With streaming services requiring a never-ending stream of content, it’s no surprise that giants Netflix and Disney Plus are increasingly turning to podcasts for new show ideas. But why are so many podcasts being turned into TV shows? And which podcasts have already been adapted for the silver screen?
Why are so many podcasts being turned into TV shows?
Like books, podcasts provide TV executives with great storylines many of which have been largely ignored by the popular press. But as well as providing plotlines, podcasts also come with another set of benefits. Many have their own fanbase who are likely to follow the concept from one medium to another. Chief Content Officer at Wondery, Marshall Lewy, also notes that podcasts also provide a ‘proof of concept’ for television, proving the concept will work over a series of episodes.
Podcasts that have been turned into TV shows
Joe vs Carole/ Tiger King
We all remember the unbelievable story of Joe Exotic and his bizarre rivalry with Carole Baskin, but did you know that a podcast predated the viral Netflix hit? Wondery actually released their podcast Joe vs Carole one month prior to the hit show and the podcast became the source material for the fictional adaptation starring Kate McKinnon.
Fake Heiress/ Inventing Anna
Julia Garner’s performance as faux-heiress Anna Delvey soon became the most meme-worthy character of 2022. But before it was snapped up by the iconic TV producer Shonda Rhimes (Scandal, How to Get Away with Murder), the story was a serialised podcast produced by BBC4 under the title Fake Heiress.
Song Exploder
In the Song Exploder podcast, Hrishikesh Hirway sat down with artists to understand the components behind their work. It might be surprising that a theme that revolved so neatly around audio would work for TV. But in the Netflix show of the same name, released in 2020, Hrishi conducts a filmed interview with the artist and recreates the magic of the studio sessions in which the songs were created.
The Dropout
Scam podcasts have been having their moment in the past two years, and perhaps one of the most popular of these was The Dropout hosted by Rebecca Jarvis and produced by ABC News. The show told the story of Elizabeth Holmes and the rise and fall of her fraudulent blood-testing company, ‘Theranos.’ The TV adaptation starred Amanda Seyfried who received rave reviews for her awkward interpretation of the fallen entrepreneur.
Sweet Bobby
Sweet Bobby is an investigation into a prolific catfisher that took the podcasting world by storm in 2021. The series is soon to be adapted for TV and the show’s creators, Tortoise Media, have signed a ‘first-look’ deal with Sky Studios to adapt their audio content into series and features.
2 Dope Queens
2 Dope Queens was a comedy podcast by Jessica Williams and Phoebe Robinson that aired between April 2016 and November 2018. The show was taped live at Union Hall in Brooklyn and featured a range of female comedians, comedians of color, and LGBT comedians. The podcast landed the hosts two HBO specials of the same name.
The Shrink Next Door
The story of a ‘cult of one,’ The Shrink Next Door from Wondery and journalist Joe Nocera tells the story of Isaac Herschkopf, a psychiatrist who abused his relationship with his patients for personal gain. After topping the Apple Podcasts charts for three weeks straight, the show was soon picked up by Apple TV and turned into a limited series in 2021.
Looking for more podcasts to add to your listening rotation? Check out our shows.