Video summary
I don't listen to podcasts anymore - this is what I do instead
Main summary
Key takeaways
Summary: Why the speaker stopped listening to podcasts (and what they do instead)
The speaker used to listen to many podcasts and even subscribed to podcast apps, but stopped because:
- Podcast episodes often feature multiple people talking for long periods (30–60 minutes), covering topics they aren’t interested in.
- They disliked some podcast participants and found the variety of voices/opinions irritating.
- Overall, podcasts didn’t feel rewarding for them personally.
What they do instead
They use YouTube Premium rather than podcasts.
It works better for them because:
- Background playback: play videos when the app is minimized or while doing other tasks (e.g., driving, working at the office).
- Pick exactly what they want: search for specific content (e.g., book reviews) on YouTube.
- Curate a listening list:
- Add videos to the Watch Later list.
- Later, play the Watch Later playlist in the car or at work using AirPods or the car audio system.
- Choose preferred speakers/creators: they can listen to specific people they like, avoiding others they find annoying.
Convenience setup (workflow while driving)
On an iPhone, they created a shortcut so that when they’re driving:
- Say “play watch later” to their Apple Watch
- Their YouTube Watch Later playlist begins playing in the car automatically.
Additional benefits highlighted
- No ads on YouTube.
- Includes YouTube Music, which they say has the music they want.
- They argue it can replace other music subscriptions:
- “Why pay for Apple Music or Spotify” if YouTube Premium + YouTube Music covers their needs.
- They also mention that this combination can be a “better value” compared to paying separately.
Notable products / locations / speakers
- Speaker: Stephan Swatling
- Products & services: YouTube Premium, YouTube Music, YouTube Watch Later, Apple Watch, iPhone, AirPods, Castro (podcast app), Spotify, Apple Music
- Use cases mentioned: driving to work, listening at the office, listening while doing other apps