Making ‘Maximum Fun’ for fans: Examining podcast listener participation online

This article analyses how three podcasts from the independent podcast network Maximum Fun use online spaces to cultivate audience engagement and listener interest. While some of these listener engagement techniques are not unique to podcasting, they offer examples of how podcasters have built strong audience connections by expanding interaction beyond their episodes and into the online spaces young, tech-savvy listeners often frequent. Specifically, this article compares how three podcast shows on the Maximum Fun network promote and use different online spaces (forums, social networks and blogs) to engage listeners and cultivate community.