Final answer:
Podcasts allow time shifting and the flexibility to listen at individual convenience, with over 106.7 million listeners in the U.S. This growth is fueled by content variety, celebrity involvement, and advances in technology like smart speakers.
Step-by-step explanation:
Podcasts allow time shifting, which means that you can listen on your own schedule. The convenience of podcasts is that they suit our increasingly flexible lifestyle where we can consume audio content at any time. This is in contrast to the traditional programming schedules of radio and television. Podcasts provide the ability to pause, resume, or replay an episode, which makes them a perfect choice for entertainment during commutes, workouts, or while performing household tasks.
With over 106.7 million podcast listeners in the U.S. alone, and with 77.9 million listening at least once per week, podcasts have become an integral part of contemporary media consumption. Factors contributing to this growth include a proliferation of content, celebrity involvement, and technological advancements like smart speakers. Some podcasts, hosted by celebrities like Anna Faris and John Oliver, attract a large number of listeners due to their established fan base and engaging content.