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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

113:45

2025's highlights, 2026 predictions from Spotify,...

Podnews Weekly Review ·

2025/12/19

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. Send James & Sam a message How Hacks HappenHacks, scams, cyber crimes, and other shena...

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78:51

Better podcast analytics with PodAnalyst, plus TikTok...

Podnews Weekly Review ·

2025/12/13

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 • Flight Studio’s talent strategy versus bran...

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84:51

How A Daily News Podcast Hit 2,000 Episodes And What...

Podnews Weekly Review ·

2025/12/05

(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 Replay and Amazon Delivered compared •...

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95:39

Apple Adds AI Chapters And Timed Links; and an...

Podnews Weekly Review ·

2025/11/07

(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 vs video consumption and where value really...

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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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268 results

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