts regularly and those who don’t. If you’re in the former group and you happen to be in the insights industry, you’ll love this article. If you’re in the latter group of people, you might still find a few nuggets here, so keep reading.
In 2023, 42% of U.S. people ages 12 and older listened to a podcast within the past month, according to Pew Research Center. This means that today, almost half of all U.S. adolescents and adults tune into podcasts regularly for entertainment or to learn - a drastic increase from 2013 when only 12% of the same demographic responded to listening to a podcast within a month’s time.
Why the sudden uptick?
Recent technology developments certainly have something to do with it. From a listener’s side, podcasts are affordable (if not free) and easily accessible - and from the creator’s side, they are much easier to produce than 10 years ago! Some quick facts:
- In 2023, there have been approximately 3 to 4 million podcast shows accounted for
- And 161,049 new podcasts were created as of November 2023
- In the realm of business, 62% of American consumers regularly listen to podcasts making it a viable method of developing consumer relationships and strategic marketing.
The point is: that regularly listening to podcasts provides professionals with a convenient and flexible way to stay informed and learn in their free time.
Podcasts often feature experts in various fields, offering valuable insights, industry trends, and practical knowledge that can enhance professional skills. This form of educational entertainment allows individuals to multitask, turning commuting or leisure time into productive learning experiences, fostering a continuous learning mindset crucial for career development.
The insights industry, like many others, is constantly changing with fast-approaching trends and new tech. One way to stay in the know is by following some people conversations.
Here is our list of MRX industry podcasts you should be listening to (in no particular order!) to keep your pulse on the market, consumers, people, and all things research.
Our Favorite Market Research and People Podcasts
Data Gurus
Focus: Data and Technology
https://www.infinity-2.com/podcasts/
The Data Gurus Podcast, hosted by CEO of Infinity Squared Ventures Sima Vasa, reports a firsthand perspective on how technology, evolving data, and market research are transforming how people work, how organizations lead, and how people live.
Tackling data and insight-led topics like ‘Ethical Quandaries in AI Models” and ‘Creating Value-Added Research Systems’, The Data Gurus Podcast is an informative resource for data and technology organizations navigating change and growth.
Tune into episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or the Data Guru website and learn about how you as an individual and business leader can be aware of how data is shifting the world.
Intellicast
Focus: Market Research
https://emi-rs.com/our-story/intellicast/
If you’re looking for a more market research-focused resource, Intellicast, brought to you by EMI Research, is a market research industry podcast hosted by Brian Lamar, delving into the research industry from a vendor's standpoint. Tune in to learn about current trends and upcoming events, and listen to special guest interviews with industry professionals.
Check out Intellicast’s latest episodes on AI in market research, new data privacy laws, and client-side insights on iTunes, Google Play, and their website.
MRXLab
Focus: Market Research
https://resources.flexmr.net/mrx-lab-podcast
Unlike other podcasts, The MRX Lab podcast doesn't just follow the latest trends; instead, it delves into how research and insight contribute to shaping significant ideas in our lives. Presented by FlexMR, by season four the podcast has covered everything from the impact of software developers on the market research industry to the role of memes in visual communication.
Choose from recent episode topics like climate sustainability and research, finding joy in the human experience, and customer salience on platforms like Apple, Google, Spotify, and the MRX Lab website.
Rock'n'Roll Podcast
Focus: Market Research
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1260464
If you like podcasts that tell a story, Matt Valle’s weekly updated podcast Rock n Roll Research features market researchers as guest speakers who share their stories, experiences, and journeys to help others learn from their perspectives and encourage important conversations about research, people, consumers, and more.
Listen to Rock'n'Roll Research’s latest interviews on how one guest transitioned ‘From Corporate Lawyer to Master Storyteller’, another guest and cultural strategist talks about Black insights and their recent book, and tune in to a conversation with an Empathy Activist.
The New Mainstream
Focus: Cultural Insights and Consumerism
https://thinknow.com/blog/category/podcast/
Explore the dynamic world of today's emerging mainstream consumer with Mario Carrasco, Co-Founder of ThinkNow, on The New Mainstream Podcast.
Think Now aims to uncover the intricacies of multicultural consumers by delving into the experiences of multicultural consumers and the elements influencing their daily choices and behaviors.
Learn all about how new cultural insights influence today's mainstream consumer in recent episodes on DEI and inclusive workplaces, fintech, and bilingual and multicultural markets on their website and Soundcloud.
Data Skeptic
Focus: Data Science & AI
https://dataskeptic.com/
Follow the Data Skeptic weekly podcast to unlock your inner ‘scientific skepticism/ skeptic’ and join Kyle Polich for interviews and discussions that uncover insights on statistics, machine learning, big data, artificial intelligence, and data science.
Tune in for interviews, tutorials, and insights on science and technology conversations from a perspective rooted in critical thinking and the scientific method.
Browse the Data Skeptic website or Spotify to listen to recent episodes on ‘Program Aided Language Models, ChatGP, GraphText, and more.
Happy Market Research
Focus: Market Research https://happymr.com/category/podcast-series/happy-mr-podcast/
Probably everyone has heard Jamin Brazil’s name in market research at some point. His podcast, Happy Market Research aims to help listeners understand how brands of all sizes can leverage market research for substantial returns and exponential growth one episode at a time. Leave each episode with one new learning or practice to put into action from enjoyable discussions with leading industry minds.
Choose from more than 600 interviews with research professionals on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, The Happy Market Research website, and more.
The Greenbook Podcast
Focus: Innovation in Market Research
https://www.greenbook.org/podcast
Listen to Lenny Murphy and Karen Lynch's weekly chat on the latest news and innovation in the insights industry. The hosts explore hot topics and themes impacting the sector and interview some of the brightest minds in the field.
Tune in weekly on Fridays or browse episodes on Amazon, Apple, Spotify, Stitcher, or Google Podcasts.
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Whether you spend 20 minutes or 1 hour a day, a week, or even every 2 weeks listening to podcasts, staying informed on new tech, and changing trends is almost a necessity in a world marked by continuous change. We do hope you found something new to listen to in this article!
Do you regularly listen to a market research, consumer insights, or creative strategy podcast that you think we should add to our list? We'd love to hear from you!
Have you been thinking about starting your podcast? We can help with that too!