Podcasting Over 50 | Podcasting Strategy and Business Growth for Small Business Owners in Midlife

244. Too Late to Start Podcasting? What the Numbers Really Say

• Julia Levine

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You've probably heard that podcasting is oversaturated and that anyone starting now is too late. The real numbers tell a very different story... especially for business owners over 50. Today, I'm breaking down how much so-called competition is actually out there, the surprising stat that puts you ahead of 90% of podcasters, and the one advantage newer podcasters can't replicate.

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You've probably heard that podcasting is oversaturated. That everyone and their mother already has a show, and anyone starting a podcast today is wayyyy too late to the party. 

But that is absolutely, 100% NOT true. So, today, I'm going to prove it to you with real numbers. 

In case we're meeting for the first time, Hi, I'm Julia Levine, aka The Podcast Teacher. You're listening to Podcasting Over 50... the show that helps business owners in their 50s, 60s, and beyond to start and grow a podcast.

Today, we're talking about why starting a podcast after 50 might honestly be the best timing you could ask for. By the end, you'll know exactly how much competition is really out there, why simply showing up puts you ahead of most podcasters, and the ONE advantage you have that newer podcasters can't replicate.

And if you've been sitting on this podcast idea for a while... maybe telling yourself you missed your window... you're not alone. I hear this from accomplished business owners every single week. 

It takes some folks months or years to wrap their head around getting their show started. And there’s nothing wrong with that…you’re ready when you’re ready. But almost every single one of them has said to me: “I wish I had done this sooner.”

It’s my mission to help you get closer to ready, by busting the oversaturation myth.

So let's look at what the numbers actually say.

As of August 2026, there are about 4.7 million podcasts listed on Podcast Index, which is the big public database of shows. 

Now, 4.7 million might sound like a lot... and it is, until you compare it to everything else. There are over 600 million blogs on the internet, and there are over 115 million YouTube channels.

Podcasting is absolutely NOT saturated in comparison.

And it gets even better, because of those 4.7 million podcasts, only about 10% are actually active, meaning that they've published an episode in the past 90 days. 

So when you start a podcast, your real competition is somewhere around 470,000 active shows. Worldwide. Across every language, every country, and every topic you can imagine.

Of course, only a percentage of those 115 million YouTube channels are active as well, but that number is about 60 million. 

So, podcasting is a much smaller pond at just 470,000 active shows. And a brand new show in a small pond gets noticed a whole lot faster.

Alright, moving on to the numbers that often surprise people the most. Roughly 47% of podcasters quit by episode 3. 75% quit by episode 10. And more than 90% are gone by episode 20. 

Yikes, right? 

But stay with me, because I want you to flip those numbers around. If you start a podcast and simply keep publishing past episode 20, you're already ahead of over 90% of people who have ever tried this.

And the thing about business owners in their 50s and 60s is that you've already proven you can show up. You've built a business, or a career, or raised a family... probably some combination of all three. 

Consistency is not a new skill for you. You've been practicing it for DECADES. And it’s what is going to give you a significant advantage in podcasting.

Now, before I share the advantage that I think matters most... if you're sitting there thinking that maybe, just maaaybe, it's your turn to start a podcast, I made something for you. 

It's my free Podcast Roadmap, and it walks you through the 5 simple steps to go from "I have an idea" to "I have a podcast." No overwhelm, no tech jargon, just a clear path. Grab it at ThePodcastTeacher.com/roadmap.

Ok, the third reason... and this one is my favorite….in podcasting, your age is an asset, and I have numbers for that too.

According to Edison Research's Infinite Dial study, monthly podcast listening among adults 55 and up jumped from 52% to 70% between 2024 and 2026. 

Let me say that again for you: 70% of adults 55 and older now listen to podcasts every single month. 

Listeners YOUR age are one of the fastest-growing groups in podcasting, and they want to hear from hosts who actually understand their stage of life and business.

You bring decades of client stories to the microphone. Lessons you learned the hard way. Perspective that only comes from living through a few economic cycles, a few reinventions, and a few plot twists. 

A talented 25-year-old podcaster can work hard, but they cannot replicate 30 years of lived experience. You spent all those years gathering the exact stories and lessons that your future listeners need.

And in a world that's filling up with AI-generated content, that lived human experience is the thing listeners are hungry for. Your voice, your stories, and your perspective are what AI can't replicate... and they're exactly why podcasting after 50 works.

So, podcasting is a relatively small pond, and most podcasters quit by episode 20. If you’re able to get started and stay consistent, you have the advantage and can reach that ever-growing demographic of your peers. 

If what we talked about today stirred something in you... don't let it slip away. Grab the free Podcast Roadmap at ThePodcastTeacher.com/roadmap and take step one. And when your show launches, I want to be one of your very first listeners.

Until next time, happy podcasting!

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Julia Levine

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