I was on the ground floor of Anchor in 2016 and quickly grew my very first podcast. The platform’s true genius lay in its ability to foster a tight-knit community where real conversations were had. Call-ins sparked discussions, and feedback was given daily.
We had these behind-the-scenes connections, but we were also reaching out to the broader world via an RSS feed. It felt like public radio. The draw of Anchor wasn’t in seeking external validation—feedback from beyond its ecosystem was virtually absent. Our joy came from the magic of the people within that special little app.
I don’t know why Anchor tanked. Maybe it was ahead of its time, or maybe Spotify’s acquisition ruined it. Now, a void exists where there was once a vibrant community of podcasters actively engaging with each other’s content. Anchor uniquely motivated us to produce daily content, primarily internal, but also in actual episodes that went out. The connections we had pushed us to be creative.
A few weeks ago, as I dove back into podcasting, I was redirected to Spotify—the new home for my podcast since its acquisition of Anchor—and discovered hundreds of unanswered calls from listeners. These personal touches, like customized bumpers and intros, were unique to the Anchor experience. “Hey, welcome to Rex Barrett’s Podcast, The Maven Show,” they’d say, adding a warmth I miss.
This longing for genuine interaction remains unfulfilled. Despite resuming podcasting with a few new episodes, the absence of an actual feedback loop is felt.
Although Spotify might aim to replicate Anchor’s features, allowing for messages beyond ratings and reviews, it doesn’t quite hit the mark. The essence of interaction has vanished, leaving us podcasters to hope our voices find an audience in the vast unknown.
Podcasting is intriguing. You share your thoughts with the world, yet the impact on your audience remains a mystery. Despite statistics provided by podcast platforms, there’s no accurate measure of listener engagement that a normal guy like me can figure out.
This leaves me reminiscing about Anchor—a platform that once cultivated genuine connections is now lost. I’ve found snippets of this type of community spirit on Mastodon and through my social.lol family. Blogging has also connected me with a handful of like-minded friends. I’m committed to continuing this journey, hopeful that nurturing these small communities will lead to growth, thriving connections, and rekindling that lost magic.