I've decided to just create a comprehensive list and disregard whether members are active or not. You can see the list here. I'll probably add to the page in the future to improve it's layout and make it easier for new users to add themselves. TipsyElephant (talk) 13:01, 12 December 2022 (UTC)
Hi, I haven't been an active editor this past year, so you may take me off this list. I'll add myself back to the list if that ends up changing. starsandwhales (talk) 19:33, 12 December 2022 (UTC)
The following discussion is an archived record of a request for comment. Please do not modify it. No further edits should be made to this discussion.A summary of the conclusions reached follows.
This was a fairly low-participation RFC, but it's also been several weeks since anyone commented, indicating it has likely run its course for now. Those that did comment were generally in agreement that WP:NLIST applies without any special exception, and that in general lists of episodes, where needed, can be handled within the article about the podcast, and don't generally merit a stand-alone list article, unless such a list would pass the scrutiny per WP:NLIST. Jayron3213:30, 11 January 2023 (UTC)
Comment There have been a couple of recent AfDs, here and here, that have called into question whether or not lists of podcast episodes are appropriate for inclusion on Wikipedia, which is what prompted this RfC. I participated in both AfDs and my opinion is that episode lists should be evaulated on a case-by-case basis. If there are reliable sources discussing the episodes as a group and/or multiple episodes are independently notable than I think the episode list passes WP:NLIST. If there are not reliable sources discussing the episodes as a group and none of the episodes are independently notable than I think the episode list does not pass WP:NLIST. The two deletion discussions also included discussion as to whether or not episode lists violate one or more examples of WP:NOT. TipsyElephant (talk) 15:22, 13 December 2022 (UTC)
The way I see it, it's just as you said above. We have WP:NLIST and we should keep relying on that standard as we've been doing. I don't see anything in either AfD that would convince me otherwise. QuietHere (talk) 21:48, 20 December 2022 (UTC)
Barring any super terrific, award-winning, game-changing podcasts, NLIST is fine. I'd argue that most of them aren't even notable enough to warrant an article, but that's for another discussion. No point having different rules different lists. Oaktree b (talk) 00:11, 21 December 2022 (UTC)
There is plenty of Venn diagram overlap here with WP:PLOT (which is hardly enforced) that I'm concerned about talking a lot and deciding little. Let me offer two of the podcasts I listen to all the time to test the policy of detailing every episode on Wikipedia.
What brings us here is Off Menu, a comedy podcast in which two presenters ask guests for their dream meal. They ask for examples in different categories (starter, main course, dessert etc). I think 90% of the guests, if not greater, were blue-linked, so no question that the guests were notable. The two presenters were notable.
The fundamental problem is the episode detail. The food items are not notable; it was just the selection of the guest. It filled the page with scores of restaurant dishes and in-jokes. It was interesting - though trivial - to know the guest every week But one episode did not follow into the next, nor was there an over reaching narrative. I'd say therefore that listing every detail, about each meal, from every guest, was trivial overkill. Creating an article for every single starter, main, dessert, drink etc would be to replicate trivia and chit-chat onto Wikipedia; I can't see how that magnification of the mundane could be considered important.
My second favourite is The Football Ramble, a comedy football podcast. There is no argument in favour of an episode guide to be included on Wikipedia. Why not? Is it a lack of narrative? Greater sense that episodes are not automatically notable? Something is clearly different: format, content, number of episodes?
I'd say the focus should be on podcasts designed to be episodic. "The Trojan Horse Affair" or Slow Burn would be perfect for episode guide articles. That's the whole point. A comedy show about favourite side dishes? No. doktorbwordsdeeds23:22, 20 December 2022 (UTC)
Other than sorting by dates, August 4th: New Sushi, August 5th: My Wasabi, seems to be a reasonable way to group them. Date:title. There's no fixed format/type when doing a podcast, most are free-form. Oaktree b (talk) 00:13, 21 December 2022 (UTC)
Not all podcasts are freeform or self-produced. There are long scripted fiction podcasts like We're Alive, A Story of Survival and non-fiction podcasts with an over-arching narrative such as Serial. There are also quite a few podcasting companies that create shows. The question shouldn't be whether the podcasts are notable because they are freeform or self-produced (that's not what the RfC is addressing), but it seems like maybe the two of you are suggesting that episode lists make more sense for shows that have a clear plot or over-arching story? TipsyElephant (talk) 17:03, 22 December 2022 (UTC)
In essence, yes. If the series is just presenters chatting or summarising sports coverage or what have you, it's not a notable series, it's just a chat show. For me episode guides can only work if there is a through line or narrative. doktorbwordsdeeds05:24, 26 December 2022 (UTC)
Comment I'm personally not a big fan of podcast episode lists. I think we can evaluate them on a case-by-case basis, but I would favor a general rule that articles of podcast episode lists are unnecessary and think that most podcasts aren't notable enough to have a separate article on episodes. In most cases, I think episode lists can be included on the page if they are deemed necessary and only if the number of episodes becomes too great should a separate page be created. Mukedits (talk) 19:52, 30 December 2022 (UTC)
The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.
I broadly support the above because it makes sense to me and I see the value in having another type of categorisations, for the various reasons outlined above. Richard Nevell (talk) 20:43, 14 April 2022 (UTC)
Unfortunately most of the sources I can find that discuss different formats for podcasting are blog posts.[1][2][3] I'm trying to decide if I should create a category called "Narrated podcasts,"[4] "Narrative podcasts,"[5][6][7] or "Solo podcasts"[8]TipsyElephant (talk) 20:24, 19 April 2022 (UTC)
I quite like the Category:Scripted podcasts you started. It's very specific and easy to understand. The "Narrative Podcast" moniker seems a tad gray; described as "story-driven" shows, which can often apply to documentaries or other unscripted fare. Mophista (talk) 05:10, 30 January 2023 (UTC)
It looks like perhaps "narrative podcasts" and "narrated podcasts" are ambiguous phrases that could mean a podcast hosted and narrated by a single person or an audio drama with a full cast that tells a story. It seems like "solo podcasts," "monologue podcasts," or "single host podcasts" are closer to what I was going for. For instance, PodCastle, Pseudopod (podcast), and Escape Pod (podcast) all have a single narrator who reads a piece of literature for the audience. There are sometimes different hosts that do the reading on different episodes, but never more than one on each episode. "Audio book podcast" wouldn't be too far off from what I'm talking about either. TipsyElephant (talk) 13:00, 20 April 2022 (UTC)
I'd prefer 'monologue podcast' over 'single host podcast' or 'solo podcast' for a couple of reasons. For example, Pseudopod has a single host per episode, but they sometimes have different hosts stepping in for episodes. 'Single host' as a navigational aid would be a little unclear for situations like that. I also think that solo podcast is a slippery term. It gives the impression that one person is doing everything, not just the talking but the editing, production, and research. And a show can start as a one-person operation but grow to involve more people as production becomes more complicated or the format changes. Richard Nevell (talk) 21:12, 20 April 2022 (UTC)
I think the both of conversational & talk show are synonymous. The difference between a scripted podcast and a audio drama/fiction podcast is that of format. The scripted/unscripted distinction is that of format. Audio drama/fiction podcast is the genre (though the term audio drama encompasses other media). starsandwhales (talk) 04:15, 24 May 2022 (UTC)
We still need to write a lead paragraph explaining what should be included in Category:Improvisational podcasts so there is no confusion in the future. Is the category for any podcast that doesn't strictly adhere to a script? Is it just for comedy improv, and if so shouldn't it just be merged with Category:Comedy and humor podcasts (are there scripted comedy podcasts)? Should Actual Play podcasts be a subcategory? TipsyElephant (talk) 16:52, 7 September 2022 (UTC)
Binaural recordings
We should create a category for podcasts that use binaural recording. I'm not sure what the exact wording would be, but I'll look into whether there are similar categories that I could go off of. I'll come back to this at some point. Until then, I appreciate any input. TipsyElephant (talk) 16:01, 1 October 2022 (UTC)
That makes sense I think. Doing a quick google search I found this blog post that gave a pretty simple explanation of the different types of audio. I also found Category:Binaural recordings. So I guess the question then becomes: Do we need a separate category for Binaural podcasts? Do we make it a subcategory of Binaural recordings or place it somewhere in the Podcasting category hierarchy. Probably both? TipsyElephant (talk) 17:10, 1 October 2022 (UTC)
We could probably make a category for sitcom podcasts as well. I'm less confident that there are currently enough articles on this subject though. TipsyElephant (talk) 02:33, 7 January 2023 (UTC)