Why Did These Podcasts Die? Why Podcasting Should Care About Canceled Shows?

Why do podcasts die? And how do they die?

On TV, series cancellation is a very public event, with numerous network announcements and media articles. Sometimes, these announcements of cancellation even generate a tsunami of protest and the show is “uncanceled” and brought back, such as Chuck on NBC. Or the show is picked up by another network or streaming service like Lucifer, going from Fox to Netflix.

Sadly, podcasts die quietly. It almost begs the existential question: If a podcast dies and no one knows, has it really died? After all, its archives can live on for years.

By contrast, popular TV shows can have multiple lives in reruns. Travel to any TV market throughout the U.S. and you can find Seinfeld, Friends, and The Big Bang Theory reruns. I think we all know the tale of the original Star Trek TV series on NBC from 1966 to 1969 that was canceled and then resurrected in reruns, where it blossomed and became one of the most popular and profitable entertainment franchises in history.

Sadly, podcast archives, or reruns to use the TV vernacular, have little or no second shelf life. That’s a shame because there are some terrific podcasts that were canceled that can be still enjoyed via their archives.

In this article, we will discuss two podcasts that I have reviewed in the past that are no longer “alive.” No new episodes are being made or planned as far as I know.