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Guests

Guests in Podcasting

PODCAST GUESTS

PODCAST GUESTS

PODCAST GUESTS

Of the 6,340 individual guests who had an identifiable gender, 72.8% were male and 27.2% were female.

There was 1 identified gender non-binary individual who was a guest on a podcast episode. The overall gender ratio of podcast guests was 2.7 men to every 1 woman.

There was 1 identified gender non-binary individual who was a guest on a podcast episode. The overall gender ratio of podcast guests was 2.7 men to every 1 woman.

There was 1 identified gender non-binary individual who was a guest on a podcast episode. The overall gender ratio of podcast guests was 2.7 men to every 1 woman.

Kamala Harris on Call Her Daddy. Courtesy of Call Her Daddy.

Kamala Harris on Call Her Daddy. Courtesy of Call Her Daddy.

Kamala Harris on Call Her Daddy. Courtesy of Call Her Daddy.

EPISODES

EPISODES

EPISODES

How many podcast episodes featured at least one female guest?

Of the 4,032 episodes that featured a guest with a discernible gender, 62.6% did not feature any female guests and 37.4% included one or more female guests. In other words, nearly two-thirds of the popular podcast episodes sampled did not include even one female guest.

Of the 4,032 episodes that featured a guest with a discernible gender, 62.6% did not feature any female guests and 37.4% included one or more female guests. In other words, nearly two-thirds of the popular podcast episodes sampled did not include even one female guest.

Of the 4,032 episodes that featured a guest with a discernible gender, 62.6% did not feature any female guests and 37.4% included one or more female guests. In other words, nearly two-thirds of the popular podcast episodes sampled did not include even one female guest.

GENRE

GENRE

GENRE

Next, we examined whether guest gender varied by podcast genre.

Using the same genres identified earlier, we assess the percentage of male and female guests appearing on every episode of the podcasts in each category. Female guests were outnumbered across every genre, but were most likely to appear in podcasts focused on True Crime, Arts, Society, & Culture, and those on Other topics. Female guests were least likely to appear in Sports & Fitness and Business & Technology podcast episodes.

FORMAT

FORMAT

FORMAT

Another way to think about genre is on the format of a podcast.

Using formats first identified by Pew Research Center, we assigned each of the top 100 podcasts into one of 6 format types. Again, male guests were more likely than female guests to appear across all formats. Females were most likely to be guests on news summary and deep reporting podcasts.

Using formats first identified by Pew Research Center, we assigned each of the top 100 podcasts into one of 6 format types. Again, male guests were more likely than female guests to appear across all formats. Females were most likely to be guests on news summary and deep reporting podcasts.

Using formats first identified by Pew Research Center, we assigned each of the top 100 podcasts into one of 6 format types. Again, male guests were more likely than female guests to appear across all formats. Females were most likely to be guests on news summary and deep reporting podcasts.

HOST AND GUEST GENDER

HOST AND GUEST GENDER

HOST AND GUEST GENDER

Finally, we were interested in whether having host gender was related to guest gender in podcasting.

To conduct this analysis, we first bifurcated all of the podcasts into those with a woman host or not. Then, we looked at the percentage of female guests in both of these areas. The results demonstrate a significant association. The percentage of women guests on female hosts’ podcasts was substantially higher (45.3%) than the percentage of women on male hosts’ podcasts (17.9%). Put differently, less than 1 in 5 guests were women on podcasts that only feature male hosts. For women, the percentage of female guests approximates equality (45%).

To conduct this analysis, we first bifurcated all of the podcasts into those with a woman host or not. Then, we looked at the percentage of female guests in both of these areas. The results demonstrate a significant association. The percentage of women guests on female hosts’ podcasts was substantially higher (45.3%) than the percentage of women on male hosts’ podcasts (17.9%). Put differently, less than 1 in 5 guests were women on podcasts that only feature male hosts. For women, the percentage of female guests approximates equality (45%).

To conduct this analysis, we first bifurcated all of the podcasts into those with a woman host or not. Then, we looked at the percentage of female guests in both of these areas. The results demonstrate a significant association. The percentage of women guests on female hosts’ podcasts was substantially higher (45.3%) than the percentage of women on male hosts’ podcasts (17.9%). Put differently, less than 1 in 5 guests were women on podcasts that only feature male hosts. For women, the percentage of female guests approximates equality (45%).

GUEST GENDER

GUEST GENDER

GUEST GENDER

The findings on guests indicate that there are gender differences in who is invited to provide commentary on podcasts.

Women are less likely to appear overall, and particularly in the genres of business and technology, sports and fitness, and comedy. Having a female host increases the likelihood that a female guest will take part in a podcast. These findings suggest that podcasting is replicating patterns across film and television.

Women are less likely to appear overall, and particularly in the genres of business and technology, sports and fitness, and comedy. Having a female host increases the likelihood that a female guest will take part in a podcast. These findings suggest that podcasting is replicating patterns across film and television.

Women are less likely to appear overall, and particularly in the genres of business and technology, sports and fitness, and comedy. Having a female host increases the likelihood that a female guest will take part in a podcast. These findings suggest that podcasting is replicating patterns across film and television.

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