WHAT MADE SHOCK JOCKS SUCH AS Howard Stern and Opie and Anthony such cultural behemoths in the nineties and noughties was not just their strong language and outrageous stunts but their supposed authenticity.
Other broadcasters were full of feigned enthusiasm and twee talking points. The likes of Stern were angry, lecherous and bitter. They talked about sexual, professional and interpersonal problems. They seemed real. They seemed like people the audience could relate to.
With the rise of podcasting, it became possible not just to listen to a show and feel like you were hanging out with friends but to hang out with friends and make a show. Ironically, Stern, who must have inspired hundreds of podcasts, hates podcasters.
He thinks the barrier to entry is too low. “It’s a lot…
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The Critic (Digital) - 1 Issue, March 2025