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.

Support the show at https://weekly.podnews.net - or hit the boost button! Sponsored by Buzzsprout: start podcasting - keep podcasting!

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Our Editor's Take

The Podnews Weekly Review is a podcast about podcasts! It's for both podcast listeners and industry professionals. Host James Cridland has a passion for the world of podcasting. James is a writer, consultant, and speaker based in Australia. He creates a weekly newsletter sharing the latest podcast news. This show is his way of adding more detail to each story.

Joining James as cohost and producer on the Podnews Weekly Review is Sam Sethi, based in the UK. Sam shares James' passion for podcasting and has created a podcast app called PodFans. It allows listeners to choose how much they want to pay based on how much they like the content.

James and Sam share weekly episodes analyzing the latest podcast news. Conversations can be on anything from the financials of podcast platforms to analytics. How helpful is the Edison Podcast Ranker? What do they think about the fragmentation of Android as a podcast platform? What are the latest frustrations over RSS feeds?

The passionate duo share important listener habits and debate critical questions. One recurring topic concerns the impact of AI on the future of podcasting. James and Sam explore new tools, such as Cohost AI, which they use to create episode descriptions. They also investigate trends in other areas, such as the influence of video and platforms like Netflix. The show is a great way of staying informed about the podcasting industry.

Special guests and industry experts join the team throughout the series. John W. Gibbons, interim CEO of Libsyn, discusses innovation and financial strategy. Naomi Mellor, the founder of the International Women's Podcast Awards ,shares her thoughts. She started the awards as she saw a need to highlight female talent within the industry. Skye Pillsbury, editor of The Squeeze, explains a new ad analytics platform. Pod Culture editor Nick Hilton discusses the value of host-read advertising.

The Podnews Weekly Review is an analytical update on all the latest podcasting news with guest experts for extra insight. Listeners may feel as if they have an inside view of the podcasting world here.

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The Podnews Weekly Review - the last word in podcast news

The Podnews Weekly Review - the last word in podcast news

Send James & Sam a messageEvery week, the Podnews Weekly Review is the last word in podcasting news - with a look back at the most important news in podcasting, and interviews with the people that matter.Hear from James Cridland, the Editor of Podnews; Sam Sethi, the CEO of Podfans; and interviews with the people that matter.The Podnews Weekly Review. With Buzzsprout - podcast hosting made easy.Support 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 Full interviews at https://extra.podnews.net/

Episodes

Lemonada Media, secureRSS, Podthon and a new Podcasting 2.0 podcast

Lemonada Media, secureRSS, Podthon and a new Podcasting 2.0 podcast

Send James & Sam a messageThis week, we've an interview with Jessica Cordova Cramer from Lemonada Media, who shares insights about working with Meghan Markle and David Duchovny. She reveals how their shows have exceeded expectations, with Duchovny's podcast expanding from 20 planned episodes to 31 due to its success, and discusses the company's strategy for selecting talent who have a clear purpose for their podcasts.A new approach to podcast comments is proposed, using existing RSS technology. James and Sam explain how this could simplify the process for both developers and users, while allowing podcasters to maintain control over their comment sections and aggregate feedback from multiple platforms.We also hear about Podthon, secure RSS, and Claire Waite Brown who has produced a new show explaining Podcasting 2.0.Support 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 Full interviews at https://extra.podnews.net/

Acast's Wonder Media Network acquisition; the Podcast Hall of Fame, and Podgagement

Acast's Wonder Media Network acquisition; the Podcast Hall of Fame, and Podgagement

Send James & Sam a messageAcast's acquisition of Wonder Media Network for $7.8 million. Ross Adams and Shira Atkins discus how this strategic move enhances Acast's creative capabilities and expands their presence in the US market, while also revealing plans for video content and live streaming initiatives in 2025.The Podcast Hall of Fame's evolution, with chairperson Rob Greenlee explaining efforts to transform it from a US-centric institution into a truly global recognition platform. The discussion highlights challenges in diversifying nominations and voters to better represent international podcast pioneers.Daniel J Lewis shares insights about Podgagement, a platform designed to replace Chartable's analytics features, revealing that he has been tracking 34,000 podcast charts hourly for five years across multiple regions and genres. The tool offers unique features for podcasters to monitor their rankings and engage with their audience through voice messages and feedback systems.Support 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 Full interviews at https://extra.podnews.net/

Daniel Ek's view of podcast ads; plus all the latest podcasting news

Daniel Ek's view of podcast ads; plus all the latest podcasting news

Send James & Sam a messageWe listen to a recent interview with Daniel Ek; and discuss video on open RSS and why it's not, really, the best solution.See our Spotify Wrapped data: https://wrappedforcreators.byspotify.com/en/?id=7fa285233876bf77d3224c08aa829c06fb31f084c123746f3a1b4c13390453be#!/1Me and my Tiny Human, from PWR Supporter Rachel Corbett, is here: https://podnews.net/podcast/iuvegThe Colin and Samir Show, which we quote from, is here: https://podnews.net/podcast/i498jWe support chapters!Support us here: https://weekly.podnews.net/Support 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 Full interviews at https://extra.podnews.net/

Changes to streaming payments, Nick Dunkerley on Hindenburg, Jon Thoday from Avalon

Changes to streaming payments, Nick Dunkerley on Hindenburg, Jon Thoday from Avalon

Send James & Sam a messagea) a lot of impenetrable technical stuff about how streaming payments will change for those of us using "streaming sats" or "boosts".b) Nick Dunkerley from Hindenburg on a year of Hindenburg Pro 2.c) Jon Thoday from Avalon on how his talent management company sees podcastingWe have chapters! Use them if impenetrable technical stuff is not your thing!Support 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 Full interviews at https://extra.podnews.net/

Amazon Music's Audible move; Neil Mody from Headliner, and Alberto Betella from RSS.com

Amazon Music's Audible move; Neil Mody from Headliner, and Alberto Betella from RSS.com

Send James & Sam a messageCan Amazon Music's latest move to integrate Audible shake up the streaming landscape? We explore this strategy offering subscribers in the US, UK, and Canada a free Audible title each month and ponder if this could elevate Amazon Music's stance amidst stiff competition.Gain insights from Neil Mody, CEO of Headliner, as he reveals how innovative tools are shaping the podcasting world. Learn from Alberto Betella about RSS.com's new GOST.ai tool.And James goes off on one about whether we should welcome YouTube or, instead, recognise it as a threat.Support 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 Full interviews at https://extra.podnews.net/

Spotify's Now Playing; plus, Spirit Studios' Matt Campion on content creation

Spotify's Now Playing; plus, Spirit Studios' Matt Campion on content creation

Send James & Sam a messageIn this episode, James Cridland reports from West Hollywood about Spotify's major "Now Playing" event, where the company announced significant changes including rebranding Spotify for Podcasters to Spotify for Creators. The platform unveiled a new partner program allowing creators to earn money from both audio and video content, with specific eligibility requirements that appear more stringent than YouTube's criteria.The show features an insightful interview with Matt Campion from Spirit Studios about their IP 360 strategy, which focuses on creating multi-platform content across podcasting, video, and television. Campion discusses how the industry's shift away from traditional TV commissioning has led them to focus on building digital-first projects that can later be developed into data-led TV series.The hosts also explore Samsung's decision to shut down its podcast app, Chris Wallace's departure from CNN to pursue opportunities in streaming and podcasting, and interesting developments in podcast technology, including new tools for audience surveys and changes in how platforms label the subscribe/follow button. The episode concludes with a discussion about the shifting social media landscape as creators move away from Twitter/X toward platforms like Bluesky and Mastodon.Support 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 Full interviews at https://extra.podnews.net/

Mike Parkinson and Jamie Anderson - podcasts with AI voices

Mike Parkinson and Jamie Anderson - podcasts with AI voices

Send James & Sam a messageFull interviews with Justin Jackson, Mike Parkinson and Jamie Anderson are over at https://extra.podnews.net - what you hear here is about ten minutes of a 30+ minute interview.We speak to Jamie Anderson and Mike Parkinson about "Virtually Parkinson", the new podcast hosted by an AI Sir Michael Parkinson.And, Justin Jackson, from Transistor.NB: We haven't uploaded a transcript this week, because transcription tools appear to have replaced "Parky" with a racial slur, and we don't trust the tool enough to allow it to produce a transcript this time. (Apple Podcasts users - you get whatever Apple has created).Support 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 Full interviews at https://extra.podnews.net/

Jamie East on the Daily Mail's Podcast Success; plus the Independent Podcast Awards winners

Jamie East on the Daily Mail's Podcast Success; plus the Independent Podcast Awards winners

Send James & Sam a messageWe chat with Jamie East about the Daily Mail's podcasts, and the company's expansion into Europe; and with the winner of the Independent Podcast Awards, It's A Continent.https://podnews.net/podcast/i9e1mSupport 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 Full interviews at https://extra.podnews.net/

Jack Sylvester on Diary of a CEO; and Flight Studio's podcast innovations

Jack Sylvester on Diary of a CEO; and Flight Studio's podcast innovations

Send James & Sam a messageA special episode, with a long-form interview with Diary of a CEO's Jack Sylvester.Find out how the podcast works; what the future is for Flight Studio and Steven Bartlett's new companies, and plenty more.We're back with our usual show next week!Support 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 Full interviews at https://extra.podnews.net/

Oscar Merry on Fountain's Latest Update; plus Spotify's Audiobook Expansion

Oscar Merry on Fountain's Latest Update; plus Spotify's Audiobook Expansion

Send James & Sam a messageWe look at the new Fountain build, and wonder what This American Life is doingSupport 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 Full interviews at https://extra.podnews.net/

YouTube’s Sandy Wilheim; The Ambies and South Africa

YouTube’s Sandy Wilheim; The Ambies and South Africa

Send James & Sam a messageWe chat with Sandy Wilheim from YouTube; Michele Cobb from The Ambies; and Paolo Diaz about podcasting in South Africa.Support 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 Full interviews at https://extra.podnews.net/

Spotify's Maya Prohovnik; plus Ross Adams from Acast

Spotify's Maya Prohovnik; plus Ross Adams from Acast

Send James & Sam a messageThe Acast study: https://podnews.net/press-release/consumerismRead Podnews for the full Spotify interview: https://podnews.net/Support 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 Full interviews at https://extra.podnews.net/

Spotify closes Chartable; and Mark Asquith on Captivate's new Spark AI

Spotify closes Chartable; and Mark Asquith on Captivate's new Spark AI

Send James & Sam a messageWe chat with Mark about Captivate's Spark AI; discuss all that's new about Spotify; and the RODECaster Video.Support 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 Full interviews at https://extra.podnews.net/

Carl Fridsjö from Podspace; and adventures in AI

Carl Fridsjö from Podspace; and adventures in AI

Send James & Sam a messageWe interview Carl Fridsjö from Podspace, and learn about the company from Sweden.Plus - there are lots of exciting things going on with AI. We look at some of those, too!Support 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 Full interviews at https://extra.podnews.net/

Steve Pratt's Insights on Attention Marketing, plus Buzzsprout's new websites

Steve Pratt's Insights on Attention Marketing, plus Buzzsprout's new websites

Send James & Sam a messageJames Cridland and Sam Sethi discuss various topics related to podcasting, including new features from Buzzsprout, the importance of attention in the digital age, and the shift towards video content. The episode also includes an interview with Steve Pratt, author of the book "Earn It: Unconventional Strategies for Brave Marketers." Pratt discusses the importance of creating valuable content to earn attention and provides examples of companies that have successfully done so. The hosts also discuss the challenges and opportunities presented by the increasing use of video in podcasting.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 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 Full interviews at https://extra.podnews.net/

PodFund for Podcast 2.0; AI in Podcasting; and the Castro app

PodFund for Podcast 2.0; AI in Podcasting; and the Castro app

Send James & Sam a messageWe chat with Mike Russell from Music Radio Creative; Dustin Bluck from Castro; and Russell Harrower from PodToo.Support 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 Full interviews at https://extra.podnews.net/

Wondery's New Heights Acquisition; and Mignon Fogarty's 18th year in podcasting

Wondery's New Heights Acquisition; and Mignon Fogarty's 18th year in podcasting

Send James & Sam a messageWondery has bought New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce. Sam and James look at the deal and wonder how much of it is Taylor Swift related... plus we hear from someone celebrating her 18th year in podcasting: Grammar Girl's Mignon Fogarty. Find out how podcasting has changed and whether video is a good thing really.Support 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 Full interviews at https://extra.podnews.net/

Apple's web app - from Podcast Movement

Apple's web app - from Podcast Movement

Send James & Sam a messageJames wanders about at Podcast Movement while chatting with Sam about the latest podcasting news. Support 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 Full interviews at https://extra.podnews.net/

Bumper's dashboard; Apple's 30%; PodEngine.ai

Bumper's dashboard; Apple's 30%; PodEngine.ai

Send James & Sam a messageWe chat with Dan Misener from Bumper about the new Bumper Dashboard and a different way to measure your podcast success.And with Joe Tannorella from Pod Engine, about his new podcast tool.Support 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 Full interviews at https://extra.podnews.net/

Wondercraft's ad studio; NFC Podcast Beacons; Podcast Discovery's virtual 3D studio

Wondercraft's ad studio; NFC Podcast Beacons; Podcast Discovery's virtual 3D studio

Send James & Sam a messageWe hear from Oskar Serrander, CEO of Wondercraft, about their new AI studio that promises to revolutionise ad production. Plus, we explore the significant leadership change at Libsyn and the sale of Pair Networks.We introduce Podcast Discovery's virtual studio, enhancing video quality with professional setups and 3D modeled backgrounds, thereby increasing the chances of your podcast clips going viral. We chat with Josh Divney.And we learn about the NFC-enabled podcast beacon from Custom Podcast Solutions, with Mathew Passy.Support 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 Full interviews at https://extra.podnews.net/