With 464.7 million podcast listeners worldwide in 2023, podcasts have the potential to significantly influence our lives. In this webinar, we learned how to harness the potential podcasts have and employ creative strategies to effectively counter the spread of false information, empowering civic educators to make a lasting impact on critical thinking and public engagement.

Our speakers, Dr. Serhiy Shturkhetskyy (Independent Media Trade Union of Ukraine) and Dr. Roman Shulyk (National University of Ostroh Academy) opened by giving an introduction to the “Impact Podcast” project, funded by eence.eu, which involves four countries (Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine), offering four master classes by podcast creators and 17 lectures by propaganda experts. This initiative attracts over 200 participants and has exciting plans for the future, including an online course and podcasts from the four participating countries.

The discussion then ventured into fundamental concepts related to propaganda, disinformation, misinformation, and deepfakes. These key terms were dissected to help the audience understand their significance and the threats they pose. Civic educators were encouraged to use storytelling, interviews, and other techniques to captivate their audience effectively.

A key aspect of the discussion emphasized the use of podcasts to promote critical thinking and civic engagement. Through storytelling, podcasts can bridge the gap between complex issues and public understanding, encouraging listeners to critically assess various perspectives and become active in their communities. Furthermore, partnerships with organizations, including non-profits, media outlets, and educational institutions, were endorsed to extend the reach and influence of podcast content.

The webinar also guided aspiring podcast creators through the process of starting their own podcast. Key considerations included defining the target audience, selecting the podcast’s topic, determining its structure, length, frequency, hosts, and potential guests. The speakers stressed the significance of production quality, distribution channels, monetization strategies, and the distinctive style and tone of the podcast.

A significant highlight of the webinar was the toolbox provided to podcast producers, including platforms like Padlet and Spotify for podcasters and user-friendly podcast construction tools.

Additionally, practical tips were shared on effectively countering propaganda through podcasts. This involved, first of all, learning how to identify propaganda, presenting factual information from credible sources, offering different perspectives, and being transparent about personal biases to build trust with the audience.

For more information, visit the “Impact Podcast” project.