Comparison of Listening Experiences by Podcast Styles: Monologue versus Dialogue

This study investigates the effects of podcast format (monologue versus dialogue) on listener experience among Japanese participants (N = 296). Despite the growing popularity of dialogue-based podcasts, research comparing podcast formats remains limited. Participants were randomly assigned to listen to either a monologue or dialogue version of an AI-generated podcast discussing psychological research. We hypothesized that dialogue-based podcasts would yield higher impression ratings and better comprehension and that individual differences would moderate format preferences. Contrary to expectations, no significant differences were found in the overall evaluations, including enjoyment, interest, and immersion, between formats. Comprehension results revealed a single advantage of the monologue format: participants showed higher accuracy and confidence in identifying key information. Agreeableness and the need for complexity and novelty positively predicted several evaluation metrics, regardless of the format, while no significant interactions between podcast format and personality traits were observed. Free-response analysis showed predominantly positive reactions to both formats. These findings suggest that podcast format may have less impact on listener experience than assumed, and that content quality and listener traits may be more influential factors. This study contributes to the understanding of digital media consumption, with implications for podcast creators and educational content developers.