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Ageism in Podcasting

In a world where podcasting is supposed to be a space of inclusivity, storytelling, and diverse voices, ageism - particularly toward women - still finds a way to sneak into the sound booth. While the medium may not have the same visual barriers as television or film, the societal obsession with youth and the undervaluing of older women persists, just in subtler tones. For women in podcasting, being older often means being overlooked, underestimated, or assumed irrelevant, regardless of experience or talent.

Where It All Began
Ageism in podcasting didn’t appear out of nowhere. It’s inherited from broader media structures that have long glorified youth, especially when it comes to women. Traditional radio, television, and Hollywood have built decades of bias that tell women their value has an expiration date. As podcasting evolved into a modern alternative to legacy media, it carried over some of those outdated frameworks - just without the makeup chair or camera lights.

Podcasting was initially dominated by tech-savvy, younger (mostly male) voices. As more women entered the space, they were often pigeonholed into categories that mirrored stereotypes: relationship advice, parenting, wellness - but only if they fit a certain aesthetic or demographic. Older women entering the scene often faced the uphill battle of being seen as “past their prime,” no matter how sharp their commentary or how rich their storytelling.

Listeners, sponsors, and even networks often favor younger voices, under the false assumption that they’re more “relatable” or “marketable.” The irony is thick: older women bring decades of experience, insight, and resilience - but are often dismissed before they’re given a chance to hit “record.”

The Microaggressions Behind the Mic
Ageism doesn’t always announce itself. Sometimes it’s the way industry panels overwhelmingly feature podcasters under 35. Or how podcast marketing emphasizes fresh-faced creators with trendy setups while overlooking the woman in her 50s producing a powerful show from her kitchen table. It’s in the questions: “Isn’t podcasting a young person’s game?” Or the assumptions: “You must be targeting an older audience.”

Ageism shows up in download stats that don’t reflect discoverability, in the limited access to advertising dollars for shows not deemed “youth-friendly,” and in the doubt cast when an older woman launches a new show in a saturated market.

Turning the Dial: How to Challenge Ageism
Despite the hurdles, women over 40 are carving their own spaces in podcasting, and changing the narrative. But change isn’t just their responsibility. It requires a collective reckoning with the ageist lens through which the industry still operates.

First, representation matters. Conference organizers, media platforms, and podcast networks must actively seek and amplify older women creators. Not as tokens, but as experts. Highlighting their work in press, awards, and keynote slots sends a clear message: their voices are not just welcome, they are needed.

Second, women podcasters themselves are pushing back by forming networks, collectives, and communities that center older voices. They are producing content that defies trends, building loyal audiences that value substance over hype, and mentoring the next generation with wisdom that no algorithm can replicate.

Lastly, listeners have a role to play. Subscribing, sharing, and supporting shows by older women helps shift visibility and challenge the false narrative that podcasting is only for the young. Every download becomes a quiet act of protest against ageism.

The Future Is Seasoned
Podcasting is still young. That means there’s still time to shape its culture into something better than the systems it evolved from. If we want a truly inclusive medium, we must dismantle the notion that age diminishes value, especially for women.

There’s a richness to stories told from experience. A power in voices that have lived, struggled, pivoted, and persevered. Women in podcasting don’t become less relevant with age; they become more nuanced, more fearless, more necessary.

The mic doesn’t care how many candles were on your last birthday cake. It only cares that you have something to say.

And it’s time we start listening.