Podcasts have become one of the biggest stages for everyday voices, but would Americans actually want to be on one? According to a new CivicScience poll of over 12K respondents, 23% say they would consider being a guest on a podcast (or have already been on one), 47% say it’s not for them, and 29% say “maybe” or have no opinion.
Those open to being on a podcast skew younger, with adults aged 18–29 leading the way. They also tend to be male, earn under $100K annually, and live in cities, especially in the Northeast.
But demographics aren’t the only thing setting potential podcast guests apart:
- Libraries: They’re over five times more likely to visit a local library weekly compared to those who wouldn’t be on a podcast.
- Brand Switching: They show a higher switching propensity — they’re ten times more likely to switch banks, eight times more likely to switch mobile carriers, and five times more likely to switch cable or satellite providers.
- Online Reviews: Roughly 70% say they read online reviews at least monthly, compared to about 25% of those who wouldn’t join a podcast.
- Grocery Delivery: They’re about twice as likely to use—or plan to use—grocery delivery services.
- News Consumption: They’re also about twice as likely to read newspapers, whether print, digital, or a mix of both.
Those willing to step behind the mic stand for their curiosity and engagement. From switching brands and reading habits, these prospective podcast guests seem to thrive on exploration—whether it’s trying new services or sharing their voice.
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This article’s data comes solely from CivicScience’s database, which contains nearly 700,000 poll questions and 5 billion consumer insights.