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  • What Is New Media Now vs Podcasting? | Ashley Christenson / @Ashni #665

    What Is New Media Now vs Podcasting? | Ashley Christenson / @Ashni #665
    May 31 2026
    In episode 665 of the New Media Show, hosted by 2017 Podcast Hall of Famer Rob Greenlee, Rob talks with Ashley Christenson, also known as Ashni, for a deep conversation about one of the most important questions facing podcasting, streaming, creator media, startups, and traditional media right now: What does “New Media” actually mean today? The term “New Media” has been around since the late 1990s, but its meaning is shifting again. What once described digital media outside traditional broadcast and print is now being used by creators, VCs, startups, streaming strategists, AI companies, and professional communities to refer to something more specific: creator-led media that builds trust, influence, industry position, and direct audience relationships. Ashley brings a unique perspective from 13 years in online media, Twitch streaming, YouTube education, startup marketing, community building, and creator strategy. She explains that she sees the creator economy as building an audience as the asset, whereas the emerging version of New Media is more about building status and position within an industry conversation. In her view, the key difference is not simply between consumer and professional audiences, but about what the media operation is designed to build and protect. Rob brings the longer history of podcasting and digital media into the discussion, asking whether podcasting was one of the first major expressions of New Media and whether it now sits within a much larger creator-led ecosystem. The conversation explores how podcasting, YouTube, streaming video, newsletters, live shows, X, AI-generated content, and Apple Podcasts’ move toward HLS video streaming are all blurring the old lines between podcasting, creator media, and professional media. A major theme in this episode is whether podcasting is still its own category or has become a powerful format within the broader New Media industry. Rob argues that the word “podcast” is increasingly defined by audiences and platforms, while creators may need to think more broadly as show builders, media operators, and participants in the creator economy. Ashley and Rob also explore how X is becoming a real-time professional media layer, why founders, investors, executives, and AI builders are returning to the platform, and why companies are experimenting with live streaming, clipping, launch videos, short-form content, and creator-style formats to reach professional audiences. The episode also moves into AI-generated media, human-hosted content, AI clones, disclosure, and trust. Rob argues that human-created and AI-created content may both need clear labeling, while Ashley points out that long-form podcasts may remain more defensible because listeners often build real relationships with hosts over time. This conversation lands on a bigger media reality: New Media is no longer just a technology term. It is becoming a business category, a creator category, a trust category, and a professional influence category. Podcasting helped build the foundation, but the next version of New Media is broader, more video-driven, more AI-assisted, more platform-diverse, and more dependent on trust than ever before. Key Topics: What “New Media” means in 2026Creator economy vs. New MediaAudience as an asset vs. status as an assetWhy podcasting helped define early New MediaWhether podcasters should now think more like creators and show buildersApple Podcasts HLS video and the return of video podcastingYouTube, Spotify, X, and the platform shift around showsWhy VCs and startups are using the term New MediaX is a professional media and live content platformTraditional media is trying to become more internet-nativeAI-generated podcasts, AI clones, and synthetic mediaHuman-hosted content, disclosure, and audience trustWhy long-form podcasts may remain defensible in the AI era Chapter Markers: 00:00 Cold Open and Welcome 00:32 What Does New Media Mean 02:08 Podcasting Meets Multi Format 03:14 Meet Rob Greenlee 04:01 Introducing Ashley Christensen 04:53 Ashley’s Creator Economy Journey 08:26 AI Definitions of New Media 12:35 Creator Economy vs New Media 16:29 The Kill Switch Test 21:38 Is VC Rebranding New Media 24:10 Niche Status Media Examples 31:55 Traditional Media Goes Internet Native 34:59 Podcasting Identity and Convergence 41:35 Creator as a Catch-All Term 43:56 Naming New Media 46:11 Podcast Term Debate 51:02 X Shapes Media 55:35 X Video Creator Push 01:00:51 Twitter Podcast Roots 01:04:38 AI Flooding Podcasts 01:07:48 Human Trust Labels 01:11:34 Clones and Disclosure 01:17:49 Trust Factor Wrap 01:18:19 Closing and Where to Follow Guest and Host Links Guest: Ashley Christenson / Ashni Streaming strategist, creator economy, and new media operator X: https://x.com/ashnichristYouTube: https://youtube.com/@ashnichristHype Partners: https://x.com/hypepartners Host: Rob Greenlee New Media Show: https://newmediashow.comRob Greenlee: https://...
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    1 Std. und 20 Min.
  • How Creators Are Using AI Agents to Work Smarter | Mike Russell #664

    How Creators Are Using AI Agents to Work Smarter | Mike Russell #664
    May 24 2026
    AI use with creators is moving beyond simple tools for transcripts, show notes, image generation, and editing. In this episode 664 of the New Media Show, host Rob Greenlee, 2017 Podcast Hall of Famer, talks with Mike Russell, founder of CreatorMagic.ai and longtime audio producer behind Music Radio Creative, about how new media creators, podcasters, and video producers can begin building their own “AI creator employee.” Mike explains how AI agents are becoming active collaborators capable of controlling studio lighting, camera settings, thumbnails, content workflows, research, WordPress optimization, and production tasks. The conversation explores the shift from podcasting as an audio-first medium to a broader video-first creator economy, where YouTube, Apple Podcasts HLS video, AI workflows, and agentic automation are reshaping how content is made, distributed, measured, and monetized. Rob and Mike also dig into the tension between human-created and AI-assisted media, why “taste” still matters, how creators can avoid generic AI slop, and why the next competitive advantage may come from combining human judgment with powerful AI systems. What happens when AI stops being just a tool and starts acting like a real creative team member? Rob Greenlee and Mike Russell explore how AI agents, video-first media, and creator workflows are changing podcasting, YouTube, and the future of new media. Topic Chapters: 00:00, Welcome to New Media Show #664 with Mike Russell 01:00, Why AI is becoming more than a creator tool 02:00, Building your own “AI creator employee.” 03:00, Using AI agents to control studio lighting, cameras, and production settings 05:00, The growing complexity of being a modern creator 07:00, Why video quality is becoming a bigger creator advantage 08:00, YouTube as the new TV and the move toward 4K content 09:00, Podcasting, YouTube, and the digital replacement for broadcast 11:00, Mike Russell’s shift from audio production to video and AI 12:00, Early YouTube lessons and why creators need to be on camera 14:00, Why video matters now for creators 15:00, Audio versus video consumption and the risk of treating audio listeners as secondary 18:00, Apple Podcasts HLS video, deeper metrics, and YouTube analytics envy 20:00, How streaming video could help podcasting catch up on measurement 22:00, Creator Magic, community growth, and helping creators adopt AI 23:00, Mike’s AI-focused YouTube channel and 200,000 subscriber milestone 25:00, From Adobe Audition expert to AI creator educator 26:00, Why human taste still matters in an AI content world 28:00, Using AI as a creative director, not a replacement 30:00, AI agent experiments, crypto wallets, OpenClaw, and automation 32:00, AI tools versus AI agents 33:00, How agents connect tools across transcripts, thumbnails, analytics, and publishing 35:00, Moving from Zapier-style workflows to agentic AI systems 37:00, OpenClaw, Hermes, and self-healing AI workflows 38:00, Keeping the human layer in AI-generated content 39:00, Training AI agents on your own creative style and back catalog 40:00, Studying successful creators without copying them 42:00, Orchestrating AI tools to create output that feels personal 43:00, How AI models are improving creator workflows 45:00, Prompting for better thumbnail style, text, and simplicity 47:00, The tension between human-created and AI-created content 48:00, AI in communication, negotiation, and personal reflection 50:00, Embodied AI, Tesla, robots, and real-world AI systems 51:00, AI moving into cameras, microphones, appliances, and creator devices 53:00, Polished production versus raw human authenticity 54:00, Where shorts, live streaming, and long-form video each fit 55:00, Human clones, AI-generated versions, and trust labeling 57:00, Will AI-generated content become as good as or better than human content? 58:00, First steps for creators moving toward agentic AI 59:00, Claude, Codex, Gemini, and easier entry points for non-technical creators 01:01:00, How Claude Code can connect with WordPress and audit content 01:03:00, CreatorMagic.ai community and YouTube resources 01:04:00, Why AI agents are becoming practical for everyday creators 01:24:00, AI search optimization, answer engines, and formatting content for discovery 01:25:00, Why creators should direct AI instead of rejecting it 01:26:00, The “AI slop” debate and why humans also create low-quality content 01:28:00, Where to find Mike Russell and Creator Magic 01:29:00, Rob’s closing thoughts on the expanded New Media Show mission Host: Rob Greenlee New Media Show: https://newmediashow.comAdore Network: https://adorenetwork.comRob Greenlee: https://robgreenlee.comPodcast Hall of Fame: https://podcasthall.comRob Greenlee on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robgreenleeRob Greenlee Booking: https://calendly.com/robgreenlee Guest: Mike Russell, Founder of Creator Magic AI Music Radio Creative: https://www.MusicRadioCreative.comCreator ...
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    Weniger als 1 Minute
  • When AI Content Stops Looking and Sounding Artificial | Jeanine Wright + Robert Scoble #663

    When AI Content Stops Looking and Sounding Artificial | Jeanine Wright + Robert Scoble #663
    May 21 2026
    In episode 663 of the New Media Show, hosted by 2017 Podcast Hall of Famer Rob Greenlee, Rob talks with Jeanine Wright, CEO of Inception Point AI, and Robert Scoble, known as Scobleizer, Founder of AlignedNews.ai for a deep conversation about one of the biggest and most uncomfortable questions facing podcasting, video, social media, and the creator economy: what happens when AI-generated content stops sounding and looking artificial? I apologize for the lower audio quality of this episode, which was affected by recording source errors, and I used the best audio enhancement tools to improve it. AI-generated media is no longer just an experiment. It is becoming shows, hosts, voices, personalities, clips, channels, avatars, and soon, live interactive media experiences. Podcasting has always been built around voice, trust, authenticity, and human connection. But that foundation is now being challenged by AI-generated voices, cloned likenesses, synthetic video, autonomous podcasters, and AI systems that can research, write, produce, publish, and personalize content at a scale human creators cannot match. The conversation explores whether the podcasting/new media industry is reacting too broadly by labeling AI-generated media as “AI slop” while missing the bigger shift beneath the surface. Some AI content is low quality, deceptive, or spammy. Some AI content is becoming polished, useful, creative, and scalable. Some human-created content is also low quality, misleading, or poorly produced. The real issue may not be whether content is human-made or AI-made. The better question may be whether it is transparent, authentically-human, accurate, consent-based, valuable, and trustworthy. Jeanine joins Rob to discuss what Inception Point AI is building with AI-generated personalities, autonomous creators, synthetic audio, video characters, quality control systems, and AI-native media workflows. She explains why the future may include AI podcasters, AI influencers, AI brand personalities, and AI-generated shows that serve audiences in ways traditional human production cannot easily support. Robert brings a broader technology lens to the conversation, connecting AI-generated media to agents, real-time news systems, spatial computing, glasses, robots, synthetic people, and the next phase of human-computer interaction. He also discusses his own work using AI systems to read large volumes of AI industry activity and turn that into new forms of media intelligence. The conversation asks whether “AI slop” is a useful label or is becoming a way to dismiss an entire category before quality, ethics, and trust systems have had time to mature. Rob, Jeanine, and Robert also dig into the complicated issue of AI disclosure. Should every AI voice be labeled?Should AI-written scripts be disclosed?What about human voices reading AI-written material?What about cloned voices using human-written scripts?And if most media becomes materially assisted by AI, will audiences still care in the same way? The episode also explores the darker side of synthetic media, including unauthorized voice cloning, fake likenesses, impersonation, fraud, deceptive content, misinformation, platform abuse, and AI bias. The discussion makes a clear distinction between ethical AI-generated media and synthetic media designed to mislead audiences. This is not a simple pro-AI or anti-AI conversation. It is a discussion about the future of media trust. The bigger question is whether podcasting and new media should reject AI-generated content outright or help build better standards around disclosure, quality, consent, ownership, monetization, brand safety, platform rules, and audience transparency. The future may not be human versus AI. It may be human plus AI, human extended by AI, AI personalities supervised by humans, and audiences deciding what they trust based on usefulness, quality, transparency, and connection. Key Topics Covered AI-generated podcasts, video, and synthetic mediaWhy the phrase “AI slop” may be too broadHow AI-generated voices and video hosts are becoming more realisticThe difference between low-quality AI content and responsible AI mediaWhy podcasting is emotionally tied to human voice and trustHow AI personalities and autonomous podcasters are being createdWhat Inception Point AI is building with synthetic creatorsRobert Scoble’s view of AI agents, X, and real-time AI media systemsWhether audiences care more about quality than human authorshipWhy AI-generated content may outperform average human-created contentAI disclosure, labeling, and transparency challengesHuman voice, cloned voice, AI-written scripts, and hybrid productionFraud, fake voices, synthetic likenesses, and deceptive mediaAI bias, culture, representation, and training data concernsPlatform rules across YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, X, and social platformsThe rise of live AI-human-like media experiencesHuman creators using AI clones and brand ...
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    1 Std. und 37 Min.
  • Can Human Critics Improve Podcast Discovery? | Imran Ahmed, Great Pods #662

    Can Human Critics Improve Podcast Discovery? | Imran Ahmed, Great Pods #662
    May 7 2026

    In episode 662 from May 6th, 2026, of the New Media Show, hosted by 2017 Podcast Hall of Famer Rob Greenlee, he talks with Imran Ahmed, founder of Great Pods, for a deep conversation about one of podcasting’s longest-running controversies: Discovery.

    Podcasting has never had a shortage of content. The bigger challenge has always been helping listeners find the right shows and helping quality creators get noticed.

    • Charts often reward scale.
    • Algorithms can miss the human context.
    • Social media attention does not always create trust.
    • But human recommendations, professional reviews, and transparency. editorial signals may still play an important role.

    Imran joins Rob to discuss how Great Pods is building a podcast discovery and decision-making platform around critic reviews, ratings, attribution, podcast search, user reviews, badges, and curated discovery.

    The conversation explores why reviews differ from basic listener comments, why constructive criticism can help creators, and how professional critics can serve as trusted filters for listeners trying to decide what to hear next.

    Rob and Imran also dig into the broader evolution of podcasting, including the role of word-of-mouth discovery, the limits of podcast app charts, the rise of YouTube as a major discovery platform, and the ongoing tension around what defines a podcast in a world of audio, video, RSS feeds, platform exclusives, APIs, Netflix-style talk shows, and AI-generated content.

    The episode also connects Great Pods to larger trust and transparency issues in new media. As AI-generated shows, algorithmic recommendations, and platform-controlled discovery continue to grow.

    Rob and Imran discuss why human editorial judgment, clear labeling, attribution, and credible review systems may become even more important for listeners, creators, and platforms.

    Key Topics Covered

    • Podcast discovery in 2026
    • Why podcast charts and algorithms often fall short
    • The difference between reviews, ratings, and listener comments
    • Why constructive criticism can help creators improve
    • How Great Pods uses professional reviews and attribution
    • Why human critics can become trusted discovery filters
    • The role of word-of-mouth recommendations in podcast growth
    • Why YouTube has become a major podcast discovery platform
    • How video, RSS, APIs, and platform exclusives are changing podcast definitions
    • Why AI-generated content increases the need for labeling and transparency
    • How podcasters can use reviews, badges, backlinks, and SEO to build credibility
    • What creators should do to make their shows more discoverable

    Guest and Host Links

    Guest: Imran Ahmed, Founder of Great Pods

    • Great Pods: https://www.greatpods.co
    • Great Pods Blog: https://blog.greatpods.co

    Host: Rob Greenlee

    • New Media Show: https://newmediashow.com
    • Rob Greenlee: https://robgreenlee.com
    • Podcast Hall of Fame: https://podcasthall.com
    • Rob Greenlee on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robgreenlee
    • Rob Greenlee Booking: https://calendly.com/robgreenlee

    The post Can Human Critics Improve Podcast Discovery? | Imran Ahmed, Great Pods #662 first appeared on New Media Show.
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    1 Std. und 32 Min.
  • Can Indie Podcasters and Media Creators Still Win? | Dave Jackson #661

    Can Indie Podcasters and Media Creators Still Win? | Dave Jackson #661
    May 2 2026
    On Episode 661 of The New Media Show, host Rob Greenlee, 2017 Podcast Hall of Fame inductee, Chairperson of the Podcast Hall of Fame, and longtime new media executive, is joined by Dave Jackson, 2018 Podcast Hall of Fame inductee, founder of School of Podcasting, and Head of Podcasting at Podpage.com, for a deep conversation about whether independent podcasters and media creators can still win in today’s rapidly changing creator economy. This episode centers on a question many creators are quietly asking right now: Can indie podcasters still grow, monetize, and build trust in a market being reshaped by video, AI, platform control, and professionalized media production? Rob and Dave discuss the recent combination of Podpage and School of Podcasting, why podcast education matters more than ever, and how websites, email lists, communities, video, RSS, and AI-assisted workflows are becoming essential parts of a creator’s survival strategy. Dave joined Podpage as Head of Podcasting in 2024, and School of Podcasting has been helping creators launch, grow, and monetize podcasts since 2005. The conversation also moves into some of the biggest issues facing podcasting and new media in 2026, including AI-generated shows, human voice and video cloning, creator burnout, YouTube’s influence on podcast identity, Apple’s HLS video podcast direction, and why human trust may become the most valuable asset creators have left. Rob and Dave bring decades of experience to this discussion. Both have seen podcasting shift through multiple technology waves, from the early RSS era to platform consolidation, video podcasting, AI tools, and the rise of creator-led media. That history makes this episode a practical and honest look at what indie creators need to do now to stay relevant, trusted, and discoverable. What does this episode cover? Can independent podcasters still succeed in a noisier, more competitive market? What does “winning” even mean now: downloads, money, trust, community, authority, or sustainability? Why the Podpage and School of Podcasting connection matters for podcast education and creator websites Why podcasters need a home base beyond social platforms and YouTube How AI is changing show notes, images, writing, research, production, and creator workflows Why AI-generated content should not all be treated as spam, but fraud and abuse must be addressed How human storytelling, lived experience, and trust help creators stand apart from AI content Why video is becoming harder to ignore, but audio-only creators should not panic How YouTube has changed public perception of what a podcast is What Apple’s HLS video direction could mean for audio, video, RSS, and creator workflows Why websites, email lists, communities, and audience ownership still matter How indie creators can avoid burnout while adapting to new media expectations Key Takeaways: Indie podcasters can still win, but the definition of winning has changed. Creators need more than a microphone and a media host. They need clarity, a trusted point of view, a website, a distribution plan, and a realistic path to audience growth. AI is not going away. The smartest creators will learn how to use it without losing their human voice. Video will continue reshaping podcasting, but not every creator has to become a full-scale video studio overnight. Human-created content still has a powerful advantage when it is rooted in story, experience, transparency, and trust. Websites are becoming more important again because creators need a stable home base that is not controlled by a single platform. Podcast education matters because the barrier to starting is low, but the barrier to standing out is much higher. Guest Dave Jackson Founder, School of Podcasting Head of Podcasting, Podpage.com 2018 Podcast Hall of Fame inductee Author of Profit From Your Podcast Dave Jackson has been helping creators launch and improve podcasts since 2005 through the School of Podcasting. He is also Head of Podcasting at Podpage, where he supports podcasters using websites as a central hub for discovery, audience ownership, and long-term growth. (The School of Podcasting) Guest links: School of Podcasting: https://www.schoolofpodcasting.com/ Podpage: https://www.podpage.com/ Dave Jackson: https://davidjackson.org/ Podcast Consultant: https://www.podcastconsultant.com/ Host Rob Greenlee Host, The New Media Show Podcast Hall of Fame inductee Chairperson, Podcast Hall of Fame Founder, Trust Factor Lab and Adore Network Co-Founder, Passion Struck Network Host and show links: New Media Show: https://newmediashow.com/ Rob Greenlee: https://robgreenlee.com/ Podcast Hall of Fame: https://podcasthall.com/ Adore Network: https://adorenetwork.com/ Trust Factor Lab: https://trustfactorlab.com/ Passion Struck Network: https://passionstrucknetwork.com/ Rob on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robgreenlee/ Bottom Line in this Episode: This episode answers a major creator economy ...
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    1 Std. und 46 Min.
  • Libsyn’s Next Chapter: Podcast Hosting, Video, Monetization, RSS and API | Brendan Monaghan #660

    Libsyn’s Next Chapter: Podcast Hosting, Video, Monetization, RSS and API | Brendan Monaghan #660
    Apr 23 2026
    “Podcast episode hosting used to be simple. You uploaded an audio file, generated an RSS feed, and distributed your show everywhere. That model still matters, but it is no longer enough for the modern creator economy.” In this Episode 660 of The Live New Media Show, from April 22nd, 2026, Host Podcast Hall of Famer and Former Libsyn VP Rob Greenlee shares a screen and microphone with Brendan Monaghan, President and CEO of Libsyn, to explore how podcast hosting is changing and what creators should expect from platforms in 2026 and beyond. This conversation gets to the heart of a major shift happening across podcasting and new media. Hosting companies are no longer judged only by whether they can deliver a clean RSS feed and reliable file storage. Creators now expect monetization, analytics, video support, workflow efficiency, AI-assisted publishing, broader distribution, and real help with audience growth. That larger shift frames the entire discussion between Rob and Brendan. Brendan explains that Libsyn still carries the legacy of being one of podcasting’s earliest and most important hosting platforms, but the company is now operating in a far more complex environment. Brendan points to Libsyn’s evolution from a technology-led hosting company into a broader creator platform that includes advertising and monetization infrastructure, especially after the company acquired businesses such as AdvertiseCast and Pair Networks. He argues that the modern hosting business must combine publishing, monetization, measurement, and simplicity for creators at every stage of growth. Rob pushes the conversation further by asking the bigger industry question: What should a podcast hosting company become now? That leads into a wide-ranging discussion about platform aggregation, creator workflows, newsletters, live events, merchandise, and the growing expectation that creators should be able to manage more of their media business from one place. Brendan makes the case that the future belongs to companies that can keep creators at the center while simplifying the growing complexity around distribution and monetization. A major part of the episode focuses on AI. Brendan breaks AI into three areas: how Libsyn uses it internally as a business, how AI can assist creators with production and publishing workflows, and how fully AI-generated content may affect the medium’s future. Rob adds a deeper perspective by arguing that AI podcasting is already becoming more competitive than many in the industry want to admit. The two discuss whether the market will ultimately decide what AI content succeeds, why “AI slop” may be too broad a label, and why trust and disclosure may become much more important as synthetic media becomes harder to distinguish from human-created work. The episode also dives into one of the most important strategic tensions in podcasting right now: RSS versus API publishing. Rob and Brendan both acknowledge that most creators care more about simple distribution than the underlying protocol, but they also recognize that this shift has major implications for openness, platform control, and long-term creator independence. Their exchange about Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and the shift toward more controlled video delivery models reflects a broader market reality: creators increasingly want to be everywhere, but the mechanics of getting there are becoming more fragmented and platform-specific. Another strong section of the conversation centers on video. Brendan says Libsyn intends to be a leader in video, while Rob raises a practical concern many creators are just beginning to feel: a show that works well on YouTube may not automatically translate well to an audio-first experience, and a show built for traditional audio may not fully satisfy video-driven discovery environments. That raises the possibility that creators will need to think more deliberately about format, audience expectations, and whether a single production workflow can truly serve all platforms equally well. The conversation becomes especially valuable when the two discuss metrics: Apple’s HLS direction, and what streaming-style delivery might mean for podcast measurement and advertising. They point to a future in which the industry may move closer to actual listening signals rather than relying so heavily on download-based assumptions. If that happens, it could affect CPMs, ad sales, programmatic video advertising, and the broader economics of the medium. Rob also frames one of the biggest unresolved questions in new media today: If AI-generated shows become easier, faster, and more polished, what will human creators need to do to remain distinct and trusted? The answer that emerges from this episode is not panic. It is focus, transparency, stronger format thinking, and a deeper commitment to serving audiences with clarity and value. That makes this episode less about Libsyn alone and more about the future structure of podcasting ...
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    1 Std. und 1 Min.
  • Podcasting’s Multi-Format Future | Sharon Taylor #659

    Podcasting’s Multi-Format Future | Sharon Taylor #659
    Apr 16 2026
    Podcasting is entering a new phase, and this episode goes straight into the infrastructure, business models, and platform shifts shaping what comes next. On episode 659 of The New Media Show, Host and Podcast Hall of Famer Rob Greenlee shares the microphone with Sharon Taylor, Chief Revenue Officer at Triton Digital (Spreaker & Omny Studio), for a deep conversation about where the podcasting market is heading right now. Sharon brings years of experience from Omny Studio, Triton Digital, and Spreaker, making her one of the best people to help unpack what is changing across hosting, monetization, video, AI, advertiser demand, and measurement. We talk through why podcasting is not simply becoming video-first, even as video becomes a bigger part of how shows are discovered and monetized. Sharon makes a strong case that audio remains at the center of the medium, but the future is clearly becoming more multi-format. That means creators, publishers, and platforms need to think differently about how they distribute content, measure audience behavior, and build sustainable business models for both audio and video. A big part of this conversation focuses on Triton Digital’s role in the market today and why its combination of Omny Studio, Spreaker, and broader ad tech infrastructure makes it an important player in podcasting’s next chapter. Sharon explains the unique roots of Omny Studio as a platform built for large-scale broadcast and enterprise publishing needs, while Spreaker helped pioneer early podcast programmatic monetization for creators. That combination gives Triton a unique perspective on both professional publishing and creator-driven growth. We also spend time on Apple’s HLS video move and what it may mean for podcasting’s future. Sharon shares how Triton had already been preparing for a broader video environment and why Apple’s support for HLS is such a meaningful shift. We discuss how HLS could improve flexibility around delivery, ad insertion, and measurement, while still raising important questions about RSS, open distribution, and whether major platforms may slowly pull podcasting into more platform-specific publishing models over time. Another major topic in this episode is trust. From programmatic advertising to AI-generated content to labeling and transparency, Sharon and I explore how podcasting can continue to grow without losing the authentic connection that made the medium valuable in the first place. We both agree that podcasting still has enormous strength as an audio-led medium, but the industry is now balancing openness, innovation, and monetization in ways that will define the next few years. This is a wide-ranging and important discussion for anyone watching the evolution of podcasting, video, ad tech, platform power, and the future of open media. Topics covered – Why Triton Digital matters in podcasting right now – Sharon Taylor’s path from Omny Studio to Triton CRO – What Triton is seeing in audio versus video audience behavior – Why podcasting is becoming multi-format, not simply video-first – How Omny Studio and Spreaker fit different parts of the publishing market – What Apple’s HLS video move changes for publishers and hosting platforms – Why advertiser confidence and better measurement matter more than ever – The future of RSS, open podcasting, and platform fragmentation – How AI-generated content is affecting publishing growth and industry trust – Where Sharon sees the next big opportunities for podcast growth Guest Sharon Taylor is the Chief Revenue Officer at Triton Digital. She was appointed to the CRO role in August 2025 after helping lead Triton’s podcast and content delivery efforts. Before joining Triton, Sharon was CEO of Omny Studio and played a key role in building it into one of the leading enterprise podcast platforms before its acquisition by Triton Digital. Triton Digital: https://www.tritondigital.com/ Spreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/ Omny Studio: https://omnystudio.com/ Host Rob Greenlee is a 2017 Podcast Hall of Famer, Chairperson of the Podcast Hall of Fame, and leader behind Trust Factor Lab and Trust Creators Community at M3Linked. New Media Show: https://newmediashow.com/ Rob Greenlee: https://robgreenlee.com/ Podcast Hall of Fame: https://podcasthall.com/ Trust Creators Community: https://m3linked.com/ Supporters: Get a $10 StreamYard Video Recording and Live Streaming tool Discount using this LINK – https://streamyard.com/pal/c/5606177711325184 Podcasting pros use Podpage – Build a podcast or video show website that updates itself and showcases your show beautifully. Start for just $12/month! –>podpage.com?via=adoreThe post Podcasting’s Multi-Format Future | Sharon Taylor #659 first appeared on New Media Show.
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    1 Std. und 3 Min.
  • Local Podcasts in a Growing Video World | David Plotz #658

    Local Podcasts in a Growing Video World | David Plotz #658
    Apr 11 2026
    If you are trying to understand where podcasting may still have real, untapped opportunities in 2026 and beyond, this is one of those conversations that point to an important answer: Local. On Episode 658 of The New Media Show, Host Podcast Hall of Famer Rob Greenlee shares a microphone and a video camera with guest David Plotz, founder and CEO of CityCast.fm and co-host of the Political Gabfest podcast from Slate, to: Explore what local podcasts can become in a media environment increasingly shaped by video, platforms, social discovery, and changing audience habits. The conversation starts with local audio, but it quickly opens into something bigger: trust, emotional connection, local relevance, and the question of whether city-based media may be one of the strongest growth areas left in podcasting. David frames City Cast as a network of daily local podcasts, newsletters, social content, and events, built around helping people feel more connected to the cities they live in. The real takeaway in this episode is that local podcasting is not simply a smaller version of national podcasting. It operates under a different set of strengths and constraints. Local Podcasting may never offer the same scale as national audio, but it can offer something more personal and durable: a trusted daily relationship grounded in place. That becomes a powerful differentiator at a time when many creators and media companies are chasing reach but struggling to build loyalty. David brings a rare combination to this topic because he is not just theorizing about local media from the outside. He has built and led major editorial organizations, co-hosted one of podcasting’s longest-running political shows, and is now running one of the clearest experiments in local podcast-first media. In the episode, he explains that podcasting’s deepest strength is not raw information delivery but feeling, intimacy, and connection. He argues that podcasting works when people are not just informed but emotionally connected to the speakers and the place being discussed. That idea becomes the foundation for how City Cast approaches local media. One of the most useful parts of this episode is hearing David describe what City Cast is actually trying to replace and what it is not. He makes clear that City Cast is not primarily a breaking-news operation. Instead, it builds on an existing local news ecosystem and tries to become the smartest, most interesting, and most delightful daily conversation about what matters in a city. That distinction matters. It means City Cast is not trying to be a direct substitute for newspapers or broadcast radio in every function. It is trying to become additive, conversational, and habit-forming in ways that better fit the strengths of podcasting. From there, the conversation moves into the central tension of the episode: if podcasting is so strong at local trust and emotional connection, why is local podcasting still so hard to scale? David is candid about the addressable audience being smaller, discovery being difficult, and the economics still being figured out. Those are not minor obstacles. They are the core business problem. City Cast’s challenge is not simply editorial quality. It is proving that local podcast audiences are valuable, engaged, and commercially meaningful enough to support a durable business. That leads directly into the video. One of the strongest strategic insights in the episode is David’s acknowledgment that City Cast did not lean into social and video early enough. He says plainly that the company is now correcting that. The reason is not that audio has failed. The reason is that discovery increasingly happens elsewhere. Younger audiences find local information through social media, YouTube, and short-form feeds. Audio may still be the best format for relationships and routines, but video and social are becoming essential for visibility, especially among younger audiences. A core theme in this episode is that the real opportunity may not be “local podcasts” as a narrow category, but local media brands built around podcasts. City Cast is already moving in that direction through newsletters, events, social distribution, and membership. David’s description of the “Neighbors” membership concept is especially revealing. It shows that the City Cast brand is not just about delivering content. It is about building a sense of mutuality, place, and civic belonging. That is a different ambition than simply growing downloads. It is also where local podcasting may have an edge over broader media. This episode ultimately lands on a simple reality: local podcasting is real, but it is not easy. Audio still has a unique role to play in building trust and connection, but it is no longer enough to rely on audio alone for growth and discovery. The winning local media brands may be the ones that understand how to keep audio at the center while surrounding it with the right mix of ...
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    59 Min.