There was a time when podcasting was niche but not anymore. Podcast popularity is growing and British audiences are loving their podcasts more and more.
In 2022, podcast listenership reached approximately 21.2 million listeners, according to data on the website of consumer and market data company Statista. Later, in June 2023, The Guardian online reported in an article that research had found that 50% of adults in Britain had listened to a podcast in the past year.
British titles are especially popular, including Steven Bartlett’s “Diary of a CEO” and comedians Ed Gamble’s and James Acaster’s “Off Menu”, although “The Joe Rogan Experience”, hosted by the USA’s well-known UFC commentator, comes out on top.
Podcasting has exploded and is a way for people to have meaningful conversations they can share with large audiences. They can ask interesting people equally interesting questions and learn from the answers. Podcasts have stopped being just an entertainment source, but have now also become a fantastic learning opportunity for people of all ages. Podcast guests aren’t just average Joes either: they’re thought leaders, experts or influencers in their fields. Just like many other industries, the gaming world has lots of fantastic podcasts out there. Below are some of the best ones.
Axe of the Blood God
If you have a passion for role-playing games (RPGs), “Axe of the Blood God” is the one for you, since it focuses almost entirely on this genre. Veteran gaming journalists Nadia Oxford and Kat Bailey host this one and go through different eras in gaming from an RPG perspective. They also go through subgenres in the RPG world.
“Axe of the Blood God” is entertaining and informative. Oxford and Bailey will look at old classics and new games, host discussions on gaming topics and interview major developers. Whether you’ve played more RPGs than you’ve eaten hot dinners or whether you’re new to RPGs, you’ll get something out of this podcast.
Casino Kombat
Anyone who enjoys iGaming or visiting casinos will always appreciate any tips that could help them win or to choose the right casino to play at. The “Casino Kombat” podcast is especially useful in this regard, killing two birds with one stone, as the anonymous host, called “The Ramblin’ Gambler”, discusses and rates the various online casinos he visits and provides tips on how listeners can turn the odds in their favour for potential wins at online casinos. Online there’s a range of casinos to choose from, which can make it all a bit daunting. As a result, it’s often helpful to get a bit of outside information. With this, you can choose the casino that best matches your needs and which you could increase your chances of winning.
Filthy Casuals
If you’re just a casual gamer and not looking to take your gaming too seriously but do want to keep up to speed on what’s happening in the gaming world, “Filthy Casuals” will be right up your street. This podcast, hosted by Australians Tommy Dassalo, Ben Vernel and Adam Knox, is fun and light-hearted and looks at all the latest video gaming trends. The hosts themselves are upbeat and provide recommendations without spoilers so you know which game to try out next. Don’t mistake their joking around for a lack of knowledge or expertise though: these guys really know their gaming.
How Did This Get Played?
Looking for a gaming podcast that’s a little bit quirky, a little bit “out there”? “How Did This Get Played?” is the one. In this inventive gaming podcast, comedians Heather Anne Campbell and Nick Wiger explore the strangest and worst games ever made, making for a highly entertaining podcast. It’s all about dealing with the more obscure parts of gaming that some gamers deliberately choose to forget.
From time to time, celebrities will come on to the podcasts for an interview. One of the best things about this podcast though is that, despite its nature, the show remains upbeat and never falls into the trap of becoming cynical.
What’s Good Games
Hosts Brittany Brombacher, Andrea Brene and Krystine Steimer have been in the gaming industry for a long time and really know their stuff. In this highly accessible podcast, they achieve an expert balance between making the show fun, light-hearted and optimistic and providing valuable insight and analysis. The upbeat nature of the podcast makes it a relaxing listening experience for well-versed gamers and newbies alike. The presenters are also providing a fresh and refreshing voice in the gaming podcast sphere.
As well as providing game news, analysis and commentary, the ladies let you in on the games they’re enjoying right now. For superfans of the podcast, there’s even a shop where you can buy T-shirts, hooded tops, drinking accessories and more.
Podcasts are growing increasingly popular in the UK and there are lots out there in the gaming sphere for audiences to tune into. If you’re on the lookout for more fantastic podcasts to listen to, the “Seven Out: Gambling, Poker and Casino Podcast”, “8-4 Play” and “Kinda Funny Gamescast” are all worth your very valuable time.