Podcasts have grown from a niche interest into one of the most popular forms of entertainment for millions of (0) LISTENERS (LISTEN) around the world. Their remarkable 1POPULAR reflects a number of things that traditional broadcasting struggles to match. The relatively low cost of 2PRODUCE means that almost anyone with a microphone and an idea can launch a show, and this has led to a breadth of 3DIVERSE that radio was never able to offer. From true crime to philosophy to niche hobbies, listeners can find 4CREATE work on almost any subject they care to name. Long-form interviews, in particular, are praised for being genuinely 5INFORM, giving guests the time to develop ideas that a three-minute news segment simply cannot accommodate. Podcasts are also highly 6ACCESS: listeners can download episodes in advance and play them during a commute, at the gym or while cooking. As the medium has matured, however, 7COMPETE for attention has intensified, and producers have discovered that building listener 8LOYAL is no easier here than it ever was in broadcasting.