For me podcasts fill a similar niche to TV: something I can passively enjoy without having to focus much while doing unrelated things. The two major differences

For me podcasts fill a similar niche to TV: something I can passively enjoy without having to focus much while doing unrelated things. The two major differences are that I no longer watch TV and I can listen to podcasts wherever I am. My biggest problems are that there's too many of them and it's easy to miss the one or two really interesting episodes in a sea of monthly/weekly content. Even more so if you listen to them at 2x speed and rarely have the time to stop and actively pay attention. It's more of a form of pleasant background noise with the occasional glimpse of really interesting information. Like overhearing a conversation between colleagues.