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PODCAST

Podnews Weekly Review

James Cridland and Sam Sethi

The last word in podcasting news.Every Friday, James Cridland and Sam Sethi review the week"s top stories from Podnews; and interview some of the biggest names making the news from across the podcast industry.Winner, "Best Podcasting Podcast", 2025 Ear Worthy AwardsSupport the show at https://weekly.podnews.net - or hit the boost button! Sponsored by Buzzsprout: start podcasting - keep podcasting!

news news commentary

All Episodes

83:41

Using AI to give voice to the dead; and Spotify adds...

Podnews Weekly Review ·

2025/10/31

We unpack a bold true crime breakthrough: RNZ uses AI to recreate a deceased inmate’s voice with family consent and full disclosure, elevating the investigation without faking facts. We also dive into video on the TV screen, premium RSS, and why co‑host chemistry beats guest fatigue. • Spotify adds video podcasts to Apple TV • YouTube AI upscales low‑res video and adds QR shopping • RNZ’s NARC uses 11Labs with ethics review and consent • Why AI voice can be more transparent than actors • Fou...

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77:24

You Can’t Milk A Cow And Expect Yogurt, But You Can...

Podnews Weekly Review ·

2025/10/24

We track Edison Research’s sale to SSRS, Spotify’s TV distribution push, and whether video truly grows podcast audiences. We debate Oxford Road’s new ad-performance ranker, membership models that creators can own, and the messy state of podcast standards. • SSRS acquires Edison Research and keeps the team • Edison’s people-based ranker shows stable top shows and fast risers • Spotify expands via Samsung TV Plus and Netflix distribution • Netflix’s background audio and auto limitations challe...

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49:11

Spotflix - is the Spotify/Netflix deal a gamechanger...

Podnews Weekly Review ·

2025/10/16

We break down the Netflix–Spotify pact to move select video podcasts off YouTube, weigh the real winners, and ask whether exclusivity helps or harms creators. We also challenge Apple’s ad‑free push, share data on when people actually listen, and explore practical tools that make podcasts easier to find and love. We'd have had ChadF on this week for an interview, but technology let us down. Sorry. • Why Netflix and Spotify align on video podcasts • What leaving YouTube means for Ringer fans ...

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109:44

The video-first shakeup of podcast hosting,...

Podnews Weekly Review ·

2025/10/10

Flightcast’s Rox Codes joins us to unpack a video-first hosting and growth platform built for YouTube, Spotify, and serious creators, while we challenge inflated web “browser” downloads, pricing resets, and what actually counts as a podcast in a $3B market. We weigh useful AI assistants against synthetic co-hosts, and map the road to practical standards like HLS and Podcasting 2.0. • livewire host-share data showing consolidation and heritage brands sliding • price rises at major hosts and h...

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69:43

Fresh Air's branded podcasts; and Spotify looks to...

Podnews Weekly Review ·

2025/10/03

We 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 featur...

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102:58

What's the deal with Inception Point AI? Plus,...

Podnews Weekly Review ·

2025/09/26

AI is transforming the podcast industry, raising questions about disclosure, quality standards, and audience preferences as companies like Inception Point AI create thousands of AI-generated episodes weekly. • Jeanine Wright from Inception Point AI reveals they produce 3,000 episodes weekly with just eight staff members • Discussion of AI disclosure standards and whether the "person tag" or "disclosure tag" adequately addresses advertiser concerns • Corporate censorship considerations for po...

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74:33

Greg Glenday Reveals How Acast is Betting on...

Podnews Weekly Review ·

2025/09/19

AI-generated content is rapidly flooding the podcast ecosystem, creating tension between innovation and quality standards across the audio landscape. Companies like Inception Point AI are generating thousands of low-quality episodes despite criticism, while YouTube introduces new features that could either revolutionize monetization or exacerbate content pollution problems. • AI content companies defending their output as "art" despite widespread criticism from industry experts • YouTube ann...

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82:26

Remembering Todd Cochrane; and Apple testing new...

Podnews Weekly Review ·

2025/09/12

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...

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84:19

Podcasting in Asia; plus Podhome's new podcast app

Podnews Weekly Review ·

2025/09/05

Jakarta 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 ...

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28:48

Full interview: Alex Sanfilippo, from PodMatch

Podnews Weekly Review ·

2025/09/01

Alex 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...

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85:21

PodMatch, and data about YouTube and Spotify consumption

Podnews Weekly Review ·

2025/08/29

James and Sam examine Spotify's new direct messaging feature for sharing podcast recommendations and how it might impact content discovery. • Spotify releases data showing Gen Z students increase podcast listening at breakfast time when returning to school • Science, business, and technology podcasts see significant growth among younger listeners • Captivate announces Studio feature integrating remote recording capabilities directly into their hosting platform • Apple partners with Tun...

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75:50

From Podcast Movement, Dallas TX - and the Wonda of...

Podnews Weekly Review ·

2025/08/22

This 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 message Support the show Connect With Us: Email: weekly@podnews.net Fediverse: @james@bne.social and @samsethi@podcastindex.social Sup...

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40:22

From Ads to Subscriptions: How Today's Podcasts...

Podnews Weekly Review ·

2025/08/14

James 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 downlo...

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62:45

Amazon restructures Wondery: 110 jobs gone

Podnews Weekly Review ·

2025/08/08

Amazon's restructuring of Wondery signals deeper issues with their podcast strategy as they distribute operations across Audible, creator services, and advertising divisions while losing approximately 110 jobs in the process. • Amazon's track record with podcast acquisitions has been underwhelming, including Art19's low market share and unfulfilled promises for high-profile shows • Dan Granger from Oxford Road suggests the reorganization represents a recalibration toward more integrated audi...

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85:06

Spotify Chasing YouTube While Ads Fall Short - and...

Podnews Weekly Review ·

2025/08/01

James Cridland and Sam Sethi explore Spotify's mixed financial results showing strong overall growth but declining ad revenue, alongside their increasing focus on video podcasts at the expense of audio-only content. • Spotify's ads business struggling despite growth in users and profit • VP of Global Advertising Lee Brown leaving Spotify "by mutual agreement" • Video consumption growing 20 times faster than audio-only on Spotify • 16:9 image formats creating problems for traditional podcast ...

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68:16

Public Broadcasters vs. Open Access: The RTVE...

Podnews Weekly Review ·

2025/07/25

The old guard of media gatekeepers are trying to stay relevant as independent creators flourish across podcasting, video, and beyond. • Spanish broadcaster RTVE blocking Antennapod and other podcast apps while maintaining deals with commercial giants like Apple and Spotify • BBC Sounds closing for non-UK audiences due to music licensing issues • Diary of a CEO reaching 3 million people daily, surpassing major US late-night TV shows • Video podcasts becoming the new basic cable television, wi...

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101:46

Turning Podcast IP into Multi-Platform Revenue

Podnews Weekly Review ·

2025/07/18

We 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 per...

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135:38

Podcast Video Is Complicated But We Can't Surrender...

Podnews Weekly Review ·

2025/07/11

Interviews with the Golden Lobes, Adelicious, and the Podcast Standards Project - all in the chapters! Plus: • NPR adding support for the funding tag across all its shows, enabling direct audience support • Updates to podcast linking services with Nathan Gathright regaining control of Podlink from Spotify • The inaugural Golden Lobes awards celebrating the funniest people, podcasts, and moments in the industry • Cheerful Earful festival expanding globally to New York, London, and Melbourne • ...

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103:05

Spotify's Secret to Higher Podcast Consumption

Podnews Weekly Review ·

2025/06/27

Apple celebrates twenty years of podcasting in the Apple ecosystem - and Jon Savage asks for help with his podcast studio in Cape Town. Send James & Sam a message 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

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93:16

Don't just listen to podcasts - watch them, says...

Podnews Weekly Review ·

2025/06/20

- Podcasting is a mainstream media in Australia, the US and UK with over 50% of people listening to a podcast every month in each country. Our time and attention is limited so what other media is declining? - YouTube is the main access point for news podcasts in the US. - Why are more users willing to pay for ad-free quality digital content (behind paywalls)? What does this mean for the future of advertising if the people who can afford to pay for ad-free content are the same people ...

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