Study: Most Podcast Listeners Would Stop Tuning In If Their Favorite Host Left.

The latest installment of The Podcast Study underscores just how central a host’s personality is to a show’s success — and how smart, consistent marketing is needed to keep even loyal listeners engaged.

For all the talk about algorithms and ad placements, the study finds that podcast loyalty begins and ends with the host. Eight in ten listeners say the host is one of the main reasons they listen to their favorite show, and more than half would stop listening if the host left.

“In short, they’re everything,” said Hal Rood, Partner at Strategic Solutions Research, which co-produced the study with Point-To-Point Marketing. “The host provides that connectivity — a friend from afar, someone people can bond with. That’s what you can do differently from everything else out there.”

Listeners want that personal touch to extend beyond the show itself, says the survey based on responses from 1,200 U.S. adults ages 18–54. The research found that 82% would be more likely to open an email if it came directly from the host rather than a show name or network. Yet most say they don’t have an easy way to reach hosts, and those who tried often got no response.

“Make sure you’re going there and answering questions,” said Point-To-Point CEO Tim Bronsil. “Even a thumbs-up from the show can go a long way. That host and that show are very much a part of that person’s life.”

Why Being Favorite Matters

Despite the explosion of podcast titles, listeners’ attention remains tightly focused. The study found that most people regularly listen to just three podcasts, and 60% of their total listening time goes to one — their number-one favorite.

“If you’re just even their second or third favorite, you’re picking up the scraps,” Rood said. “You’ve got to be someone’s favorite, because that’s where the majority of the usage goes.”

Three-quarters of listeners (76%) are promoters of their favorite show, meaning they’re highly likely to recommend it to others. About half said their affection grew over time — proof that while “love at first listen” exists, long-term engagement can convert casual fans into evangelists.

“Once you become someone’s favorite, it’s likely that fan will mention your podcast to people they know,” Rood said. “Now is the time to take advantage of that momentum.”

How To Stay Top Of Mind

Even strong fan relationships can fade if creators aren’t visible. The study found that many listeners are interested in shows they’ve heard about — but simply forget to try them. That’s why regular posts, social presence, and short clips are critical to maintaining awareness.

“You have to stay in front of them on a regular basis,” Bronsil said. “When you think, ‘Do I really have to do another TikTok or another post?’ the answer is yes.”

Among social platforms, Facebook remains the quiet powerhouse. While some producers assume the platform’s audience has aged out, data show it still generates the highest click-through rates for podcast promotions. “Don’t sleep on the Meta platforms,” Bronsil advised. “People may say they aren’t using Facebook, but the real-world action shows otherwise — it drives a tremendous amount of traffic to shows.”

YouTube, meanwhile, remains the top platform for discovery thanks to its searchability and recommendation algorithms. TikTok delivers quick bursts of visibility, especially with younger audiences. Instagram and Snapchat are more useful for awareness than click-throughs.

Short video or audio clips — “shareable, snackable” samples — are among the most effective promotional tools: 47% of listeners said a short sample would make them more likely to try a show. And two-thirds have seen a podcast-related post in their feeds within the past week — with overwhelmingly positive reactions.

“These aren’t ads,” Bronsil said during a Thursday webinar. “They’re relationship-building touch points.”

Email, Events, Engagement

Four in ten listeners say they don’t currently receive emails from their favorite podcasts — but among those who do, open rates soar when messages come directly from the host. The study suggests email remains one of the most intimate, cost-effective tools for building loyalty.

Offline tactics still matter too. More than 70% of listeners who have attended a podcast event said it made them feel more positive about the show, and 85% said they’d attend again.

“Every one of your listeners is so precious,” Rood said. “If you can just do simple things that don’t cost money — just a little more time — and bring that person through your funnel, they become a favorite.”

Download The Podcast Study HERE.