6 Podcast Topic Ideas for Your Internet Radio Station

If you’ve read our post How to Select Topics for Your Talk Radio Show, you’ll know that understanding your listeners is crucial y to running a great radio station. To expand your station’s reach beyond live shows, podcasts are the perfect complement to live programming, offering flexible, on-demand content to  grow your audience and strengthen  engagement.

Whether you’re planning to start a new radio station or enhance an existing one, here are some podcast topic ideas to get you going: 

1. Your Story: The Making of Your Station

The audience always likes to know what goes on behind the scenes. Discuss your journey from your very first online radio setup to the current station, including the mistakes, successes, and lessons learned along the way. You can even share insights on your internet radio software, such as how you schedule shows or what your content workflow looks like. And what could be more fun than hosting a podcast about podcasts?

For example, Podcraft is a weekly podcast that offers practical advice and insights on the art of podcasting. Hosted by veteran podcasters, the show covers topics ranging from launching and growing a podcast to monetising and maintaining it.

2. Local Stories

Podcasts are a great way to highlight local culture. Interview artists, small business owners, or regular people with extraordinary stories. These types of stories strengthen community ties and can attract sponsors interested in local engagement. Highlighting local content also makes your station stand out in the crowded world of online radio stations.

3. Music Deep Dives

Music is at the core of most internet radio stations, and a podcast allows you to explore songs and artists in greater depth. Think about analysing albums, talking about the evolution of a specific genre, or breaking down music production. Podcasts provide the ideal format for relaxed interviews. Invite musicians, DJs, producers, or even other podcasters to discuss their work, challenges, and experiences in the industry. Your listeners gain insights while guests gain exposure.

A great example is Song Exploder, a podcast where musicians take apart their songs and, step by step, tell the story of how they were made. Guests have included huge names such as Billie Eilish, U2, and Metallica, among others.

4. Discuss Movies and Books

Podcasts are an excellent  way to explore storytelling beyond music. Review the latest films, analyse classic movies, or dive into popular books and literature to give your audience thoughtful insights and start engaging discussions. Compare adaptations of books into films or series, which often generates lively debate among fans. Invite your local book club or reading group to participate in a monthly discussion. Select a specific book or movie and encourage your audience to read it and watch it in advance so you can all discuss it together on the podcast.

5. Documentaries and True Stories

True crime, history, and investigative documentaries translate well to podcasting. Narrate compelling real-life stories, analyse events, or explore untold histories. True crime podcasts, in particular, have huge audiences who are waiting for well-researched storytelling, making them an excellent choice for audience engagement.

If you’re wondering how to start your own true crime podcast, take inspiration from well-known BBC podcasts such as The Hurricane Tapes or Paradise. Study their storytelling style, pacing, and research methods to understand what makes their episodes gripping and engaging. You can then adapt these techniques for your own show, whether focusing on local mysteries, historical cases, or international investigations.

6. Tech Talk

Podcasts about tech are a natural fit for broadcasters. Hosts can review audio streaming software, microphones, mixers, or mobile apps. Share practical tips on how to integrate technology into live broadcasts or podcasts, which is essential for anyone looking to start an online radio station.

You can also explore one of the most talked-about topics today: artificial intelligence. AI is increasingly present in our lives, from music and art creation to scheduling and automation in broadcasting. A podcast on AI can include discussions on what tasks AI can realistically replace, where human creativity remains essential, and the ethical or practical implications of this technology.

Ready to start?

Pick one idea, record a pilot episode, and share it with your audience. Podcasts are a perfect way to expand your station, whether you’re learning how to set up an internet radio station or simply looking to engage more listeners. Every great podcast begins with a single idea, and your station can be the ideal platform to bring it to life.