Podcast Pontifications

We working podcasters have a responsibility to the people who listen to our shows. We have responsibilities when we choose to lend our voices beyond our podcast. And for those of us who help produce podcast content for others, we have responsibilities for the content we helped bring to the world.

Ethics come into play for podcasters who interview guests. Yes, it can be oddly fun and entertaining when guests with kooky ideas come on your show. But where do you draw the line between kooky and offensive or harmful? 

What if you've agreed to appear on someone else’s show only to find out during the interview that the host of that show is a racist, crazy person? If you knew before, would you go on? Even if they had a really, really big audience?

For consultants, would you work for a client -- a paying client -- who was putting out wrong information that could result in serious harm? Are you complicit in that misinformation spread?

Maybe you’re only responsible for audio engineering episodes and you encounter something factually incorrect or unverified that could cause harm. Do you cut it out? 

What if you’re presented with an opportunity to use some grey-hat marketing tactics that border on the darker side. If these slimy-but-effective tactics get results, do the ends justify the means?

Are you working against the cause of “making podcasts better” by letting content out to the world that, if not bad, then certainly is not good? 

What about the ethical decisions around advertising dollars? Big companies have their fingers in lots of different pies. How far down the slippery slope are you willing to go when you vet advertisers?

 As a listener, do you have an ethical responsibility to reach out to the hosts of the shows you listen to, telling them that you like what they have to say, but I just wish they said it better? Does that become easier if it’s less a quality issue and more a question of spreading misinformation? Does your silence make you complicit?

I didn’t give you an answer to any of these on purpose. This show is designed to make you think, and only you can answer these questions of ethics for yourself. I have to answer this question every day for my own work and the work of my agency. I like to think I get it right most of the time. 

Chat with the other working podcasters you communicate with on a regular basis and bring up an ethical dilemma you’re facing and get their opinions. And, of course, tell them it was this episode of Podcast Pontifications that sparked the topic. I can always use a listener or two more, so please spread the good news.

If you want, you can tell me about your thoughts on ethical dilemmas. I'm curious about what do you do? Send me an email at evo@podcastlaunch.pro.

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Podcast Pontifications is published by Evo Terra four times a week and is aimed at the working podcaster. The purpose of this show is to make podcasting better, not just easier.

Follow Evo on Twitter for more podcasting insights as they come.

And if you need a professional in your podcasting corner, please visit SimplerMedia.pro to see how Simpler Media Productions can help your firm. Podcasting is our only business!

Mentioned in this episode:

Support For Abortion Rights

While Americans overwhelmingly support the right of an individual to make their own decisions about abortion, unfortunately, that right is no longer protected everywhere in the U.S. The Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade on June 24th. Abortion is a basic healthcare need for the millions of people who can become pregnant. Everyone should have the freedom to decide what’s best for themselves and their families, including when it comes to ending a pregnancy. This decision has dire consequences for individual health and safety, and could have harsh repercussions for other landmark decisions. Restricting access to comprehensive reproductive care, including abortion, threatens the health and independence of all Americans. Even if you live in a state where abortion rights are upheld, access to safe medical procedures shouldn’t be determined by location, and it shouldn't be the privilege of a small few. You can help by donating to local abortion funds. To find out where to donate for each state, visit donations4abortion.com. If you or someone you know needs help, or if you want to get more involved, here are 5 resources: 1. ShoutYourAbortion.com is a campaign to normalize abortion. 2. DontBanEquality.com is a campaign for companies to take a stand against abortion restrictions. 3. Abortion.cafe has information about where to find clinics. 4. PlanCPills.org provides early at-home abortion pills that you can keep in your medicine cabinet. 5. Choice.CRD.co has a collection of these resources and more. We encourage you to speak up! And spread the word.

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy
Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy
Podsights - https://podsights.com/privacy