Reddit Talk is a social audio platform built into Reddit. Here’s what it looks like:

The users with bright profiles are on stage talking. Well specifically the user on the top left is talking while everybody else on the top row is muted (denoted by the mute symbol on the bottom right of their profile Pics). Everybody else who is smaller and faded is in listen-only mode.

Reddit Talk mimics Clubhouse, Spotify Live, Twitter Spaces, LinkedIn Live Audio Rooms, and other social audio/social podcasting apps. Basically each subreddit and profile will eventually have the option to host Reddit Talks. So far larger subs like r/WallStreetBets have been hosting these rooms for about a year.

And if you use the Reddit app, you should see a live audio bar at the top and occasional posts in your feed showing live Reddit Talks happening.

The feature is still in its alpha phase, but it’s growing. And it’s not just Reddit – as part of the Reddit Talk Alpha and the moderator of several subreddits related to social audio, I have access to several resources and communities to watch the feature grow. Reddit even set up a private Discord server for Talk hosts to get to know each other and share tips.

This is much different than any other platform’s live audio development. It’s very transparent, and you get a direct connection to product lead Peter Yang.

They stay honest about how much traffic is actually being drawn, unlike other platforms like Clubhouse and Twitter which are intentionally vague about user and engagement numbers.

I’ve watched a lot of these platforms build their social audio presence, but I’ve never seen any of them be as transparent as Reddit. Twitter is perhaps the closest to being as honest, but they’re still very closed off. I appreciate how community oriented Reddit Talk is.

This is so far the social audio app to watch. It’s more genuine, and it doesn’t feel like you’re being pulled into a sales funnel by the predators who frequent Clubhouse and Spaces. Nobody real uses any of those platforms besides legitimate media outlets like NPR and the Associated Press. Beyond that, it’s nonstop crypto schilling and hate rallies run by radical extremist incels.

But my experience over the last year on Reddit has largely been on-topic and friendly discussions. Influencers like Kevin O’Leary will show up occasionally, but it feels more authentic than the sales pitches on other platforms.

Would recommend 10/10.