By The Craig Bushon Show Media Team
September 30 is more than just a date on the calendar — it’s National Podcast Day, and in 2025, it has greater meaning than ever. Podcasting isn’t just a medium of convenience or entertainment — it’s now a critical battleground for the First Amendment, where the ordinary citizen reclaims voice from gatekeepers, censors, and corporate media filters.
From Radio Towers to Podcasts: A Personal Journey
I came up in the days of AM and FM broadcasting, when shows were squeezed into rigid time slots, messages were shaped by sponsors, and political pressures often constrained what could be said. You had to navigate a web of corporate expectations and broadcast policies to even get airtime. Truth was parcelled, filtered, and boxed.
Podcasting changed all that. The Craig Bushon Show—born in the world of radio—now lives wholly online, free from commercial intervals, corporate oversight, and broadcast timetables. We don’t have to fit our voice into someone else’s mold. You hear truth in full, on your terms.
Podcasting by the Numbers
Here’s the reality. Podcasting isn’t niche anymore — it’s part of everyday life.
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584 million people worldwide will listen in 2025.
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In America, more than half the population listens every month.
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11% of all daily audio time now goes to podcasts, up from just 2% ten years ago.
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U.S. podcast ad revenue is expected to hit $4.5 billion this year.
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Globally, 4 in 10 people listen at least an hour a week, and nearly 1 in 10 listen over 10 hours.
That’s not a fad. That’s a shift in how people choose to get information and ideas.
Podcasting’s Unique Advantage: Depth, Time, & Truth
Look at Joe Rogan. Four-hour conversations? Three-hour monologues? Unthinkable on standard broadcast radio or TV. But on podcasting, those are often the norm — because audiences want depth, not soundbites.
Shows like Ben Shapiro, Dan Bongino, and Tim Pool moved audiences online exactly because podcasting removes time constraints and censorship.
And even controversial voices — Nick Fuentes, Alex Jones — exist in this space not because they were invited, but because podcasting allows them to persist when legacy media would block the mic. The First Amendment protects speech we might disagree with; podcasting is proving that in practice.
Meanwhile, audiences hunt for authenticity. Podcasts connect creators and listeners directly — unmediated by large networks, with no corporate filter. That’s why more people are choosing podcasts over talk radio or TV news: they believe in hearing unvarnished truth, even when it’s uncomfortable.
Why The Craig Bushon Show Matters
Because this show stands where radio ends and truth begins. We don’t report noise — we connect dots. We don’t shy from dark corners — we bring them to light.
We do this under one guiding principle: The Truth Is Not Hate Speech. This is more than a tagline — it’s a commitment: to speak bold truths unapologetically, to challenge narratives, to reject silence.
And we’re not alone. Podcasts today are giving power to voices long suppressed by media gatekeepers. We tie our mission into the Amer-I-Can movement and Unified America, because speech is only part of the fight — action must follow.
What You Can Do on National Podcast Day
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Share: Send this post or your favorite episodes to friends, family, social feeds.
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Support: Leave reviews, ratings, or a kind word — platform visibility depends on engagement.
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Engage: Don’t just passively listen — join conversations, ask questions, call out echo chambers.
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Defend: When censorship or de-platforming rears its head, stand firm. Free speech doesn’t stay alive by default.
Final Thought
On National Podcast Day, celebrate more than the technology. Celebrate the revival of individual voice. Celebrate the right of every citizen — not just the comfortable or powerful — to speak, to be heard, to challenge.
Here on The Craig Bushon Show, our pledge is simple: The Truth Is Not Hate Speech. It’s the heartbeat of a free people.
If we lose the courage to speak freely, we lose our freedom. And we’re not about to let that happen.
Disclaimer
This op-ed represents the views and opinions of The Craig Bushon Show and is intended for educational and commentary purposes only. References to public figures and podcast statistics are included for context. Mention of individuals such as Joe Rogan, Ben Shapiro, Dan Bongino, Tim Pool, Nick Fuentes, Alex Jones, Dax Shepard, and Alex Hormozi does not imply endorsement of their views, but rather highlights the diverse landscape of podcasting and its role in supporting free speech.
