Socrates Had a Podcast. Hear Me Out.

By: Kirsten Diprose, founder of Rural Podcasting Co.

You know who I’d like to hear on a podcast? Socrates. And I reckon he would love being behind the microphone.

Of course, that’s going to be tricky, with Socrates being an ancient Greek philosopher, alive long before podcasts, but also long before the printing press and therefore even before books were the primary way to spread ideas.

Rather, Socrates taught and learned through conversation.

He wandered the streets of Athens asking questions, listening deeply, and encouraging people to think more critically about the world around them. His famous Socratic method wasn't about delivering lecture, it was about dialogue. This dialogue was meant to get to the heart of what a person believed, to get them think about why they held such beliefs.

An imagining of Socrates as a modern-day podcaster.

What would Socrates make of podcasting?

The art of conversation

This was done respectfully too. Friends were encouraged to challenge each other’s beliefs, not in an argumentative way, but rather a curious one.

Podcasting follows this same tradition. Like Socrates' conversations, great podcasts create space for curiosity, reflection and shared understanding. Rather than chasing quick headlines or polished soundbites, they invite audiences into thoughtful discussions that unfold over time.

This last couple of months I have had my head in the books, as I am on the home straight of my PhD in journalism, which is looking at the power of podcasting for rural and regional Australia.

Podcasting isn't just radio

There’s a funny division amongst media scholars about whether podcasting is really just radio broadcasting. I’m in the camp that think it’s fundamentally different. For me, the answer lies in the term “Broadcasting”. A broadcast is exactly that; it’s intended for a wide audience. Whereas podcasts can go ultra niche… the narrower the better (and the deeper into the subject matter you can go).

And the other key element is the quality of conversation you can have on a podcast, which is largely free of the time constraints of radio. Media scholars have increasingly recognised podcasting as a conversational medium, capable of fostering authenticity, intimacy and meaningful engagement in ways that differ from traditional broadcast journalism.

Asking good questions

At Rural Podcasting Co., we believe the best stories emerge through genuine conversation. Whether we're recording around a kitchen table, in a shearing shed or at a community hall, every podcast continues a tradition that stretches back more than 2,400 years: people learning together by asking good questions.

Got an idea? Let’s make it happen! Book a call.

Kirsten Diprose is the founder of the Rural Podcasting Co., which helps individuals and businesses tell their own stories through podcasting. Her podcast is called Ducks on the Pond. Kirsten is also studying a PhD in podcasting and local news sustainability. She lives on a farm in south-west Victoria with her husband and two children.

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