Shows
Podnews Weekly ReviewSteve Ackerman's next move; Adobe's new tools; and new Infinite Dial numbersWe break down the newest podcast industry data and the platform moves that are quietly reshaping how people watch and listen. We debate what success should mean when YouTube leads listening time, Apple moves video to HLS, and creators still get judged on downloads. • Infinite Dial numbers on in-car audio and monthly and weekly podcast reach • Share of ear shift showing YouTube leading total podcast time • Podbean pulling dynamic ad insertion across Europe and the fallout for creators • Adobe Podcast updates including source separation, music removal, and remote video recording • Completion and retention research from Bumper and...
2026-03-131h 38
Podnews Weekly ReviewTriton Digital's Sharon Taylor, on what Apple Podcasts HLS Video Really ChangesApple’s HLS video support, Triton’s roadmap, and the real cost of video collide with questions about measurement, privacy, and control. We chat with Sharon Taylor from Triton Digital.And, with Kattie Laur, we also explore Canada’s podcast identity, the CBC effect, and why discovery and funding—not mandates—unlock local growth.• Why Triton added video without giving up control• Apple’s HLS model, dynamic ads, and hosting costs• Spotify’s API path vs open RSS monetization• limits on first-party data and privacy choices• how premium feeds and secure distribution fit the mix...
2026-03-061h 39
Podnews Weekly Review2025's highlights, 2026 predictions from Spotify, Apple, Amazon and moreWhat happens when Apple, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon, Acast, Adobe, Pocket Casts, Triton, Bumper, Transistor, creators, and analysts all compare notes on where podcasting just landed—and where it’s headed next? You get a clear picture of a medium that’s fully mainstream, proudly hybrid, and fiercely contested. We gathered 25+ voices to unpack 2025’s biggest shifts and lay down their boldest calls for 2026.Send James & Sam a messageSupport the showConnect With Us: Email: weekly@podnews.net Fediverse: @james@bne.social and @samsethi@podcastindex.social Support us: www.buzzsprout.com/1538...
2025-12-191h 52
Podnews Weekly ReviewBetter podcast analytics with PodAnalyst, plus TikTok doesn't launch a podcastWe track the biggest forces shaping podcasting next year: Goalhanger’s network effect, a pivot to listener-based analytics, and the tension between open RSS and closed “podcast” branding from big platforms. We dig into video hosting defaults, live streaming, and why honest metrics will decide winners.(It's a re-upload! With the intro.)• Apple’s Show of the Year milestone and Goalhanger’s model• Cross-promo and cadence as scalable growth levers• Flight Studio’s talent strategy versus brand synergy• Hall of Fame inductees and industry recognition• Creator retention, audio versus video habits, and practical focus
2025-12-131h 18
Podnews Weekly ReviewWhy A Podcast Play Isn’t Enough And What To Track Instead(This description is produced by our sponsor Buzzsprout's CoHost AI tool).We cut through the download delusion and show how people, playback, and time spent reveal true growth. Dan Misener explains loyalty metrics, we test platform tactics, and we share simple ways to turn spikes into steady listeners.• people numbers, playback intent, and time spent as core metrics• loyalty as repeat listening, short‑term vs lifetime signals• diagnosing new listener vs returning listener problems• tactics to lift retention: teases, tighter intros, linked back catalog• autoplay spikes vs durable audience growth• Patreon’s free...
2025-11-281h 16
Podnews Weekly ReviewInside Riverside Hosting and RSS.com’s Free Podcast HostingSend James & Sam a messageSupport the showConnect With Us: Email: weekly@podnews.net Fediverse: @james@bne.social and @samsethi@podcastindex.social Support us: www.buzzsprout.com/1538779/support Get Podnews: podnews.net
2025-11-211h 39
Creators from TrueFans: Showcasing Independent PodcastingCVs, Audio Authenticity and Value-for-Value HostingAre you struggling to break into the media industry or advance your career? David Spencer, who created The Media Mentor brand twenty years ago, shares why he launched The Media Mentor podcast as a powerful audio tool to help people navigate the "mystifying world of recruitment".Episode Highlights You Won't Want to Miss:The Power of Audio: Discover why David, a long-time lover of audio who always dreamt of working in radio, believes podcasting is a "beautiful powerful way to communicate". The Video Frustration: Hear David's strong feelings on the g...
2025-10-2739 min
Creators from TrueFans: Showcasing Independent PodcastingCats, Culture and the Cost of ConnectionConnecting cats and the creator economy!This time Claire Waite Brown chats with Amanda B, AKA Captain Kitty, the creator and host of the brilliantly inventive and award-winning 6 Degrees of Cats, the podcast that explores deep, cat-themed questions such as 'Are cats cuter than babies?' and 'Did Sir Isaac Newton really create the cat door?'.Amanda shares the frustration of the industry devaluing 'human, handcrafted work', but offers a powerful, optimistic theory that the rise of AI-generated content is pushing the industry toward a new economy requiring 'proof of humanity': advertisers will ultimately...
2025-10-1339 min
Podnews Weekly ReviewFresh Air's branded podcasts; and Spotify looks to disclose AI useWe break down AI-generated podcast “slop,” Spotify’s leadership shift, and why attention—not downloads—should be the metric brands care about. Fresh Air’s Neil Cowling joins us to explain how branded podcasts create real value, and where video fits in.• reactions to Jeanine Wright's interview and AI content quality• risk to advertisers from bots and low retention• International Podcast Day and the case for open RSS• Spotify’s co‑CEOs move and DDEX‑based AI disclosures• YouTube AI features and Riverside prompt editing• why branded podcasts target niches and measure attention• funding models...
2025-10-031h 09
Creators from TrueFans: Showcasing Independent PodcastingShow Me The MoneyPodcasters perplexed at how to turn their passion into profit.Norma Jean Belenky and John Kiernan search out answers to the question, "Where's the money in podcasting?" with their new show PodBiz, dedicated to transparent conversations about podcast monetization across the industry.In this episode of Creators, Norma Jean joins us to discuss how PodBiz explores diverse revenue streams through conversations with platform executives, adtech specialists and independent creators. We explore the value-for-value model, where listeners can directly support creators based on the perceived worth of the content they consume, a...
2025-09-2926 min
Podnews Weekly ReviewRemembering Todd Cochrane; and Apple testing new chapters?We remember podcasting pioneer Todd Cochran who passed away suddenly this week, reflecting on his 19-year journey in the industry and the indelible mark he left on the medium. • Todd's journey began in 2004 with a $14.95 Walmart microphone, creating his first podcast in a hotel room in Waco, Texas• An excerpt from our 2023 interview with Todd shares his podcasting origin story and philosophy• Apple Podcasts appears to be preparing support for Podcasting 2.0 JSON chapters, potentially offering AI-generated chapters for podcasts• Daniel J Lewis has launched Pod Chapters in beta, offering AI-generated chapter creation for podcasters• Pat...
2025-09-121h 22
Creators from TrueFans: Showcasing Independent PodcastingAuthenticity Over Auto-DownloadsDiscoverability and interactivity are significant challenges faced by independent podcasters, as highlighted in this episode's interview with David John Clark of The Late Bloomer Actor podcast, which explores David's creative journey and experiences in podcasting. In this chat David challenges conventional wisdom about podcast metrics. 'Download numbers do not mean they are listeners', he points out, sharing a revealing anecdote about a TikTok video with 746 plays but only 0.2 seconds average watch time. This stark reality highlights why podcasters need more sophisticated data to truly understand their audience engagement – something platforms like TrueFans are addressing with metrics that mea...
2025-09-0840 min
Podnews Weekly ReviewPodcasting in Asia; plus Podhome's new podcast appJakarta sets the stage for an exploration of Asia's unique podcast landscape, where innovative approaches to monetization and content distribution reflect the region's diverse markets and consumer behaviors.• Ron Baetiong from Podcast Network Asia leverages Spotify's Open Access with local payment systems like GCash for their audio drama platform• Japanese podcast consumption differs significantly from Western markets, with YouTube as the top platform for podcast listening• BBC announces "Asia Specific," a new podcast examining global stories through an Asian lensPlus...• Blubrry announces first price increase in 20 years, raising questions about sustainable podcast...
2025-09-051h 24
Podnews Weekly ReviewFull interview: Alex Sanfilippo, from PodMatchAlex Sanfilippo shares how PodMatch is revolutionizing podcast guest booking through an innovative platform that functions like a dating app for interviews. He explains the platform's unique business model and why he believes community building is the future of podcasting.• PodMatch connects podcast hosts and guests while automating administrative functions• The platform charges a small fee to ensure users are serious, creating a "law of buy-in"• Through the Pod Value Initiative, PodMatch has given back nearly $900,000 to podcasters• Each profile doubles as a professional media one-sheet with SEO benefits• Audio content remains powerful because it...
2025-09-0128 min
Creators from TrueFans: Showcasing Independent PodcastingCreative Energy in Independent PodcastingIndependent podcasting is where the industry's creative energy truly thrives, bringing fresh ideas and unique voices to the forefront.The discussion around this energy takes centre stage in our conversation with Frank Racioppi, founder of Ear Worthy – a publication dedicated to championing indie podcasts in an increasingly corporate landscape. Frank shares his fascinating journey from longtime podcast listener to passionate advocate, explaining why he made the deliberate choice to focus on independent creators rather than network shows.'It's at the independent podcasting level that there's the greatest creative energy within the industry,' Frank explains, co...
2025-08-2548 min
Podnews Weekly ReviewFrom Podcast Movement, Dallas TX - and the Wonda of WondercraftThis audio has been rescued from almost inaudible audio thanks to recording using the wrong microphone - this was just on a laptop microphone carried around a loud conference. Good job that Buzzsprout has a tool called Power Clean that fixed much of that for us.We also speak with Oskar Serrander about Wondercraft's new tool, Wonda.Send James & Sam a messageSupport the showConnect With Us: Email: weekly@podnews.net Fediverse: @james@bne.social and @samsethi@podcastindex.social Support us: www.buzzsprout.com/1538779/support Get Podnews...
2025-08-221h 15
Podnews Weekly ReviewFrom Ads to Subscriptions: How Today's Podcasts Actually Make MoneyJames and Sam are away this week, so time for an interview in more detail than we normally would. Norma-Jean Belenky discusses her new podcast PodBiz, which explores the various ways podcasters monetize their content through transparent conversations with industry professionals.• PodBiz aims to answer the question "where's the money in podcasting?" through interviews with experts in advertising, subscriptions, and alternative revenue models• Some independent creators with just 1,200 downloads per episode are making six-figure incomes from their podcasts• Advertising remains strong, but subscription models are gaining significant traction across the industry• Organizations like AIR (Associat...
2025-08-1540 min
Creators from TrueFans: Showcasing Independent PodcastingCrafting Credibility Through PodcastsHow can podcasting help you to establish credibility and craft an authentic personal brand?Our guest podcaster is Christine Gritmon, host of Let's Talk About Brand.After building "a fantastic audience of peers" who weren't hiring her for social media strategy but wanted to develop their own personal brands, Christine pivoted her focus—a decision that transformed her business. With a journalist's curiosity she now delves into the stories behind successful personal brands, particularly fascinated by "the person before the person I see before me today."Christine talks abo...
2025-08-0445 minPodnews Weekly ReviewTurning Podcast IP into Multi-Platform RevenueWe have interviews with James Burtt from the newly-launched Pivot Productions; Liam Heffernan from Mercury Podcast Network who has just announced a new partnership with the Student Radio Association; and founder & CEO Will Malnati of At Will Media on taking IP from podcasts into other platforms.Plus - weekly podcast listening in the US has reached a staggering 773 million hours according to new data from Edison Research. This robust metric provides a more meaningful measurement than percentage reach, showing the growing intensity of podcast consumption while enabling better cross-media comparison.• Audioboom acquires UK podcast company Ad...
2025-07-181h 41
Creators from TrueFans: Showcasing Independent PodcastingTime to PlanHighlighting the ways independent creators can connect with audiences and potentially monetize their work while maintaining creative control, join us this week for inspiration and practical guidance for envisioning – and manifesting – your creative potential over the next decade.In this episode, award-winning podcaster Tricia Duffy reveals how long-term planning can transform your creative life right now.Tricia tells Claire how her podcast, In Ten Years Time: How to Live a Creative Life, grew from personal voice recordings into a research-driven show that's garnered two awards in its first year. She explains her commitment to making crea...
2025-07-0730 min
Creators from TrueFans: Showcasing Independent PodcastingPodcasting PaydayWhat makes a podcast valuable? Is it immediate popularity, or something deeper? "Every podcast you create will exist for many years to come," observes Clayton M. Coke of The Cashflow Show podcast, highlighting the lasting significance of podcasting as a medium that creates permanent records of our conversations and ideas.Clayton reveals how he uses his platform to interview business owners about their successes, failures, and personal interests, but his most compelling point centres on creator compensation – why should podcasters provide their platforms as free promotional vehicles when PR teams are being paid to pitch guests? This co...
2025-06-3043 min
Creators from TrueFans: Showcasing Independent PodcastingVariety and Value within Independent PodcastingThe lived experience of independent podcasters is one of both liberating freedom and unique challenges. How can the TrueFans listening platform address those challenges and help indie creators keep creating?Through an interview with Joana PR Neves, host of Exhibitionistas podcast, and conversations between Sam and Claire, this episode of Creators discusses:The power of podcasting to give voice to independent creators who might otherwise go unheardHow asking for financial support for your podcast can meet listener resistance TrueFans features that help creators earn directly from listeners through streaming paymentsThe challenges of describing visual experiences in a...
2025-06-1649 minPodnews Weekly ReviewSpotify supports Podcasting 2.0! Plus, research into kids podcastsSpotify is supporting the new podcast namespace. Who'd have thought it?!Plus, we speak with Elena Tsakakis and Molly Bloom about kids podcasting, and what they learnt from their latest research.Send James & Sam a messageSupport the showConnect With Us: Email: weekly@podnews.net Fediverse: @james@bne.social and @samsethi@podcastindex.social Support us: www.buzzsprout.com/1538779/support Get Podnews: podnews.net
2025-06-131h 08
Podnews Weekly ReviewAcast Intelligence, and video in open RSSWe speak with John Burgess from Acast, and Gautham Raj Anand from Hubhopper, and look at the week's podcast news.Send James & Sam a messageSupport the showConnect With Us: Email: weekly@podnews.net Fediverse: @james@bne.social and @samsethi@podcastindex.social Support us: www.buzzsprout.com/1538779/support Get Podnews: podnews.net
2025-05-301h 49
Podnews Weekly ReviewBuzzsprout's new tools, and Acast launches talent-voiced adsWe speak with Michael Bayston about Acast's new initiative; plus, Alban Brooke on new tools for Buzzsprout podcasters everywhere - even us!Send James & Sam a messageSupport the showConnect With Us: Email: weekly@podnews.net Fediverse: @james@bne.social and @samsethi@podcastindex.social Support us: www.buzzsprout.com/1538779/support Get Podnews: podnews.net
2025-05-162h 11