Podnews Weekly Review

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail Sam Sethi talks with Steven Goldstein about Liquid Content - and why our biggest threat is measurement that can't keep up with how the podcast world is changing. Plus... • Spotify memberships pricing tiers badges and email access for creators • why web-based purchasing matters for app store rules and funding links • ad skipping tools and the knock-on effect for podcast advertising • Apple Podcasts positioning HLS ads and the coming f...

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail A personal “podcast robot” that knows what you care about, searches the live stream of new episodes, reads transcripts, and drops surprisingly good recommendations straight into your favourite app sounds like science fiction until you hear Adam Curry walk through what he built. We dig into his Podcast Index Robot, why an MCP server is basically a bridge between AI agents and real podcast data, and how this could finally tackle the podcast discovery pr...

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail James is back from Europe; and we chat about why podcast ad spend is rising. Plus... • Libsyn RSS namespace for ad slot availability and why it feels odd in public feeds • Goalhanger’s newsletter strategy as a membership product and audience data hub • smart TV growth for podcast consumption and why smart speakers still fail discovery • Canadian in car listening data plus listener resistance to AI hosts • AI agents clipping sho...

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail Sam and James talk about a new podcast interview with Inception Point AI; and Sam discusses with Dave Jones of Podcast Index about the future of podcasting. • Patreon removing per creation memberships and what that breaks for seasonal creators • Reddit RSS shutdown, public API restrictions, and the economics of selling data to AI companies • Real-world costs of AI scrapers, bot traffic, and why caching is essential • How Podping replaces constant pol...

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail Sam and James look at Podcast Week, and the highs (and lows) of the week in NYC. Plus, Sam catches up with SupaPass, to learn more about the membership platform. If your podcast app supports it, we're in video this week. BuzzsproutStart podcasting - keep podcasting!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show Connect With Us: Email: weekly@podnews.net...

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail There's a really good reason why this show is just one minute thirty seconds long. Listen to find out! We'll catch you next week. And Happy Birthday, Sam Sethi Support the show Connect With Us: Email: weekly@podnews.netFediverse: @james@bne.social and @samsethi@podcastindex.socialSupport us: www.buzzsprout.com/1538779/supportGet Podnews: podnews.net

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail We talk with the founders of Everywhere about building a sales and monetisation layer for creators whose audiences now span podcasts, YouTube, social, and live. We also scan the week’s podcast industry moves, from AI production tools and shifting download trends to Apple updates, app features, awards, and upcoming events. • Why Everywhere forms and what it tries to fix for creators and brands • How cross-platform campaigns work without dr...

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail James is in Jakarta - Sam is in the UK. Below, what's in the show (courtesy of Buzzsprout's AI feature); we use chapters to let you skip to wherever you want. We talk with Acast CEO Greg Glenday and Backyard Ventures CEO Matt Cisneros about why the acquisition is about culture and building faster, not just inventory, and how Acast plans to stay focused while the industry shifts under its feet. We also unpack YouTube shopping, inflated play metrics, R...

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail James and Sam look into this week's podcasting news, including the show pulled by YouTube. • YouTube removing a top podcast with no warning, then reinstating it • The risk of building a show on third-party platforms and automated enforcement • Why we think a podcast needs an RSS feed to be a podcast • YouTube reportedly paying creators to avoid Netflix and the coercion angle • Newsletters as the best real estate in podcasting...

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail James is joined this week by Liam Heffernan from Mercury Podcasts, while Sam gets wet walking around Ireland. We weigh how platform decisions around ads, metrics, and video can quietly reshape podcast monetization, especially for smaller independent creators. We also zoom out to what these changes mean for trust in reporting, discoverability, and the future of open podcasting. • Mercury Podcasts’ mission to support independent shows ready to level up ...

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail We speak with Ben and Alberto from RSS.com on their new video podcast plan. Plus, Acast is buying Backyard Ventures: why? • RSS.com MAX plan for Apple HLS video and 70% revenue share • PAID meaning programmatic ads inserted dynamically • Interstitial ad markers on Apple versus baked ads for other apps • Alternate enclosure as a Podcasting 2.0 path to keep RSS open • Apple’s ad serving fee question and the limits of contract ...

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail We talk with Spotify’s first Equal Podcast Ambassador, Morgan Absher, about building Two Hot Takes into a video-first community and what real industry support for women creators should look like. Then we dig into Spotify’s financials and a controversial “Skip Ahead” test that could change how podcast ads are heard, measured, and trusted; and learn more about Buzzsprout's enhanced video offering • Spotify Equal expands from music into podcasting with ...

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail We chat with Andy Maxwell from EarMax Media about the new podcast-first ad agency, and Giles Gear from Cheerful Earful about the funniest podcast festival in the world. Also: we challenge the idea that creators are being “ripped off” and dig into what actually drives revenue in podcasting: sales, relevance, and trust. We also pull apart the AMP Accords, Apple’s confusing analytics, and the rising costs and trade-offs of video podcasting. • creator mon...

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail We speak with Dan Granger and Giles Martin from Oxford Road, about the new AMP Accords. Is this a new start for podcast measurement? And, can we get podcast apps into the revenue ecosystem? Plus, Edison Research on their recent reports. Also hear: • why downloads fail as a reliable metric for advertisers and creators • the AMP Accord goal of standard definitions across podcast audio and video • the shorthand test for a podcast: “If it works with you...

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail This week, James and Sam talk with Bryan Barletta of Podcast Movement, and Martin Bojtos of Podmasters. Plus, we look at the week's podcasting news, including: • Podcast Movement’s New York Audio Week plan, five-day structure and $199 creator ticket strategy • Public session voting balanced by a selection committee to avoid a popularity contest • Sounds Profitable’s role as connective tissue, partner perks, events access and comms support • Measuremen...

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail Sam's back - he talks with Ryan Williams about enhanced metadata for podcasting. Buzzsprout's AI also tells us that: We dig into the stories behind this week’s podcasting numbers, from Overcast’s sudden rise to the growing sense that Apple Podcasts is no longer the default starting point for new listeners. We also go deep on interactive transcripts and podcast annotations with Ryan Williams, plus what OpenUSD could mean for micropayments and t...

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail We're co-hosted by Elsie Escobar today, while Sam is away. Here's more about Elsie: * The E League Mentorship: https://elsie.link/eleague-podnews * Multimodalee https://elsie.link/mm-podnews * The Slight Spiral Dispatch: https://elsie.link/ssd-podnews Today, we cover monetization workflows, the real trade-offs of video, and why captions and human trust still matter even as AI tooling spreads. Buzzsprout's Co-Host AI feature tells us we spoke about:...

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail (This uses Buzzsprout's CoHost AI summary. Buzzsprout is our sponsor.) We question whether Netflix can make podcasts work without chasing YouTube’s time-spent game, and we map where premium video fits in a world built on niche audio. We also dig into ad overload, new measurement fights, identity-driven targeting, and why immersive formats like Dolby Atmos could change what “good” sounds like. • Netflix podcast strategy and why profitability be...

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail Losh Moodaley's article: https://podnews.net/article/beyond-the-cpm-podcast-advertising We test whether a 30-second threshold actually changes podcast stats, then pull apart why the definition of a “play” gets slippery once streaming, caching, and platform politics enter the mix. We also challenge the idea that better measurement automatically leads to better creator income, with practical advice for independents and nonprofits trying to build...

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail We discover how the Locked On Podcast Network got going, and dive into more details about the new YouGov report showing how listeners consume podcast ads. Plus, plenty more. Support the show Connect With Us: Email: weekly@podnews.netFediverse: @james@bne.social and @samsethi@podcastindex.socialSupport us: www.buzzsprout.com/1538779/supportGet Podnews: podnews.net

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail Sam and James chat with Brian Conlan and Mark Asquith about Captivate and DAX US working together to monetize more podcasts; and to Dino Sofos about this year's Crossed Wires festival in Sheffield. Support the show Connect With Us: Email: weekly@podnews.netFediverse: @james@bne.social and @samsethi@podcastindex.socialSupport us: www.buzzsprout.com/1538779/supportGet Podnews: podnews.net

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail We pick apart Spotify’s investor-day announcements and ask what its AI-first roadmap means for podcast creators, monetisation, and trust. We also talk to the co-founders of BIPOC Podcast Creators about why the community is closing and what the industry loses when creator support dries up. • Spotify’s “time well spent” metric and what it tries to reframe • The “500 million video podcast” claim and why measurement matters • Real-time ...

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail We chat with Rox Codes from Flightcast, talk about the 'cavalcade of crap' from AI, and spill all the tea on a successful show. Support the show Connect With Us: Email: weekly@podnews.netFediverse: @james@bne.social and @samsethi@podcastindex.socialSupport us: www.buzzsprout.com/1538779/supportGet Podnews: podnews.net

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail Amazon Music joins the video podcast race with HLS and RSS alternate enclosure support. Yay! Plus, we speak with PodVision about their successful indie show; and the developer of the UpNext app. • Amazon Music video podcasts rollout in the US and what “open RSS” support really implies • Apple’s private API versus alternate enclosure and the moderation and ad tech trade-offs • Acast’s “first to monetise” claim plus how hosts are respondin...

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail Apple Podcasts video moves from theory to real-world distribution, and we pressure-test what HLS streaming changes for pricing, analytics, approvals, and the open RSS ecosystem. We also weigh platform convenience against creator freedom, from Spotify’s video lock-in warnings to a vision for open music distribution and premium RSS. • Buzzsprout’s Apple Podcasts video rollout and why HLS matters for typical podcasters. We interview Alban Brooke.&...

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail Are we sinking under a sea of AI slop? How do we fix it? Sam talks with Alberto Betella to find out. • iHeartMedia and SiriusXM merger chatter and what it could mean for shareholders • Directory spam stats including AI slopcasts and SEO bait shows • Where responsibility sits across podcast hosts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and the Podcast Index • Alberto Batella on a taxonomy for AI podcasts and why health misinformation raises the sta...

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail Spotify’s editorial lead explains how promotion works when there is no submission form and why retention plus clarity beat cleverness. We also debate video’s role in discovery, dig into new metrics and business moves across YouTube, Netflix, and Acast, and share listener questions, boosts, and platform updates. Support the show Connect With Us: Email: weekly@podnews.netFediverse: @james@bne.social and @samsethi@podcastindex.socialSupport us: w...

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail AI is now publishing podcasts at a pace that can outstrip humans, and we feel the knock-on effects in discovery, trust, and monetisation. We trace how copycats and AI slop farms exploit platform incentives, then map the few practical levers creators and companies can pull right now. • more AI-generated podcast launches than human launches on some days, and what that signals for the podcast industry • a copycat studio mimicking titles and artwork to s...

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail We track the money moving into paid podcast subscriptions as Patreon reports record creator earnings, then follow the ripple effects across platforms, hosting, and video. Along the way we get the inside story on Podcast Movement New York City, plus the new tools and trends reshaping discovery, analytics, and audience feedback. • Patreon’s $629M podcaster earnings and what it signals • Subscription revenue as a hedge against ad downturns • Patreon dis...

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail Please visit podnews.net/reportcard and fill out the questionnaire! We get into the real fight over podcast transcripts: where they should live, how they should be formatted, and why “one transcript everywhere” beats a pile of app-only versions. Then we zoom out to the bigger platform shift: all-in-one creator stacks, new monetisation options, Spotify’s latest ad experiments, and what advertisers actually want when they ask for ROI. • Buzzsprout roll...

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail Why does James sound so different in the intro? Because he's standing in Hong Kong airport waiting to get onto an aeroplane, that's why. This week: Spotify quietly trims its podcast team while Apple pushes HLS video into Apple Podcasts, forcing hosts and creators to rethink what “open” distribution means. We also dig into transcripts as a baseline accessibility feature and test-drive the next wave of AI tools that curate listening and automate publis...

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail Apple’s push for HLS video in Apple Podcasts sparks a hard look at hosting costs, creator economics, and what “video podcasting” will really mean once pricing lands. We also dig into a major investigative show’s comeback story and the growing wave of tools aimed at helping independent podcasters grow without giving up ownership. • Apple Podcasts HLS video partner expansion and what it unlocks • Why video delivery can cost far more than audio&nb...

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail We 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 i...

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail Apple’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...

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail We break down Apple’s video podcast rollout, why HLS matters for reliability, and what ad skipping really looks like. Then Supercast’s CEO shares how subscriptions scale, followed by a compelling case for narrative audio over flat studio video. • HLS architecture with separate audio rendition and why the mix must be broadcast‑ready • What Apple will and won’t enforce on ad skipping and why shorter breaks retain better • Frame rates, resolutions, and ...

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail Apple turns on HLS video in Apple Podcasts and rewrites the business rules while keeping files with hosts. We unpack the listener experience, creator workflows, dynamic ads, costs, open standards, and what Spotify and YouTube might do next, with insights from Justin Jackson. • HLS explained and why it matters for control • What listeners get on iOS and when it ships • MP4 feeds versus HLS delivery trade-offs • Supported hosts at launch and why ad-tec...

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail (This audio contains a fix for part of Tony's audio) (These show notes are using Buzzsprout's CoHost tool. Buzzsprout are our sponsor and very good at podcast hosting and all that.) We dig into YouTube’s rare revenue reveal, Spotify’s mixed ad picture, and why premium is rising fast. Tony Doe joins live from Lagos to unpack Nigeria’s podcast boom and what creators can learn. • Captivate hires Rob Walsh and Elsie Escobar for monetisation and creator ...

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail Sam and James talk with Liam Heffernan of Mercury; and cover all the latest news of the week. • Sony’s AI character podcasts and voice licensing risks • Video discovery leading to audio loyalty and why it matters • IAB’s AI scraping proposal and good bot vs bad bot • Apple’s downloads for transcripts and chapters and host costs • Voice Regen vs Auphonic and Buzzsprout Magic Mastering • YouTube’s AI slop problem and weak enforcement • Apple buying QAI...

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail We dig into Goalhanger’s funding, Wondercraft’s AI video workflows, music on open RSS with sats, TrueFans’ metrics-first hosting, and the growing gap between downloads and watch time. • Goalhanger’s community growth strategy with TCG investment • Shift from ad revenue to events, merch and TV formats • Community portals vs YouTube and Spotify constraints • Wondercraft’s audio-to-video workflows and enterprise use • Visualizing podcasts, editable AI ti...

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail Sam has big news. Plus... (this description uses Buzzsprout's AI tool): We unpack the money and mechanics behind paid memberships, how platforms are reshaping podcast reach, and why quality and openness still matter. From Podfest honours to car dashboard wars, we map the shifting ground and share what creators should do next. • Goalhanger’s subscription economics and ad trade offs • Live festivals, community design and member retention • YouTube’s A...

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail Normally it's a nice quiet start to the year, but not this year! Sam and James look at the news we've already had so far this year. So much news, no tech stuff this week - that returns next week, along with your hosts being properly dressed. • iHeartRadio adds OpenRSS video and alternate enclosures • Netflix exclusivity versus open distribution trade-offs • Deloitte’s $5bn forecast and attention data contradictions • Spotify’s dynamic video sponsorshi...

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail We share five predictions each for 2026, from defining what a podcast is to why time spent listening will replace reach as the industry’s favorite metric. We weigh video’s upside against its risks for audio, call out AI slop, and back open RSS as the backbone of growth. We're back next week with our usual show. Please support us at weekly.podnews.net and click the support button Start podcasting, keep podcasting with Buzzsprout.com Support the show ...

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail James and Sam look back on our predictions for what 2025 would be like - and whether we got them right. Plus, our lowlights and highlights of the year. Support the show Connect With Us: Email: weekly@podnews.netFediverse: @james@bne.social and @samsethi@podcastindex.socialSupport us: www.buzzsprout.com/1538779/supportGet Podnews: podnews.net

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail What 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. Support the show Connect With Us: Email: w...

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail We 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 • F...

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail (This is made with AI from our sponsor, Buzzsprout) We break down the Recap Apocalypse across Spotify, YouTube, Apple, and Amazon, then dig into craft with Brad Mielke on how Start Here reached 2,000 episodes by prioritising clarity, titles that pull, and audio-first production. Data meets discipline and the result is steady growth without burnout. • Spotify’s Creator Wrapped as a real growth tool • YouTube’s US-only charts and watch-time logic • Ap...

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail (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 lis...

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail Support the show Connect With Us: Email: weekly@podnews.netFediverse: @james@bne.social and @samsethi@podcastindex.socialSupport us: www.buzzsprout.com/1538779/supportGet Podnews: podnews.net

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail We break down TikTok’s podcast network with iHeart, Netflix’s audio push, and whether video is worth the cost, then dig into research on clips, companion podcasts, and the ad shift between radio and on‑demand. Sari Azut joins to show how a screenshot becomes a shareable clip and useful attention data. • TikTok’s entry into podcasting and censorship concerns • iHeart’s finances, radio softness, and podcast growth • E‑commerce links, music discovery, a...

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail (This is an AI description from Buzzsprout's Cohost) We test Netflix’s “video podcast” land grab, then show why Apple’s AI chapters and Timed Links are the practical upgrade creators needed. DAX’s Brian Conlan joins to explain why audio’s problem is ROAS, not downloads, and how better measurement unlocks bigger budgets. • Netflix licensing moves and YouTube exclusivity trade-offs • Why this is cheap TV, not podcasting, and why that matters • Audio v...