Arts Garage podcast tops 1,000 listens in first year

Arts Garage’s Culture Under Fire podcast has marked its first anniversary with more than 1,000 listens and downloads, 23 episodes and 14 five-star ratings. The show, hosted by Arts Garage President and CEO Marjorie Waldo, has become a vehicle for discussing how the arts shape communities, economies and education in South Florida.

Why it matters: - The podcast’s first-year momentum signals audience interest in how the arts affect community life, not just entertainment. - Arts Garage is using the show to make the case that arts funding, access and participation have real economic, educational and social impact. - The milestone comes as South Florida continues to grow and compete for residents, businesses and cultural identity.

What happened: - Arts Garage marked the first anniversary of Culture Under Fire, a podcast launched in July 2025. - The show surpassed 1,000 listens and downloads in its first year. - The podcast has released 23 episodes. - Arts Garage President and CEO Marjorie Waldo hosts the program. - Guests have included business executives, educators, artists, philanthropists, cultural leaders and other community voices from across South Florida.

The details: - The podcast focuses on the role of the arts in economic development, tourism, education, community identity, health and human connection. - Episodes have covered arts funding, public policy, corporate sponsorship, volunteerism and preserving local history and cultural stories. - Culture Under Fire has earned 14 five-star ratings across Apple Podcasts and Spotify. - Promotional social content for the podcast generated more than 28,600 views and impressions. - That content reached an estimated audience of more than 13,000 people. - The campaign drove more than 500 likes, comments and shares. - Promotional reels logged more than 14 hours of combined viewing time. - Facebook link clicks totaled 110. - The audience is concentrated primarily in the United States, with Florida as the strongest market. - Apple Podcasts is the leading identified listening platform. - The podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other major platforms, with more information. - Arts Garage is a visual and performing arts center in downtown Delray Beach. - The nonprofit’s first anniversary also coincides with Arts Garage’s 15th anniversary. - Arts Garage has brought performers from around the world to downtown Delray Beach. - The organization also supports emerging visual artists and runs arts education and outreach programs for youth and adults.

Between the lines: - The show’s title reflects pressure on cultural organizations to defend their role amid funding constraints and shifting priorities. - Waldo framed the podcast as an effort to listen first and then identify a broader lesson about the arts’ place in civic life. - One repeated theme from guests is that arts participation can strengthen confidence, communication skills, local economies and community connection. - Waldo pointed to a 93-year-old participant with dementia who remembered an improvisational exercise as an example of the arts’ personal impact. - The podcast’s metrics suggest the message is resonating beyond Arts Garage’s immediate audience, especially in Florida.

What's next: - Arts Garage is likely to continue using Culture Under Fire to build support for the arts as a community necessity. - The podcast will remain available across major streaming platforms as the organization extends its anniversary-year visibility. - Waldo said the next challenge for growing communities is not just what gets built, but whether residents feel connected and able to belong.

The bottom line: - Arts Garage has turned a podcast into an advocacy tool, and the first-year numbers show a growing audience for that argument.