By When we think about podcasts, we usually picture shows designed for customers, clients or for the wider public.
Most brands use them to tell their story, share expertise, and build trust externally.
But what if the biggest impact could happen inside your company?
Many leaders want to communicate better with their teams but struggle to find the time or the right way to do it.
A communication problem
A friend of mine started her first full-time job after finishing her studies. I was surprised when she shared that on her first day, she arrived at the office, collected her laptop, and was sent home!
Every part of her onboarding was done online.
I remember thinking how strange that must feel, to start a role without ever sharing a coffee or a chat with your team. Having someone to ask when you were unsure of something.
But her experience isn’t unusual. Many new starters learn company values and updates through email or intranet posts. They might never hear a manager’s voice or understand how decisions are made.
She didn’t stay long. The isolation and lack of connection made her rethink what she wanted from work.
You might have people like her in your business right now.
Bright, capable, and willing, but disconnected. They turn up, do the work, and log off, without ever feeling part of something bigger.
That’s a quiet loss for any organisation.
The cost of disconnection
Hybrid work has made it harder to keep teams connected. Many staff feel distant from leadership and unsure what’s happening across the business. And I get it, online work gives us freedom… but it can also leave people feeling invisible.
Connection doesn’t happen when we’re on our own.
When leaders speak with their people, not just to them, everything works better. Ideas flow, trust grows, and decisions make more sense.
Research shows that 86% of employees say poor communication causes workplace problems and only 21% of employees globally are engaged at work, dropping to 13% in Europe.
So many people feel disconnected from their company’s purpose. Here, in the UK, the CIPD’s Good Work Index found that many employees want more open, two-way communication.
We’ve all been guilty of it. Internal newsletters and all-staff emails get pushed to the end of the to-do list and often go unread. Messages from leaders can sound cold or distant, which puts a gap between what leaders say and what employees understand.
You can fix that by speaking directly to your people.
And when you do, you’ll be surprised how much they want to listen.
Why podcasts work
Podcasts work because they are personal. People connect to human voices more than to text.
Hearing tone and context builds trust faster than reading an email.
Because of the format, they also fit into our working life. Your staff can listen while commuting or working. There’s no need to read long updates that get buried in inboxes.
We all like to know how we fit in and what we contribute within the wider whole. When people understand how their work matters, they feel seen and valued.
I know I do.
Gartner found that 76% of employees say culture is very or extremely important for them to be effective at their job, and podcasts can help to close that gap.
You can use an internal show to:
- Explain company plans
- Answer staff questions
- Spotlight departments or projects
- Share learning and development talks
- Welcome new starters
Episodes don’t have to be long, just regular updates to help keep your staff informed and involved in building the business with you.
Real company examples
Many companies already use podcasts internally proving how they are to engage internally.
- Howdens (UK): Howdens runs more than 800 depots across the UK. Their internal show, Counter Talk, connects managers and staff. Over 12% of their workforce listens. One marketing idea shared on the show spread across the network within weeks.
- American Airlines: Their podcast, Tell Me Why, features leaders answering real employee questions. It helps staff understand decisions and builds trust. It became so popular the company later decided to make episodes public.
- E.ON: Launched an internal podcast during the war in Ukraine to keep staff informed. The open and honest tone helped calm fears. It became one of their most successful communication tools.
- Lululemon: Uses internal podcasts to connect stores and head office. Staff hear from designers and leaders in short, informal conversations.
These examples show that people preferring hearing from real voices instead of reading statements. Some companies report podcast engagement rates of up to 80%, compared with less than 20% for internal newsletters.
The benefits for your company
Good communication keeps people for longer and makes them happier in their work.
When your teams hear tone, humour and honesty, they trust you.
When they’re included, they care more about the outcome.
Research shows that companies with open communication are 4.5 times more likely to keep staff. Employees who feel informed are 12 times happier in their jobs.
If your company wants stronger connection, start by changing how you speak to your people.
You can use an internal podcast to build connection by:
- Making leaders more approachable
- Giving employees a voice
- Sharing updates quickly and clearly
- Reaching deskless or remote workers
Better communication isn’t just nice to have. It keeps people engaged, builds trust, and creates teams who want to stay and do their best work.
Start small, keep it simple, and stay consistent. Your people will notice the difference.
Be heard with your voice
If you want your teams to feel informed and connected, talk to them directly.
An internal podcast makes communication simple, personal, and effective.
When people hear real voices, they listen and they care.
I’ve helped experts and leaders create podcasts that connect and engage.
Internal podcasts use the same approach. Clarity, tone and consistency make a difference.
They help you reach your own people first, which is where lasting change begins.
If you’d like to explore how this could work for your company, let’s have a chat.
