Nathalie Hays loves a parasocial relationship

On Sunday I went along to the London Marathon to join some of my fellow PCDs in the ‘run to win and hate yourself’ fan zone. For the uninitiated, a PCD is a PodCast Devotee or, someone who listens to the Elis James and John Robins podcast. 

Listeners are also known as Apologists, Hammer Legends and Vibe Tasters. Thirty or so die-hards turned out at Mile 22 in vocal support of runners John Robins and producer Dave Masterman. Handmade signs lined the route proclaiming ‘marathon vibes in the are-eh!’ ‘John wins again’ and ‘I want listen this rubbish’, catchphrases which make very little sense to non-PCDs but are common, and beloved, vernacular for those of us who follow the exploits of the Kings of Content.

Some were already acquainted from the very active Facebook, Reddit and Patreon groups, and some were strangers, but there was a genuine sense of community amongst the PCDs on Sunday. 

Marathon day was finally upon us, after months of running chat, injuries, Ass Magic and gels. The social media posts following Dave and John’s progress around the circuit proffered the supportive vibes of a huge family, gripes about the months of running chat forgotten. 

Elis and the production team were in the thick of it with the PCDs, cheering from the sidelines, taking selfies with fans and ready with a hug for John as he passed. 

The tableau got me thinking about the nature of podcast fandom, the considerable number of comics whose podcasts are now the bedrock of their careers, and how the relationships between comics and their audiences have changed. Podcasts aren’t just ‘new material’ released on a weekly basis; they reach fans through a far more personal and immediate medium than a panel show. They can even be considered more personal than an hour of stand-up delivered to a live audience.

So, are you a Retro-Oner, Black Squadron or a Bean? Do you enjoy a bit of pomegranate chat with other Belinkers, or are you a top 1 per cent contributor to r/shaggedmarriedannoyed? If so, you’re part of a significant percentage of the UK population who are members of a podcast fandom, the drivers of the ‘parasocial interaction’ between comic podcast hosts and their listeners.

In this context ‘parasocial’ is a media studies essay-style descriptor of the relationship between podcasts, their hosts and their fans, which has evolved away from the traditional radio format during the last decade. In contrast to DJs braying at an audience they have very little connection with, listeners are actively engaged with the podcasts they consume, encouraged to contact shows with their thoughts, anecdotes and critiques, sending handmade gifts and nitpicking on social media platforms. 

Listener stories can be the entire format of a show. Podcasts become huge mega-hits with international audiences and tours, merch and books increasing their reach.  The relationship between podcast hosts and their listenership is built on active audience members who in turn provide seemingly endless listener-generated content, sometimes about accidentally sexting the boss, sometimes about a vile mother-in-law.

I listen to around 20 hours of podcasts each week. Yes, I’m single. They accompany me on my endless commute, in the garden, to the gym and in the bath. 

The podcasts I listen to are hosted by comedians from both sides of the Atlantic, journalists, politicians, LGBTQ+ activists, exonerees and detectives. I have learned more about the world, the people in it and how to cope with life’s disappointments and challenges from podcasters than from anyone else. 

Yes, I do consider them friends of a sort, despite the fact that they are strangers. The relationships between me as a listener and the podcasters I listen to every week are an important part of my continued learning, my comfort in the familiar, my ability to relax and switch off, and forever broadening my horizon. 

I get so much from the podcasts I listen to. I’m grateful for the people who make them, the hosts and the production teams. And I make no apologies for being an Elis and John Apologist.

Published: 29 Apr 2026