Radio has classically been one of the most prominent modes of widespread information broadcast. Specifically radio is transmitted by radio waves which are electromagnetic waves at frequencies between 10⁴ and 10^11~12 Hz. They are typically done in broadcast format where a signal is sent out in every direction without regard to the location of the receivers because they may be at any location within that range.

Some argue that the podcast is just another iteration of radio, but Richard Berry at the University of Sunderland motions that the difference between the two comes from how they’re created and distributed. Radio as a form of media distribution has always been in this broadcast format, with variations in the production of the shows that are premiered. Podcasts however are not typically live like radio and are saved to be listened to at any point in time and distributed by internet websites.