Chuck Bryant and Josh Clark, hosts of “Stuff You Should Know,” recently sat in a studio only slightly larger than a broom closet in the offices of HowStuffWorks at trendy Ponce City Market.

They were taping multiple podcasts in advance of a weeklong trip to do live shows in England, Ireland and Scotland. This particular episode was about medical “triage.” The word, they explained, was French and originated from sorting vegetables.

This led to a discussion of Cajun food, then a reference to the 1987 film “Angel Heart,” set in New Orleans and starring actress Lisa Bonet.

“Very pretty lady. I always crushed on her big as a kid,” Bryant said.

Clark recalled Bonet’s time on “The Cosby Show,” but couldn’t come up with her character name. Bryant was stumped, too. “Sue me,” Clark said jokingly.

“I apologize for all the things we don’t know,” Bryant declared. They then got back to the subject at hand: triage.

The casual nature of this podcast, with its conversational tangents and asides, is part of its appeal. Begun eight years ago at the Atlanta-based information company HowStuffWorks, “Stuff You Should Know” is now one of the most popular podcasts in the world. Combined with its dozen other podcasts, HowStuffWorks draws 27.5 million downloads monthly, according to chief content officer Jason Hoch.

Former MTV VJ and Gen X’er Adam Curry is credited with creating the first successful podcast in 2004 with software developer Dave Winer. A year later, iTunes added podcasts to its mix, greatly improving awareness.

Over the years, with the arrival of smartphones and ubiquitous Wi-Fi, podcasts became even more accessible. Growth was steady. Then, in October 2014, “Serial,” a podcast spin-off of an already popular radio program, “This American Life,” debuted, and the 12-part crime mystery became a phenomenon. “Saturday Night Live” did a spoof and, last year, “Serial” pocketed a coveted Peabody Award. The series has been downloaded more than 80 million times.

A Georgia Tech forum last year featuring an attorney involved in “Serial” drew a capacity crowd of 300-plus students, requiring an overflow room.

“It was definitely a big lift for the medium,” Bryant said. “That was one that sort of slapped mainstream media in the face.”

Companies like HowStuffWorks and individuals such as Marc Maron and Joe Rogan have thrived in the world of podcasting, generating enough listeners to draw advertisers and real income.

Vince Gatling (Aphonzo) and Josh Ellis (Uncle Joe)

Age: 29 and 28

Residence: East Atlanta, Los Angeles

Podcast: “Unreasonable Doubt,” available on iTunes, Stitcher, Soundcloud

What it’s like: a freewheeling discussion of current events, pop culture and sports, as if their characters are in a barbershop. Recent topics have ranged from actor Chadwick Boseman to a family reunion to Black Lives Matter.

How often: every Monday and Wednesday since March

Listeners: about 800 a week

Why they do it: Ellis wanted to get into radio. His math teacher friend Gatling suggested they do the podcast instead, to build his chops and awareness of his skills. The two Florida A&M buddies like that they can go in-depth on subjects in ways that are more difficult in commercial radio. “They’ve stopped caring about the smart person or the detail-oriented person” on AM/FM radio, Gatling said.

iTunes review: “Great insights. Great dynamic. Killing it, guys!”

Chuck Bryant and Josh Clark

Ages: 45 and 38

Residence: both Atlantans

Podcast: “Stuff You Should Know,” available on iTunes, Stitcher, stuffyoushouldknow.com

Subject matter: from radiation sickness to exploding head syndrome to lighthouses.

How often: Tuesdays and Thursdays (never a repeat, with more than 860 in the can)

Popularity: Since 2008, “Stuff You Should Know” has consistently been one of the most listened to podcasts in the world, downloaded millions of times a month.

How it came to be: HowStuffWorks, the encyclopedic Atlanta-based company, was seeking a way to expand beyond written stories. Bryant and Clark, writers there, had chemistry that drew early iTunes attention and now a passionate following. They became active in social media from its inception, building a passionate fan base that sends them art pieces with their faces on them. Over the past few years, they’ve done live shows in Canada, on the West Coast and in Great Britain.

Bill Nowicki

Age: 54

Residence: Marietta

Podcast: “Submarine Sea Stories” on iTunes, Stitcher

Subject matter: stories of life aboard a submarine

How often: He’s done 41 so far, drawing about 86,000 downloads total.

How it came to be: “In the Navy, I was in a Cold War submarine in the 1980s. I would spend 74 days under water. I really developed close friends at the time. I began reconnecting with them. Found a few on Facebook. That was a transformative period in many people’s lives on the sub. You can’t just sleep in. You always have to be on point, do your job. If you don’t, you get tied up in duct tape.”

Why he likes it: “I like following a story, see where it leads. Podcasting really lends itself to that. I’m able to be myself and people connect with it. It’s also made me a much better listener. I learned a lot while editing myself. I interrupt too much! I’ve learned to let things go in the direction they’re meant to go.”

Future podcast topic: He has started “Marietta Stories,” focused on interesting people in the city to talk about its history, its present and its future.