Podnews Weekly Review

3.7 (22)
News Commentary
Updated Weekly

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

1d ago

How podcast advertisers know more about you; and Dolby Atmos comes for podcasting

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail (This uses Buzzsprout's CoHost AI summary. Buzzsprout is our sponsor.) We question whether Netflix can make podcasts work without chasing YouTube’s time-spent game, and we map where premium video fits in a world built on niche audio. We also dig into ad overload, new measurement fights, identity-driven targeting, and why immersive formats like Dolby Atmos could change what “good” sounds like. • Netflix podcast strategy and why profitability beats time spent • Why premium platforms struggle with low-cost creator content • Late-night TV ad clutter as a warning for podcast ad loads • New York’s stealth crawler law and what it could mean for publishers • Plays versus downloads and the measurement standards shifting underneath • How digital identity and mobile ad IDs can reshape podcast ad targeting • Privacy trade-offs, probabilistic matching, and how opt-out really works • Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision basics for podcast and app developers • Practical guidance on episode length, editing, and avoiding fluff • RSS feed ownership as a non-negotiable contract question • Podcast discovery data pointing to YouTube and social media • Why podcast promos can work and when they annoy listeners • Product and platform updates including open source wins and CarPlay changes You can support this show by giving us feedback using the BuzzSprout thumbnail or voicemail link in our show notes, and you can send us a boost or become a power supporter like the 24 Power Supporters at weekly.podnews.net Support the show Connect With Us: Email: weekly@podnews.netFediverse: @james@bne.social and @samsethi@podcastindex.socialSupport us: www.buzzsprout.com/1538779/supportGet Podnews: podnews.net

1h 21m
Jun 19

Metrics, Measurement and Money - for indie podcasters and not-for-profits

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail Losh Moodaley's article: https://podnews.net/article/beyond-the-cpm-podcast-advertising We test whether a 30-second threshold actually changes podcast stats, then pull apart why the definition of a “play” gets slippery once streaming, caching, and platform politics enter the mix. We also challenge the idea that better measurement automatically leads to better creator income, with practical advice for independents and nonprofits trying to build trust, outcomes, and sustainable revenue. • 30-second plays vs 60-second downloads and what hosting data shows • Why simplifying measurement helps but does not equal engagement • AMP definition changes, missing technical detail, and platform participation questions • The caching problem with HLS video and why server logs can mislead • Losh Moodley’s roadmap beyond CPMs: audience economy, exclusivity, outcome-based selling, trust over attention • Spam podcasts selling drugs and why link tracking matters • AI-generated podcast flooding, disclosure ethics, and search discoverability • VoxTopica on mission-driven podcasting, nonprofit success metrics, and when subscriptions can work • Listener trends, weekly listening hours, and why listen time is becoming the headline number Support the show Connect With Us: Email: weekly@podnews.netFediverse: @james@bne.social and @samsethi@podcastindex.socialSupport us: www.buzzsprout.com/1538779/supportGet Podnews: podnews.net

1h 34m
Jun 12

Locked On Podcast Network turns 10, and do podcast listeners skip the ads?

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail We discover how the Locked On Podcast Network got going, and dive into more details about the new YouGov report showing how listeners consume podcast ads. Plus, plenty more. Support the show Connect With Us: Email: weekly@podnews.netFediverse: @james@bne.social and @samsethi@podcastindex.socialSupport us: www.buzzsprout.com/1538779/supportGet Podnews: podnews.net

1h 37m
Jun 5

Captivate's monetisation in the US; and the BBC gets more involved in Crossed Wires

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail Sam and James chat with Brian Conlan and Mark Asquith about Captivate and DAX US working together to monetize more podcasts; and to Dino Sofos about this year's Crossed Wires festival in Sheffield. Support the show Connect With Us: Email: weekly@podnews.netFediverse: @james@bne.social and @samsethi@podcastindex.socialSupport us: www.buzzsprout.com/1538779/supportGet Podnews: podnews.net

1h 60m
May 29

Spotify's new features; and why did BIPOC Podcast Creators close?

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail We pick apart Spotify’s investor-day announcements and ask what its AI-first roadmap means for podcast creators, monetisation, and trust. We also talk to the co-founders of BIPOC Podcast Creators about why the community is closing and what the industry loses when creator support dries up. • Spotify’s “time well spent” metric and what it tries to reframe • The “500 million video podcast” claim and why measurement matters • Real-time podcast Q&A on Spotify and the risk of AI hallucinations • Dynamic creator sponsorships and updating back catalogue ads • Spotify memberships as a Patreon and Supporting Cast rival, with big unanswered details • Verified by Spotify badges and why creators can’t control verification • Clipping tools and the tradeoff between shareability and platform lock-in • Why BIPOC Podcast Creators closes, after a year of exploring options • How funding, layoffs, and politics change corporate support • The case for protecting indie creators and the industry’s long-term health • Apple Podcasts plus Audible subscription access and why verification matters • YouTube’s podcasts hub, top fans, and clearer AI content labels • Private feed security problems and why standards need to move faster • Direct Flow Auto Discover RSS and QR code discovery for podcasts Subscribe to our newsletter at podnews.net. We're sponsored by Buzzsprout; their CoHost summary tool made these show notes. Support the show Connect With Us: Email: weekly@podnews.netFediverse: @james@bne.social and @samsethi@podcastindex.socialSupport us: www.buzzsprout.com/1538779/supportGet Podnews: podnews.net

1h 36m
May 21

Live from London, at The Podcast Show 2026

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail We chat with Rox Codes from Flightcast, talk about the 'cavalcade of crap' from AI, and spill all the tea on a successful show. Support the show Connect With Us: Email: weekly@podnews.netFediverse: @james@bne.social and @samsethi@podcastindex.socialSupport us: www.buzzsprout.com/1538779/supportGet Podnews: podnews.net

51 min
May 15

Amazon Music adds video - and the secrets of a succesful indie podcast

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail Amazon Music joins the video podcast race with HLS and RSS alternate enclosure support. Yay! Plus, we speak with PodVision about their successful indie show; and the developer of the UpNext app. • Amazon Music video podcasts rollout in the US and what “open RSS” support really implies • Apple’s private API versus alternate enclosure and the moderation and ad tech trade-offs • Acast’s “first to monetise” claim plus how hosts are responding to Apple’s approach • Podvision’s 500,000-download season and the practical launch levers: concept clarity, packaging, artwork and timing • AI disclosure labels from film and TV and why podcast platforms still do not enforce clear standards • Inception Point AI moving to Spotify Megaphone and the lack of AI labelling in show metadata • Video podcast consumption realities across platforms and what the data says about concentration • Niche podcasts outperforming on relevance even when they lose on raw scale • UK industry recognition, car dashboards and the unanswered question of who speaks for podcasting • Up Next app: serverless design, on-device features, open source code and transcript challenges • Pod News adds video detection on Apple Podcasts plus a new podroll atlas for recommendations Support the show Connect With Us: Email: weekly@podnews.netFediverse: @james@bne.social and @samsethi@podcastindex.socialSupport us: www.buzzsprout.com/1538779/supportGet Podnews: podnews.net

1h 39m
May 8

Three podcast hosts launch Apple Podcasts video; plus, The Podcast Show and Fountain's music via RSS

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail Apple Podcasts video moves from theory to real-world distribution, and we pressure-test what HLS streaming changes for pricing, analytics, approvals, and the open RSS ecosystem. We also weigh platform convenience against creator freedom, from Spotify’s video lock-in warnings to a vision for open music distribution and premium RSS. • Buzzsprout’s Apple Podcasts video rollout and why HLS matters for typical podcasters. We interview Alban Brooke. • Captivate and Podigee also launched this week. We take a look at their data. • Plus, Spotify video distribution risks including permanent RSS replacement and hosting-provider lock-in, according to at least one host's description • London Podcast Show highlights with networking stages speakers and parties - we interview Jason Carter • Fountain’s music on RSS using the medium tag publisher feeds value-for-value licensing and live item workflows - we speak with Oscar Merry. Support the show Connect With Us: Email: weekly@podnews.netFediverse: @james@bne.social and @samsethi@podcastindex.socialSupport us: www.buzzsprout.com/1538779/supportGet Podnews: podnews.net

1h 58m

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Trailer

The Podnews Weekly Review - the last word in podcast news

Send James and Sam a message or voicemail Every 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 show Connect With Us: Email: weekly@podnews.netFediverse: @james@bne.social and @samsethi@podcastindex.socialSupport us: www.buzzsprout.com/1538779/supportGet Podnews: podnews.net

S1

•

1 min

James Cridland

Host
Sam Sethi

Host

3.7

out of 5

22 Ratings

My go to for all things related to the podcast industry

Mar 2

Ralph Owens | Houston TX

James and Sam give me the daily and weekly updates on the podcast industry that I need as a podcaster. Both the daily and weekly shows are always in my rotation.
One of my favorites

11/28/2025

bdentzy

I love listening to James and Sam talk about what’s going on in podcasting and what they think it means for the rest of us.
Top resource for anyone involved in pod casting

11/22/2023

App Rover

James and Sam do an amazing job of pulling back the veil on the entire podcasting industry. 100% recommend.
This show ruined itself

06/13/2025

~ Violet ~

This show started out great, and unfortunately raced right to the bottom. Based on a transcript, this podcast sells cohost slots to turn episodes into advertisements. Without disclosing that upfront. Not ethical for a newscast. Wow. What did fiction podcasts do to Cridland? Whatever it is, it has ruined his objectivity. His grudges have slipped out of his control. Unfortunately, if I want to know what’s actually going on in podcasting I need to look it up elsewhere … Cridland and Sethi aren’t explaining things well enough. Maybe they’ll get it together. This could be really good. Early review: This show is one of the best about podcasting news and tech. Sometimes they take an odd stance on something. Don’t always reveal their own conflicts. Seem to have some weird grudges. And seem to be highly self-promoting. But some of the things that make the daily show less trustworthy and useful are smoothed out a bit in this longer format. They do know the industry, and that does show. I wish there was more diversity in perspectives at this level of coverage and monetization. I wish that was safe.

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