talked to an engineer maybe 10 years ago who told me how he worked with his fav streamer on in the background unsurprisingly, people treat video podcasts the same. i think generationally folks dont get it but we did this with linear TV and netflix too

human brain seeking constant stimulation makes this all make sense to me i dont listen to podcasts so for me it has always been music but streamers/podcast videos running in background on youtube/twitch/whatever is just how a lot of folks live now

other part of my thesis: in an age where it is easier to be lonely — remote work, online shopping, on-demand movies, loss of "third spaces" and friend groups — people are seeking other forms of human connection, even if it is through a parasocial relationship via podcaster