Comedian Kelsey Cook offered her thoughts about why more and more people are coming to podcasts for their information, as well as what has contributed to the meteorical rise of stand-up comedy in recent years.
Cook has been a stand-up comedian and her most recent special, “Mark Your Territory” for more than 15 years, premiered on 11 February on Hulu and YouTube.
The main reason why she believes that people turn to podcasts on regular media comes down to a lack of trust and relativity between the regular media and the public.
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Kelsey Cook’s most recent comedy special, “Mark Your Territory”, premiered on 11 February on Hulu and YouTube. (Todd Rosenberg)
“I think people are starting to get more of their political information from podcasts, because I think people want to feel that they can trust the interviewer more. And often podcasters are people who present like: ‘I am one of you ‘,’ Cook said.
She also noticed that people are much easier with comedians and podcasters, who usually present themselves as ordinary people than a politician or news anchor.
“This (podcaster) is not another politician or perhaps a news anchor that we do not necessarily relate to so much. And so I think that is a kind of why people have transferred more to podcasts because they not only feel that they are more trusting the host , but it is also like a completely different interview environment, “said the comedian” I think the things that are being spoken are a bit more relaxed. Feels like potentially a more authentic interview than on a big news source. “
The 2024 election cycle placed this idea of ​​the public trust podcasters about Legacy Media in the spotlight, in which President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance allocate large parts of their time on the campaign track to appear on popular podcasts such as the Joe Rogan experience and experience and experience and experience and experience The Tim Dillon show.
This strategy is bearing fruit, with Trump won the popular mood in 2024 and continued to see his approval classifications after the elections on personal of all time.
Trump’s interview with Joe Rogan was seen by many as a crucial moment in the 2024 elections. (The Joe Rogan experience)
Cook also touched comedy and became a freer medium than ever, with comics that have the opportunity to say what they want or they are on stage or in the podcast studio and finds an audience that is interested in what they do say. As Cook explained, there are no more gatekeepers who can mediate what comics can convey their audience.
“I think comedy has become a more free medium. I think people have been able to find their own fan base more than ever, and it doesn’t necessarily have to be, you don’t have to be everyone’s cup,” Cook claimed. “I think it will be very free where people can do what they want, say what they want, and their fans will find them.”
With regard to the stand-up comedy, Cook believes that the biggest reason for the recent increase in popularity was the COVID-19 Pandemie, which led to people paid more attention to social media and streaming services than ever before.
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“I think the thing that probably helped the most the most, probably the pandemic was. You know, everyone was watching TV on their phones, watching their phone, and that was a time for comics for as much content as possible To make because you could because there was such a demand for it, “said Cook.
Cook credit the COVID-19 Pandemie with the catalyst for the recent tree in the stand-up comedy industry. ((Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty images))
The end of the pandemic was the start of the touring tree for stand-ups, according to Cook. Many people who found their favorite comedians via social media and streaming services during the Lockdowns could finally see their favorite acts personally.
“I think you saw people who found their new favorite comics about the pandemic, and once things opened things again and people could start touring again, people were: ‘Great, this person comes to my city, I am locked up inside but but Long now, I want to go out and so I think many of us saw a large touring tree, especially as soon as people could go out again. “
According to Pollstar, Turnover from stand-up shows had doubled from 2022 to 2024, with the combined gross turnover among the top 25 comedians in the past year $ 582.7 million.
