Edison Research’s The Podcast Consumer 2025, released today, charts the continued rise of podcast listening in the U.S. and underscores the significant appeal of video podcasts.

Podcast consumption continues at a record high: 73% of those ages 12+ have ever consumed a podcast, 55% have consumed a podcast in the last month, and 40% have consumed a podcast in the last week, each measure being an all-time high. Since 2015, the total time spent with podcasts among those ages 13+ has grown by an astounding 355% to 773 million hours per week.

Video podcast consumption has redefined the landscape: Over half (51%) of the U.S. 12+ population has ever watched a video podcast; 37% have watched a video podcast in the last month, and 25% have watched a video podcast in the last week. Those who actively watch video podcasts are younger and more diverse than those who only listen to audio-only podcasts.

Edison Research Vice President Megan Lazovick presented findings from the study, which combines research from Edison’s The Infinite Dial, Share of Ear, Edison Podcast Metrics, and other original custom research.

According to Lazvoick, “It feels as if some people are just now waking up to the opportunities in video podcasting, but I can assure you that the audience has been awake, eyes wide open and watching for some time now. Over half the U.S. population has consumed a video podcast.”

Key findings from the study include:

Podcasts offer high engagement and trust from listeners: 88% of weekly podcast consumers agree that hearing ads is a fair price to pay for free content; 68% say they don’t mind hearing  ads on podcasts. 

Podcast consumers have a high-value consumer profile: Monthly podcast consumers are more likely to be college-educated and to have higher incomes than the overall market, and they have high incidences of business opportunities and home ownership.

Podcasts offer a diverse listener base: 51% of Black Americans ages 12+ and 58% of Latino Americans ages 12+ are monthly podcast consumers.

Other findings include:

31% of Americans age 18+ who have driven or ridden in a car in the last month ever listen to podcasts in their primary vehicle.

Those who use in-car infotainment systems are more likely to listen to podcasts in-car; 44% of those who are age 18+ who have driven or ridden in a car in the last month use Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, listen to podcasts in-car.