Vapouround magazine VM16 | Page 110

FEATURE VAPING PODCASTS BY LEO FORFAR HOW THE SELF-PUBLISHING AUDIO PLATFORM HAS TAKEN ROOT IN THE VAPING COMMUNITY 2017 was the year of the podcast. The accessible yet powerful format has been at the cutting edge of independent media, flooding the internet with a swarm of new personalities with fresh, fascinating takes on countless topics. Every topic — no matter how niche or obscure — has its experts, its enthusiasts and its communities. WHY PODCASTS? The modern podcast is a democratised, self-starter friendly medium which works as a tool of self-promotion in the hands of ambitious people. It has naturally found a perfect match with the vape industry, which is overflowing with men and women who rose to the top from humble circumstances by mixing their own liquids or taking similar opportunities in a young, fast-growing business. Key to the rise of the podcast has been its on-the-go versatility. Unlike video-based platforms such as YouTube, certain audio podcasts can be enjoyed everywhere once downloaded onto one’s phone or streamed through an app. Podcasts are favoured by the worker who faces a long commute or hours on their feet. They’ve joined the audiobook as something which can be played in the background during leisure activities for those with limited free time. As we’ve covered in previous issues, vaping is a highly mobile activity with the right equipment and can be done in any weather and almost any circumstances. Whether you’re indoors or out and about... why not increase your knowledge by listening to a show? An ever-expanding bastion of creativity, unique twists and envelope pushing designs, there are almost as many topics in vaping as there are vapers these days. But, the vape industry (like all industry) doesn’t exist in a vacuum and contemporary podcasts are often compelled to touch on other topics which have a relevant effect on business practices and consumer satisfaction. Politically, many shows and hosts – particularly in America – have a libertarian-leaning bent, given the strained and rocky relationship between regulators and the vape trade. However, if that’s not your thing, there’s still plenty of variety on offer. Everyone in the online vape-sphere has more in common than we remember. All share a sincere and devoted love for vaping and a desire to see it reach its potential as a saving grace for public health. 110 | VM16