Podchaser, Inc.

Podchaser operates as a comprehensive database for the podcasting industry, often described as the "IMDb for podcasts." The platform indexes millions of podcasts, creating detailed profiles for shows, episodes, and individual creators such as hosts, guests, and producers. While listeners use the site for discovery and reviews, Podchaser's primary business model involves selling access to its detailed data to brands, advertisers, and PR agencies through a service called Podchaser Pro. This premium service provides access to audience demographics, sponsorship history, and a contact database with email addresses for podcast creators, which are used for marketing and booking guests. The aggregation of professional information and contact details in a centralized, searchable database creates privacy risks for podcast creators. This data could be scraped and misused by spammers or malicious actors for targeted phishing schemes and unwanted solicitation. Having a detailed history of guest appearances and professional roles publicly listed can also lead to unwelcome contact or harassment. To protect their privacy, individuals in the podcasting industry should be cautious about the contact information they make public in their podcast's RSS feed and can manage their profiles on the platform. Limiting the personal information shared publicly and staying aware of their presence on such databases is a crucial step in safeguarding their privacy.