Unveiling the potential of podcasts: examining their role in supporting the mental health of young people

Purpose Technology is often associated with mental health risks, but its potential to support well-being remains underexplored. Podcasts are emerging as valuable tools in the mental health field, yet little is known about their role in supporting young people. This study aims to examine how podcasts contribute to young people’s mental health in India, with attention to the scope of broad-ranging content given its accessibility and scalability. Design/methodology/approach Guided by the World Health Organisation’s (2004) definition of mental health, this study explored how podcasts enable young people to cope with stress, realise their abilities, learn and work effectively and contribute to their communities. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), semi-structured interviews were conducted with frequent podcast listeners. Transcripts were analysed in NVivo 15, following Smith et al.’s (2009) six-step IPA framework. Findings The IPA analysis revealed five themes illustrating participants’ views on podcasts and how they perceive podcasts as supporting the aspects of mental health outlined by the WHO. Participants described them as accessible and relatable, often uplifting mood or providing a calming background presence. Podcasts were discussed as helpful for managing stress and difficult emotions, fostering self-growth and confidence and aiding learning and productivity. They also prompted feelings of connection and inspired contributions to community life. While these findings show how podcasts may support multiple aspects of mental health from participants’ perspectives, they reflect the idiographic focus of IPA and are not intended for generalisation. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first qualitative exploration of how podcasts support mental health among young Indians. Moving beyond health-specific podcasts highlights the value of broad-ranging content in offering stigma-free, flexible and low-barrier support. Findings carry implications for podcast design and promotion as a scalable digital mental health tool.