For years, podcasts in India were seen as limited to urban, English-speaking audiences and to a small, elite audience. When I first suggested starting a podcast to a founder, his first response was “What’s the use?” He paused for a moment, then added the question many still quietly ask, “Are people really tuning into podcasts in India?”

It is a fair doubt. But now things have changed.

When you look at the data, it is clear that India’s podcast market is not just growing, it is exploding. From a valuation of $560 million in 2024, the market is projected to reach $4.25 billion by 2033. That shows a structural shift in how Indians consume content.

Why Podcasts Are Winning in India

Between 2019 and 2023, podcast listeners in India grew from 57 million to nearly 95 million. That is a massive jump in just four years, and the curve still continues to rise.

But the most interesting insight is not the number itself. It’s who is listening.

Podcast consumption is no longer dominated by English-language shows or startup-focused conversations in metropolitan cities. Today, regional and vernacular podcasts as in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Malayalam and more are leading the charge.

1. Audio Fits Indian Lifestyles Perfectly

People consume content while commuting, cooking, working, exercising or simply while taking a break from screens. And podcasts fit perfectly into these moments.

Unlike video, podcasts do not demand visual attention. Audio content respects time and that makes it powerful.

2. Regional Voices Are Finally Being Heard

For a long time, English was treated as the default language of serious, professional content. That assumption is breaking down fast, regional and vernacular shows are not niche anymore, they are mainstream.

Listeners connect more deeply when stories are told in their own language, with familiar cultural references and lived experiences. For brands and founders, this opens to an entirely new opportunity where you get to form connections through cultural relevance and not just reach.

The future of podcasting in India can be said to be multilingual.

3. Listeners Want Authentic Voices

People are tired of surface-level content. They look for:

• Honest conversations
• Real experiences
• Practical insights
• Stories that feel human and not scripted

This is where podcasts differ from traditional advertising. A podcast is not just about pushing a message. It is about earning attention over time.

Podcasts As a Brand Asset

A well-made episode will continue to be discovered and seen even months or years later. It helps in building authority and creates thought leadership.

Founders often underestimate their stories and doubt if it is worth sharing. To you, it will be just a routine but to someone listening, it is insight. Many founders believe that storytelling is for viral personalities. But podcast audiences do not tune in only for fame, they tune in for relatability. In fact, early-stage and growing founders often offer the most valuable perspectives because what they have faced and overcame are still raw and real.

Consistency Matters More Than Virality:

One viral clip would not build a podcast brand, but consistency will. Indian podcast growth has also led to crowding. More shows are launching every month and in this space, the real winners are not necessarily the loudest ones, they are the most consistent.

Discoverability Is the New Challenge:

As the ecosystem grows, discoverability becomes essential. Successful podcasters in India today:

• Repurpose episodes into short clips
• Use social platforms strategically
• Optimize titles and descriptions
• Build communities beyond the audio platform

Should Every Founder Start a Podcast?

Scaling a company is tough but scaling yourself as a founder is tougher. But if you are building authority, community and credibility in India’s evolving content landscape podcasts are no longer optional to consider. That is why we formed the podcast Techzila, where founders who never thought about sharing their story or those who underestimated the whole point of sharing their story, finally get a platform to speak up.

It was built because we noticed a gap. A gap between founders doing meaningful work and founders being heard. So, we created a platform where founders speak without jargon, stories are grounded in reality and not hype, conversations go beyond success to explore struggle and growth.

And if you do not tell your story, someone else will define it for you. People are ready to listen. The only question is, are you ready to speak?