Across every generation, the smartphone has quietly become the primary vessel through which human beings now receive the spoken word — news, story, and idea alike. A March 2026 survey by The Harris Poll and eMarketer confirms what any observer of daily life might already sense: 80% of Gen Z and 79% of millennials listen to digital audio on their phones, and no other device comes close. What began as a commuter's habit has grown into something more ambient and enduring, with podcast audiences expanding rapidly among those in midlife and audio consumption rising steadily across all seasons. The