Hot take: Podcasts were better before every episode needed a full story arc

Everyone raves about these big, narrative podcasts with cliffhangers and sound effects (I think they're overdone). I much preferred when it was just a host and a guest having a deep, meandering talk for an hour, like the old 'Coffee Break Chats' series. Now it feels like every show is trying to be a movie, and I miss the simple, connection-focused conversations.

3 comments

3 Comments

allen.sage1d ago

Totally get where you're coming from. You have to dig for the simple talk shows now, search for older episodes or indie hosts. That raw chat feeling just hits different than a scripted story.

chen.alice23h ago

I mean it's just people talking though... how different can it really be from a scripted one at the end of the day.

fionalopez21h ago

Honestly, when you say how different can it really be, I mean it's huge because scripted stuff feels so safe and polished. With unscripted talks, you get those awkward pauses or random laughs that make it actually human, you know? Maybe it's just me but that messiness is what makes it real, like you're just overhearing a chat. Plus, in a scripted show, everyone sticks to the plan so you never get those off the cuff moments that can change the whole vibe. Once you notice that, it's hard to go back to something that feels so set up all the time.