Episodes

From sponsor dollars to listener loyalty, podcast ad reads can make or break your monetization strategy. But what separates an ad that gets renewed from one that gets dropped after a single campaign? In this exclusive – and free – fireside chat, discover the secrets of crafting successful ad reads that advertisers actually want to rebook with Alec Trunley (Brand Partnerships at RedCircle) and Dan Christo (COO at The Podglomerate). Alec helps top-tier advertisers scale host-read ads across hundreds of shows, and Dan has helped unlock over $2 million for The Podglomerate's monetization clients. This deep-dive session reveals the advertiser perspective that most creators never see – giving you the competitive edge to transform your ad reads from one-time deals into recurring revenue streams. Join us to learn: What makes your ad read irresistible to sponsors How advertisers evaluate your ad’s performance behind-the-scenes Which metrics actually matter for securing future campa…

2025 in Podcasting: A Year of Reckoning 2025 was a year of big shifts and even bigger headlines. We saw companies close, new ventures launch, and familiar players rebrand or pivot. Video podcasts continued to grow, bringing shows to streaming platforms, theaters, and even the Golden Globes stage. Revenue models evolved, AI loomed large, and creators explored new ways to connect with audiences, from premium content to live events and derivative IP. Despite all the change, the podcasting community remains vibrant, and many companies reported record revenues. Optimism is high, and opportunities for creators are abundant—whether you’re experimenting with video, exploring new formats, or building the next breakout show. Our guests had some thoughts of their own.

Dan Misener is the co-founder of Bumper, a podcast data and growth company. Dan joins the show to share ways to grow podcasts – including identifying when you have a marketing vs editorial problem, the importance of properly tracking audience engagement, and how the innovative Bumper Dashboard packages and provides show statistics across several platforms. He also explains how we can use download metrics in a future-facing way and how AI is reshaping listener behavior.

Kristin Nelson is Head of Audio at the Boston Globe. The newspaper has become a leader in the audio space with podcasts like Love Letters, Gladiator, Murder in Boston, and their new Spotlight: Snitch City. Kristin breaks down the Globe’s audio strategy, how they integrate their podcast team and newsroom, monetization strategies that incorporate ads as well as their traditional newspaper subscription model, and continue to produce audio IP for film and television.

Podcast industry veteran Lex Friedman is the founder of Lex Friedman Consulting where he works with creators, advertisers, platforms, and brands as a strategic consultant. Lex joins the show to discuss the challenges and triumphs as a former executive at Midroll, Art19, and Wondery, shares insights into the changing landscape of podcast advertising, and the hilarity of being confused with fellow podcast veteran Lex Fridman. He also provides a cautiously optimistic take on where the industry is headed. You can find Lex on LinkedIn or at lexfriedman.com/consulting I’m on all the socials @JeffUmbro The Podglomerate offers production, distribution, and monetization services for dozens of new and industry-leading podcasts. Whether you’re just beginning or a seasoned podcaster, we offer what you need. To find more about The Podglomerate: – Show Page and Transcript: https://listen.podglomerate.com/show/podcast-perspectives – YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Podglomeratepods –…

From traditional news outlets to podcast newsletters, there are dozens of publications writing about podcasting today. But how do you get your podcast on their desks and featured by Vulture, The Guardian, NPR, and beyond? In this exclusive – and free – webinar, learn the secrets of pitching your podcast to the press with Joni Deutsch (The Podglomerate's SVP of Marketing and Audience Development) and Alice Florence Orr (Managing Editor of Podcast Review). Joni is an award-winning audio professional and NPR veteran. For the past 15 years, Joni has cultivated robust relationships with both legacy and new media, generating major publicity opportunities for a wide range of podcasts across radio, television, print, and digital outlets. As someone who has both received and sent pitches throughout her career, she reveals just what it takes to successfully pitch your podcast to journalists, from choosing the best angle to finding the right contact details. Alice has been a podcast c…

Cathy Csukas is the CEO and co-founder of AdLarge Media and the fwd. network. AdLarge is an independent audio ad sales firm that for the last decade has shaped how advertisers, networks, and creators navigate the world of podcast and digital audio monetization. The fwd. network is a more recent initiative to deliver content by and for female audiences. Cathy discusses the evolution of AdLarge into an all-in-one audio network, their early work monetizing shows like Ashley Flowers’ Crime Junkie, their cutting-edge approach to advertising technology, and how her leadership style fosters an innovative company culture.

Chris Bannon is the Head of Global Audio at media giant Condé Nast, home to hit shows from The New Yorker, Wired, Vogue, and more. Chris discusses his remarkable audio career from public radio to podcasting, which includes roles at Midroll and Stitcher before joining Condé Nast. We go through his experience first managing podcasts at WNYC in 2004 and the massive success of The New Yorker’s Pulitzer-winning podcast In the Dark as it gets ready for a new season. Chris also discusses the importance of live shows and the teamwork involved behind Condé Nast’s global audio network.

Leah Reis-Dennis is the Head of Podcasts at Audacy, the second-largest radio company in the US. Leah joins the show to share her unique path to podcasts, including leading content and partnerships at Himalaya and working in business development at Stitcher and SiriusXM before landing at Audacy, where she oversees content, partnerships, and marketing for over 300 shows. We discuss Audacy’s partnership with PAVE and Tenderfoot, the benefits of working in both podcasts and broadcast, and Audacy's experience with M&A, specifically Cadence13, Podcorn, and Pineapple Street Studios. Leah also provides insights into future trends for podcasters and podcast business models, and details Audacy’s plans for growth in podcasts and radio. You can find Leah at audacy.com or on LinkedIn. I’m on all the socials @JeffUmbro The Podglomerate offers production, distribution, and monetization services for dozens of new and industry-leading podcasts. Whether you’re just beginning or a seasoned pod…

Sim Sarna is the founder and CEO of Cloud10 Media, a rapidly growing podcast network ranked among the top 15 by Triton Digital. Sim joins the show to discuss his path from independent film producer to building a leading podcast network, the critical role of network support in production and marketing, and how Cloud10 helps creators at every stage. We also dive into the evolution of celebrity podcasts, the surge of video in podcasting, and new revenue models transforming the business. Sim shares insights on building sustainable show growth, what makes certain podcasts break out, and why collaboration and adaptability remain central to Cloud10’s success. Plus, he offers candid advice for new podcasters and reflects on how teaching at USC continues to shape his vision for the future of the audio industry. You can find Sim on LinkedIn. I’m on all the socials @JeffUmbro. The Podglomerate offers production, distribution, and monetization services for dozens of new and industry-lead…

Patrick Svensk is CEO of PodX, what he calls a global podcast federation consisting of 13 companies from 8 different countries. He joins the show to discuss the importance of IP in entertainment, differences between the international podcast market compared to the US market, and PodX's recent acquisition of Lemonada. Patrick and I also look at his origins as a TV and film producer and how it led him to work in the audio industry.

If you’re interested in elevating your on-demand audio strategy in the wake of the “2024 podcast election,” then join The Podglomerate and NHPR for the second session of our two-part case study series as we explore the resiliency of NHPR’s podcasts. We’ll share our playbook for how successful and sustainable podcasts are marketed, financed, and distributed, not to mention how to activate your owned and internal channels for audience growth success. Whether you’re a journalist wanting to jump into the audio field or a network looking to scale your podcasts, this session is a must-attend. Be prepared for actionable tactics – as well as common mistakes to avoid – to kickstart your podcast plans.

Join The Podglomerate and NHPR for this first session of our two-part case study series as we explore the resiliency of NHPR’s podcasts, including: The comprehensive and years-long production planning and editorial process behind The 13th Step.

Adam McNeil is SVP of Client Services at Adopter Media. He joins the show to discuss the intricacies of podcast advertising, the advantages of dynamic ad insertion versus baked-in ads, and experiences with ad buys for smaller podcasts. Adam and I also explore the risks of YouTube ads and the future of podcast advertising. You can find Adam on LinkedIn, at adopter.media, or The Roast newsletter theroast.beehiiv.com I’m on all the socials @JeffUmbro The Podglomerate offers production, distribution, and monetization services for dozens of new and industry-leading podcasts. Whether you’re just beginning or a seasoned podcaster, we offer what you need. To find more about The Podglomerate: – Show Page and Transcript: https://listen.podglomerate.com/show/podcast-perspectives – YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Podglomeratepods – Email: listen@thepodglomerate.com – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/podglomerate – Twitter: @podglomerate – Instagram: @podglomeratepods

What does it take to create an award-winning podcast in 2025? From understanding today’s awards landscape to crafting editorial excellence, this evocative session will provide strategic insights to help your show stand out from the crowd. With observations and advice on how to take home gold from David Sirota, investigative journalist and host of award-winning podcast Master Plan, Jeff Umbro, CEO of The Podglomerate and The Signal Awards General Manager Jemma Rose Brown.

If you’re curious about venturing into the world of video podcasting, then join AIR and The Podglomerate for a can’t miss panel discussion featuring real experts from the worlds of YouTube and Spotify. Moderated by The Podglomerate's VP of Production Services Chris Boniello (who has 14 years of Emmy- and The Webby Awards-winning video and audio expertise), this panel discussion will include insights from: - Spotify's Senior Partner Manager Yih Lee - DCP Entertainment founder/CEO Chris Colbert - The Upload Club founder/CEO Hayley Rose Danick Whether you're unsure about video or ready to hit record, this free webinar will provide the guidance you need to successfully navigate the transition (or addition) of video podcasting.

Katie Konans is the Program Lead for Audio and Podcasts at NASA. She joins the podcast to discuss NASA’s growing audio strategy, including how to make complex science accessible, the need for community engagement, and the future of NASA’s audio programming. Katie and I discuss the success of NASA’s Curious Universe , as well as the rest of their audio portfolio, and how to inspire the next generation of space enthusiasts.

Stuart Last is the CEO of Audioboom, a leading global podcast network which supports more than 8,000 podcasters, delivers more than 100 million downloads per month, and has put more than $250,000,000 into podcasters pockets to date. He joins the podcast to discuss the future of podcasting, Audioboom’s remarkable growth, and monetization strategies for podcasters through Spotify’s Partner Program. Stuart and I also talk about the importance of prioritizing independent creators as well as consolidation across the podcast industry.

Lynn Kestin Sessler is a Peabody, Webby, and Parents’ Choice Award-winning producer with extensive experience in children’s media, having worked with Nickelodeon, PBS, and Sesame Street. She joins the podcast to discuss the unique aspects of creating audio shows for kids, strategies for integrating podcasts into children’s routines, and the potential for kids’ podcasts to expand brand reach. Lynn talks about her storied career, starting as a production assistant at Nickelodeon, producing for Shalom Sesame Street, and working on the classic children’s game show Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego.

Amanda McLoughlin is the CEO of Multitude and co-host of the podcasts Spirits, Join the Party, and Attach Your Résumé. Amanda joins the podcast to discuss the keys to long-term podcast success, the importance of community, and her transition from being a YouTuber to a podcaster in 2015. She also highlights Multitude’s mission to support indie podcasters in ad sales, production services, and sustainable business practices. Amanda and I discuss the challenges and misconceptions with video content, essential skills that independent creators should have and the value of consistent content creation. Amanda also emphasizes the importance of creators understanding the financial system in podcasting, specifically through Spotify and YouTube.

Nick Witters is the CEO of Ballen Studios, the new media company best known for the MrBallen YouTube channel. Nick joins the podcast to share his insights on content creation, business growth, and strategic partnerships in YouTube, podcasting, and other media ventures. He recounts his unique career path from the U.S. Air Force to entertainment law, from working in the WME mailroom to co-founding Ballen Studios with John Allen, a former Navy SEAL known as MrBallen. Nick and I explore his role in expanding Ballen Studios from YouTube to podcasts, his challenges in transitioning between media, and his experience managing YouTube sensation Mr. Beast.

How can you grow your podcast company in the wake of bigger media companies like Spotify? Joe Cilio is co-founder and CEO of Forever Dog Productions, a prominent podcast production company known for alt comedy. He joins the podcast to share the origins and evolution of Forever Dog, the success of launching shows like Bowen Yang’s “Las Culturistas,” and the company’s shift to video podcasting. Joe talks about Forever Dog Productions’ success with founding drag queen network MOM, or Moguls of M...

Alexia Bedat is a lawyer and partner at Klaris Law, leading its podcast and audio team. She joins the podcast to share her expert insights on the evolving legal landscape of podcasting. Alexia discusses the significance of negotiating clear contracts, especially in the growing areas of video and social media. She and I also explore protecting IP, understanding fair use, and managing legal budgets. Alexia’s transparency and in-depth knowledge provide invaluable guidance for new and experienced podcast owners.

Tom Webster is a partner at Sounds Profitable and has spent over 25 years researching audio. He joins the podcast to discuss his new book, “The Audience is Listening.” Tom shares his insights into understanding and developing podcast audiences, He and I explore listener behaviors, the challenges of monetizing smaller shows, and what metrics should be looked at to gauge success. Tom also describes the growing trend of video content in the podcasting world.