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Comment by scott_s | Hacker News Reader

I don't see podcasts as an alternative to radio, but just the new radio. Like how Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hulu are just the new tv. Perhaps this is because I have always listened to a lot of NPR podcasts, such as This American Life, which are also broadcast on NPR radio stations. Of course, I also listen to a lot of other podcasts, some by people who mainly do podcasts, and quite a few others affiliated with some publication.

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The reason I believe it's an overlapping substitute at least is because I listen to NPR 100% on podcast. I haven't tuned into a live NPR broadcast in years. I don't think I'm the only one.

But I agree it's kind of a new format, with new behaviours, much like Netflix.

My favorite show was always Prairie Home Companion, which they could never get on podcast anyway. But I stopped listening to it after Garrison Keillor left anyway.

I'm with sibling comment, give it another go. Thile carries his weight, and frankly I thought Keillor was getting old, cranky, and past his expiration date. The music is better, Thile can actually sing (in contrast to the previous host), and the skits are just as funny as always.

And though a bit niche, if you enjoy world-class mandolin playing, you'll do far worse than Chris Thile. Man, mandolin or not, if you just enjoy good musicianship, give it a listen.

You should give it another go. I think Chris Thile is doing a great job carrying the show forward. They still do all the radio skit acts, but they've mixed in more live music.

The name of the show has changed to Live From Here for anyone interested.

I haven't tuned into a live NPR broadcast in years. I don't think I'm the only one.

Even stuff that has to be listened to live, such as "Live from Here" (what used to be Prairie Home Companion), I connect the phone to a BT speaker and use the local NPR-affiliate app. Once in a great while I'll turn on NPR in the car, which is the only use I have for an FM receiver these days.

But it's, in a sense, a lot more open. There are a lot of people who couldn't get radio shows out there making podcasts (Chapo Trap House is an obvious example of something that's a phenomenon but probably wouldn't be put on broadcast radio) or else smaller radio stations getting far bigger reach.

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