The Podfather: Adam Curry Reflects on 20 Years of Podcasting
Independence Day is a time to reflect on beginnings. While most of us will be celebrating the birth of our nation, at Oxford Road, we’ll also be celebrating the birth of our agency, which intentionally launched on July 4th 2013. Eleven years ago, it felt like we had arrived on the ground floor of the podcast ecosystem, and that’s mostly true, but this week’s Media Roundtable guest is the OG who truly paved the way.
Adam Curry (MTV VJ and host of No Agenda) is known in the industry as “the Podfather,” because he, along with programmer Dave Winer, are deemed inventors of the medium. Listen to Adam’s journey from radio pirate to MTV host, to literally creating the podcast industry we find ourselves immersed in today.
Needless to say, the conversation on this week’s episode covers a wide range of topics, from the peculiarity of last week’s presidential debate to the evolving definition of “podcast,” and literally everything in between.
“Why am I in podcasting? Because I’m a pirate radio broadcaster. Because I want to share something with my audience.”
- Adam Curry, Podcast Founder, MTV VJ & Host of No Agenda
Here are just a few of the highlights from our 4th of July week MRT Special Edition:
Selling Spring Break 🌴 – Adam Curry worked with MTV for nearly 8 years, playing a big role in developing one of their most successful shows: MTV Spring Break. Back in those daze, advertisers were spooked by cable. It felt phony and complicated compared to the existing mid-80’s ad landscape. Adam’s vision for MTV Spring Break was to be an ad-friendly program that authentically integrated product promotions into the fabric of the show. The result? A harmony of brand identity and creative playing out on cable TV.
Pioneering the World Wide Web 🌐 – Back in ‘95, Adam Curry was developing websites in “Silicon Alley.” He became a self-made internet expert, when most were still side-eyeing the medium with uncertainty. This paid off for Adam in a big and unexpected way. For years, he had been cultivating an idea for something new, but the tech just wasn’t there to support it. All that changed when he came upon the first iPod, everything clicked. It wasn’t a jukebox—no, it was more like a radio receiver. Thus, the concept of podcast was born. So, what do we make of this? Don’t be afraid to be nerdy. Push the envelope. Don’t try to catch up to tech—let it catch up to you.
The Valor of Local Programming 🗺️ – We’re all here because we know audio is a powerful format. It’s hyper-personal, creative, and adaptable. Adam Curry strives to push the boundaries of how we think about podcasting today, beyond general entertainment and national news stories. Podcasting shouldn’t necessarily be exclusive to entertainment, nor should it be reserved for creators with massive, national or international followings. Adam Curry’s vision? Local, informative, useful radio shows and podcasts that serve as an essential function within their communities. For Adam, this is what podcasting was meant to be.
Take it from us: You won’t want to miss this MRT. Hear the full episode by tuning into the links below.