Rising waves in informal education: women of color with educationally oriented podcasts

This research explored how and why women of color begin and continue educationally oriented podcasts. As the number and reach of podcasts increase, the influence of podcasters as informal educators grows; however, there are relatively few women of color in popular podcasting. The qualitative research examined the work of 10 women of color who produce independent podcasts that cover topics appropriate for adult education and examined their origins and work. The research includes two illustrative cases as well as themes drawn from all 10 women. The data came from interviews with the women, the podcasts themselves, and the podcasts’ web sites and show notes. The findings indicate that these podcasters are driven by a sense of purpose to give voice in an underserved area and are further motivated by their interactions with their audiences. These women tend to focus on building their own networks and capitalizing on the unique features of podcasting. There is a strong sense of personal growth, beyond gaining proficiency with podcasting. Finally, they have diverse experiences as women of color and podcasters.