THE CONSTRUCTION OF SOCIAL REALITY IN PODCASTS: A DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF POPULAR NARRATIVE CONTENT

Abstrak

The development of podcasts as a digital narrative medium has created new spaces for the formation and negotiation of social reality, particularly among increasingly digitally connected societies. This phenomenon is significant to examine, as podcasts not only convey information but also shape how individuals understand themselves, their social relationships, and their lived experiences. This study aims to investigate how social reality is constructed through discourse in popular narrative podcast content. Employing a qualitative approach with an interpretive case study design, the research focuses on participants’ meaning-making processes. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, observation of podcast content, and document analysis, involving ten participants consisting of podcast creators and active listeners. The data were analyzed using a thematic approach to identify patterns of meaning emerging from participants’ experiences. The findings reveal three major themes: the internalization of narratives as a reflection of the self, the negotiation of meaning within social relationships, and the ambiguity between critical awareness and emotional dependency. These findings indicate that podcast consumption constitutes a complex discursive practice in which individuals not only receive but also interpret and negotiate meaning in their daily lives. Theoretically, this study enriches Critical Discourse Analysis by highlighting the emotional dimension in the construction of digital discourse. Practically, the findings offer implications for the development of digital literacy, critical education, and the understanding of mental health dynamics in the era of new media, while also opening avenues for further exploration of the relationship between discourse, identity, and social experience.