20 years ago, podcasting was very much a fringe format that was informal, experimental, and largely overlooked. Today, podcasting has opened up a space for new voices, new formats and a more intimate listening experience. Free from traditional gatekeepers across all genres, podcasts have reshaped not only how we listen, but who we listen to – leaving a lasting imprint on modern culture.
As we celebrate twenty years of Latitude, we’re inviting you to vote from our shortlist for the podcast or podcaster that has most shaped the last two decades.
Podcasting emerged in the early 2000s alongside the rise of the internet, MP3 players and the iPod, driven by the use of RSS feeds (also known as Really Simple Syndication Feeds – great fact for pub quizzes) to automatically deliver audio on demand. By the mid-2000s, platforms like Apple helped bring podcasts into the mainstream, embedding them directly into devices and daily life.
What began as a DIY niche has since grown into a professional, mainstream industry. As technology lowered barriers to entry and content diversified, podcasts became woven into everyday routines – from commutes to workouts – bringing a new level of accessibility, intimacy and flexibility. It’s this cultural shift that secures podcasting a place within 20 Years of Latitude.
OUR PANEL SHORTLIST:
Have You Heard George’s Podcast
Sounding unlike anything else at the time, Have You Heard George’s Podcast broke into the mainstream by treating podcasting as both an art form and a platform for cultural critique. The award-winning spoken-word series created and performed by British poet and artist George the Poet, broke away from traditional interview formats.
Each episode unfolds a crafted audio essay, blending poetry, narrative and social commentary to explore race, identity, politics, history and community, often rooted in Black British experience. George’s delivery draws from spoken-word poetry and hip-hop, paired with immersive and cinematic sound design; this podcast is designed to be listened to attentively rather than casually.
Serial – Season 1
We probably don’t need to tell you about Serial. Since its launch in 2014, it has become a cultural touchstone – the podcast that helped bring the medium into the mainstream.
Hosted by journalist Sarah Koenig, Serial told a single real-life story across an entire season, unfolding episode by episode with the pacing and tension of a television drama – but entirely through audio. Its first season revisited a 1999 murder case, Sarah wielded a distinctive narrative approach, carefully examining evidence, testimony and doubts, while allowing listeners to follow the investigation in real time.
By treating true crime with sensitivity, depth and narrative care, Serial is a part of our shortlist because it reshaped expectations of what podcasting could be: intellectually serious, culturally ubiquitous, and capable of holding mass attention without sacrificing nuance.
Ear Hustle
Ear Hustle stands as a powerful example of how podcasting changed who we listen to. By centering the voices of incarcerated people themselves, it reframed prison not as an abstract system, but as a lived, complex human experience. Ear Hustle is a documentary-style podcast offering an intimate look at daily life inside prison, co-hosted by incarcerated men alongside an artist and an outside producer, resulting in a perspective rarely heard in mainstream media.
Each episode focuses on a specific aspect of prison life – from friendship and solitude to family, identity and preparing for release – using first-hand stories rather than statistics or sensational crime narratives. The tone is honest, reflective and deeply human, challenging us to shake off easily to reach stereotypes by foregrounding individuality, humour and emotional depth.
Off Menu
“Poppadoms or bread?!”
Akin to a culinary Desert Island Discs, Off Menu invites guests to choose their utopian starter, main course, side, drink and dessert. What begins as a conversation about food quickly becomes a comedic exploration of the guest’s personality, memories, pet peeves and quirks – all driven by Ed Gamble and James Acaster’s infectious banter. We can easily forget how important food is in bringing people together, and Off Menu reminds us perfectly.
The chemistry between Ed Gamble and James Acaster has made Off Menu an everyday comfort listen and one of the defining comedy podcasts in the UK. And if you’re dipping in, you can catch Self Esteem (Rebecca Lucy Taylor) – one of our Obelisk Arena artists – on a recent episode.
One of the original trailblazers of podcasting in the UK. Remember Agony Aunts?
Answer Me This is a long-running British comedy podcast built around answering real questions sent in by listeners – usually ones that are strange, trivial, or delightfully awkward. Hosted primarily by Helen Zaltzman and Olly Mann, the show takes everyday curiosities (“Is it rude to bring your own teabag to work?”) and treats them with a mix of genuine research, and playful overthinking.
The episodes balance factual explanations with humorous tangents, often pulling in expert opinions while never taking themselves too seriously. The charm of Answer Me This unlocked an untapped magic of podcast intimacy, making you feel like you’re with a smart, funny friend helping you navigate the small absurdities of daily life.
Nominate Your Own
If none of the shortlisted names reflect your choice, you can also submit your own nomination. Podcasting has flourished in many directions over the last twenty years, and we know some of the most important voices may live outside any single list. Tell us which podcast or podcaster you believe deserves recognition.
For twenty years, Latitude has been a home for voices on stages, on pages, and in conversations. Podcasts and Podcasters stand as one of the most significant shifts in modern storytelling. It has changed the pace of conversation, widened access to voices, and reshaped how culture is shared through sound. Your vote helps determine which podcast or podcaster has left the deepest mark on the last twenty years.
Which Podcast or Podcaster most defines our last two decades?
Are you a dedicated podcast listener?
At Latitude, we’ve long been a home for expansive conversations, set against the backdrop of the picturesque Henham Park. That commitment was made even more explicit in 2019, with the introduction of The Listening Post – a dedicated space created specifically for conversations, including podcasts. In doing so, Latitude became the first UK festival to host live podcasts. Since its debut, The Listening Post has become a festival highlight, bringing award-winning writers, thought leaders, poets and podcasters together under one roof. By day, it’s a place for insight and conversation; by night, it embraces the sublime, the surprising and everything in between.
Latitude offers a rare chance to experience podcasts and live conversations in a setting unlike any other. So if you haven’t set your summer plans yet…
With love,
The Latitude Festival Team
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