Illustrations: Alyssa Bonanno Words: Christopher Cook 2019 is the year of the podcast - millions of Americans are plugging in and tuning in, earbuds amplifying new voices and stories into the mind. According to a 2018 study, 180 million Americans over the age of 12 tune into monthly radio podcasts. And somewhere between 500,000 and 630,000 shows are tapping into this rising demand. Ranging from novelistic storytelling and lecture series to personal journals and journalism, these half a million or more podcasts are providing venues for new voices and audiences. Podcasting's reach and immediacy are also growing through live podcast events, such