Radio DJs Find Podcasting A Comfortable Home

Radio personalities' experience and expertise make them welcome additions to the growing podcasting industry.

Feb. 3, 2026 at 10:23am

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As terrestrial radio revenue, audience share, and advertising dollars decline, many radio DJs have transitioned to podcasting. Radio personalities like Adam Carolla, Questlove, and Joe Budden have found success in the podcast medium, leveraging their storytelling skills, on-air presence, and established trust with listeners. Radio veterans like Rich DeSisto and Freddy Cruz emphasize that podcasting is a natural progression for radio DJs, as it rewards the same skills that made them successful in radio, such as voice work, timing, and audience connection. Podcasting has provided creative freedom and a supportive community for former radio personalities like Forrest Kelly, who lost his radio job to automation.

Why it matters

The transition of radio DJs to podcasting has energized the podcasting industry, as these experienced broadcasters bring high-quality hosting skills, institutional knowledge, and the ability to build strong connections with niche audiences. As traditional radio continues to shrink, podcasting has become a comfortable home for many radio personalities seeking to continue their careers.

The details

Radio DJs have been transitioning to podcasting as the radio industry has seen declining revenue, audience share, and advertising dollars. Factors like the growth of podcasting, increased competition from satellite radio and streaming services, and technological changes in in-car connectivity have eroded traditional radio usage. Radio personalities have found podcasting to be a natural fit, as it rewards the same skills that made them successful in radio, such as storytelling, on-air presence, and building trust with listeners. Podcasting has provided radio DJs with creative freedom and a supportive community, allowing them to thrive in the new medium.

  • In 2024, average revenue for stations in the all-news format was $17.8 million, well below the $21 million recorded in 2019.
  • Freddy Cruz organized Speke Fest 2025: Night of the Living Pod, a live event last October designed to help put an end to the zombie podcast plague, otherwise known as podfade.

The players

Adam Carolla

Known for his work on the radio show Loveline, he launched the successful podcast The Adam Carolla Show.

Questlove

A drummer and radio host who expanded into in-depth, interview-style podcasting.

Joe Budden

A rapper and radio personality who transitioned into the hugely successful The Joe Budden Podcast.

Rich DeSisto

A radio personality with decades of experience, who teaches podcasting and is the creator/host of the podcast Aircheck.

Freddy Cruz

The founder of Speke Podcasting, a boutique media company in the Greater Houston area, and the host of the podcast Your Mic.

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What they’re saying

“If you think about it, podcasting isn't a departure from radio, it's where radio naturally led.”

— Rich DeSisto, Radio personality and podcaster

“My radio career began in 1995, back when we edited phone calls with wax pens and razor blades. Podcasting wasn't even a thing, and it's wild to see how much has changed. All of what we've seen and continue to see only empowers the end user: the listener. They're more informed than ever and even with the advent of AI generated content, they can sniff out BS faster than you can skip past your favorite podcast host's ad read.”

— Freddy Cruz, Founder of Speke Podcasting

“Podcasting gave me creative freedom I never had in radio. I control the content, the format, the schedule, and the vision. That autonomy—combined with the skills radio drilled into me—has been transformative. Radio taught me discipline, timing, and how to connect with an audience under pressure. Podcasting gave me freedom, creativity, and a supportive community. The combination of those two worlds is what makes podcasting so powerful for former radio people like me.”

— Forrest Kelly, Creator/host of The Best 5 Minute Wine Podcast

What’s next

Freddy Cruz organized Speke Fest 2025: Night of the Living Pod, a live event last October designed to help to put an end to the zombie podcast plague, otherwise as podfade.

The takeaway

The transition of radio DJs to podcasting has energized the podcasting industry, as these experienced broadcasters bring high-quality hosting skills, institutional knowledge, and the ability to build strong connections with niche audiences. As traditional radio continues to shrink, podcasting has become a comfortable home for many radio personalities seeking to continue their careers.