PODCAST CULTURE IN LIBYA: AUDIENCE PRACTICES, PRODUCTION CONSTRAINTS, AND PLATFORM DEPENDENCE

Abstract

This article reinterprets evidence from a previously completed mixed-method study of podcast culture in Libya. The original project combined an online survey of 244 respondents (collected in 2024–2025) with six semi-structured interviews with podcast producers. The analysis examines the relationship between audience discovery, perceptions of podcasting and the practical conditions of production. Reported survey findings suggest considerable recognition of the format but uneven patterns of consumption; YouTube and social platforms feature prominently in podcast access. Interview evidence identifies self-financing, infrastructure, access to guests, visibility and the dominance of video as recurrent challenges. Rather than treating adoption as a straightforward transition from radio to podcasting, the article conceptualises Libyan podcasting as a platform-dependent and resource-constrained emerging cultural practice. It offers implications for producer training, discoverability, funding and future research. The study is a transparent secondary interpretation of thesis-derived data, not a new field investigation.