Podcasts as a medium for contemporary folklore: humour functions and gender specificity in popular Lithuanian shows

Abstract

Podcasts have become one of the most visible forms of online media, with especially rapid growth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their accessibility and interactive features—particularly on YouTube, where audiences engage through comments and messages—make humorous podcasts a valuable site for examining contemporary humorous communication. This article analyses two popular Lithuanian comic podcasts launched in 2020, Vėl tie patys and Dar tos čia, from the perspective of folklore studies, humour theory, and communication studies. The study addresses the question of whether humorous podcasts can be considered a new folklore genre or rather a digital performance environment in which humorous folklore is transformed and circulated. The qualitative analysis focuses on dominant topics, targets of ridicule, humour functions (entertainment, leadership, didactic framing, psycho-hygienic relief, and communication), and interactional dynamics between hosts and audiences. The findings show that both podcasts draw on traditional humorous folklore patterns, including stereotyping, self-mockery, and “us–them” oppositions, while adapting them to podcast-specific dynamics such as improvisational conversational formats, rapid responses to current social issues, and mediated audience participation. Gendered differences are also evident: the male-hosted podcast relies more heavily on taboo themes, swearing, and aggressive humour, whereas the female-hosted podcast demonstrates greater linguistic restraint and value-oriented reflection. The article concludes that humorous podcasts should not be treated as folklore in a strict sense, but function as a powerful contemporary medium for producing and transmitting humorous folklore in Lithuanian society.