Evaluating Participatory Podcasting as a Research Method in Substance Use: Insights from Participants Who Completed or Discontinued Participation

Introduction: Participatory podcasting is an innovative research method where individuals create podcasts to share their personal narratives. This approach enhances self-expression, empowerment, and community engagement. Its application in exploring substance use experiences is particularly promising, as it generates rich qualitative insights and fosters community involvement through shared storytelling. However, despite its potential, the effectiveness of participatory podcasting remains underexplored.

Goals and Methods: This project aimed to assess the feasibility and challenges of using participatory podcasting to explore substance use experiences. Participants received training in podcast production, including storytelling, recording, and editing, and were then invited to create podcasts sharing their personal substance use stories. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 participants who completed their podcasts and 6 who discontinued the process. Thematic analysis was used to evaluate participants' experiences and the potential of participatory podcasting as a research tool for substance use.The study was conducted between June 2021 and December 2024.

Results:  Participants who completed their podcasts reported several positive outcomes, including increased self-reflection and a sense of empowerment through storytelling. Many highlighted the therapeutic benefits of gaining a deeper understanding of their substance use, reducing shame, and feeling pride in sharing their personal narratives while contributing to destigmatizing substance use. Conversely, participants encountered barriers such as technical challenges, time constraints, emotional discomfort, substance use relapse, and a lack of confidence in the value of their work. These challenges contributed to disengagement for some participants.

Conclusions: Participatory podcasting shows promise as a research method for exploring substance use by offering participants a platform for self-expression. However, its success hinges on providing sufficient support to address technical, emotional, and self-esteem barriers. Future initiatives should prioritize sustaining participant engagement and reducing dropout rates to fully realize the potential of podcasting as a participatory research method.