The “Cultural Entrepreneurship” of Independent Podcast Production in Australia

Abstract

ABSTRACT Independent podcasting in Australia continuously evolved throughout 2016–2019, with an increasing focus on generating economic capital. This article draws on semi-structured interviews with 16 Australian podcast producers and participant observations at three consecutive Audiocraft events (national podcasting conference). It uses Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of alternative forms of capital (1986) and Michael Scott’s (2012) figure of the ‘cultural entrepreneur’ to analyse the contribution seven independent podcast producers have made to Australian podcasting’s alternative forms of capital. It finds their contribution is significant as ‘change agents’ subverting its revenue-focused ‘doxa’. This study is part of a larger practice-based doctoral project.