It’s 2025, and women in the U.S. are listening to podcasts at three times the rate they were just a decade ago.

If you’re a podcaster speaking to a female audience—or thinking about starting a show—this is your moment. And in this week’s episode, I brought in YouTube and video podcast strategist Yesenia Bocanegra so that we could discuss Women’s Audio Report: Women & Podcasts, the latest Edison Research & SiriusXM study that highlights female listener behavior.

The study reveals how women in the U.S. are consuming podcasts in 2025, what content they’re looking for, and how we - as podcasters, marketers, and business owners - can show up with more intention, strategy, and impact.

But this isn’t just a data breakdown. It’s a conversation about storytelling, emotional connection, and why podcasting continues to be one of the most intimate and powerful mediums out there. Especially for women.

While video podcasts are gaining traction, audio still leads:

• 52% of women overall consume podcasts
• 45% listen to audio-only shows
• 33% watch video podcasts

The rise of smart TVs as a podcast consumption device is a game changer — especially for creators repurposing content on YouTube.

Chapters:

• 00:00 – Intro: Why Women Are Listening to More Podcasts Than Ever
• 01:50 – Podcasting Is Still Worth It: The 60 Million Listener Opportunity
• 04:35 – Audio vs. Video Podcasting: What the Data Really Says
• 06:30 – Who Is the Female Podcast Listener in 2025?
• 08:20 – The Emotional Why: Inspiration, Escapism, and Life Challenges
• 11:00 – What Genres Are Women Really Listening To?
• 14:05 – Social Media and Discovery: How Women Find New Podcasts Now
• 17:10 – Representation Matters: Why Female Hosts Connect More Deeply
• 21:25 – How Listeners Take Action: From Follows to Subscriptions
• 25:40 – What You Should Do With This Data
• 27:10 – Co-Listening With Kids: Podcasting as a Family Bonding Tool
• 30:20 – Monetization Insights: How Female Listeners Support Creators
• 33:45 – Final Thoughts

Resources mentioned in this episode:

For the full list of links, resources and show notes, please visit:

https://www.thepodcastspace.com/podcast/s3-e98-why-women-are-listening-to-more-podcasts-than-ever-and-what-that-means-for-us-as-hosts

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Edison Research Study: https://www.edisonresearch.com/womens-podcast-listenership-triples-in-ten-years/

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