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 beats time sp...
Jun 26, 2026•1 hr 21 min•Season 4Ep. 26
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 trust, out...
Jun 19, 2026•1 hr 34 min•Season 4Ep. 25
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.net Fediverse: @james@bne.social and @samsethi@podcastindex.social Support us: www.buzzsprout.com/1538779/support Get Podnews: podnews.net...
Jun 12, 2026•1 hr 37 min•Season 4Ep. 24
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.net Fediverse: @james@bne.social and @samsethi@podcastindex.social Support us: www.buzzsprout.com/1538779/support Get Podnews: podnews.net...
Jun 05, 2026•2 hr•Season 4Ep. 23
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 podcast Q&A on Spo...
May 29, 2026•1 hr 36 min•Season 4Ep. 22
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.net Fediverse: @james@bne.social and @samsethi@podcastindex.social Support us: www.buzzsprout.com/1538779/support Get Podnews: podnews.net...
May 21, 2026•51 min•Season 4Ep. 21
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 responding to Apple’s appr...
May 15, 2026•1 hr 39 min•Season 4Ep. 20
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. • Captivat...
May 08, 2026•1 hr 58 min•Season 4Ep. 19
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 stakes • Why RSS feed AI ...
May 01, 2026•1 hr 35 min•Season 4Ep. 18
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.net Fediverse: @james@bne.social and @samsethi@podcastindex.social Support us: www.buzzsp...
Apr 24, 2026•1 hr 30 min•Season 4Ep. 17
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 sipho...
Apr 17, 2026•1 hr 29 min•Season 4Ep. 16
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 discove...
Apr 10, 2026•1 hr 37 min•Season 4Ep. 15
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 rolling ...
Apr 03, 2026•1 hr 33 min•Season 4Ep. 14
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 publishing...
Mar 27, 2026•1 hr 32 min•Season 4Ep. 13
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 • Break-even...
Mar 20, 2026•1 hr 24 min•Season 4Ep. 12
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 insertion across Europ...
Mar 13, 2026•1 hr 38 min•Season 4Ep. 11
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 vs o...
Mar 06, 2026•1 hr 39 min•Season 4Ep. 10
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 a no...
Feb 27, 2026•2 hr 10 min•Season 4Ep. 9
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-tech dr...
Feb 20, 2026•2 hr 35 min•Season 4Ep. 8
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 commu...
Feb 13, 2026•1 hr 14 min•Season 4Ep. 7
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 and...
Feb 06, 2026•1 hr 32 min•Season 4Ep. 6
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 timeli...
Jan 30, 2026•1 hr 34 min•Season 4Ep. 5
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 AI sta...
Jan 23, 2026•1 hr 35 min•Season 4Ep. 4
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 sponsorships ...
Jan 16, 2026•1 hr 8 min•Season 4Ep. 3
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 Conne...
Jan 09, 2026•48 min•Season 4Ep. 2
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.net Fediverse: @james@bne.social and @samsethi@podcastindex.social Support us: www.buzzsprout.com/1538779/support Get Podnews: podnews.net...
Jan 02, 2026•1 hr 7 min•Season 4Ep. 1
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: weekly@pod...
Dec 19, 2025•1 hr 53 min•Season 3Ep. 47
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 • Fligh...
Dec 13, 2025•1 hr 19 min•Season 3Ep. 46
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 • Apple R...
Dec 05, 2025•1 hr 25 min•Season 3Ep. 45
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 listener...
Nov 28, 2025•1 hr 16 min•Season 3Ep. 44
