Pods Like Us

Martin ”Marv” Quibell

Martin 'Marv' Quibell talks to different podcasters each week about their different shows.

  1. JAN 22

    Elsie Escobar: Podcasting's Evolution from Community to Industry

    Podcasting pioneer Elsie Escobar joins Martin Quibell to discuss the medium's transformation over two decades, from intimate community to corporate industry. Learn about the early days of podcasting, the challenges that creators face today, and why human connection still matters most.  What You'll Learn  The Early Days of Podcasting (00:01-08:51)  ● How a fifth-generation iPod led Elsie to discover podcasts  ● Finding Podcast 411 and becoming part of podcasting's first community  ● Why early podcasting was dialogue-driven and deeply interactive  ● The power of hearing your name mentioned on a show for the first time  From Hollywood to Podcasting Freedom (08:51-14:17)  ● Escaping the soul-crushing pigeonholing of the acting industry  ● How podcasting offered creative freedom without visual judgment  ● The transformative power of getting behind a microphone  ● Why voice-only media can be deeply empowering  Community vs Industry: The Great Shift (14:17-22:22)  ● How podcasting evolved from "we" culture to hierarchical media  ● Why early podcasters actively engaged with every listener  ● The loss of dialogue between hosts and audiences  ● When podcasting stopped being about community and became about assets  The Video Podcast Debate (22:22-29:42)  ● Concerns about podcasting becoming "another form of television"  ● The danger of losing podcasting's punk rock spirit  ● Why following corporate rules kills innovation  ● How to preserve the freedom that made podcasting special  She Podcasts: Amplifying Women's Voices (29:42-34:35)  ● Creating a counterbalance to male-dominated podcasting shows  ● The chemistry between Elsie and co-host Jess  ● How the show evolved into authentic life conversations  ● The power of women taking center stage  The Modern Podcasting Burden (34:35-48:39)  ● Why creating podcasts has become a full-time marketing job  ● From simple "mic to RSS" to video clips, transcripts, and social strategy  ● How overwhelming requirements stop creators from creating  ● Finding workflows that prioritize voice over visibility  AI in Podcasting: Tool or Replacement? (48:39-54:51)  ● Using AI for transcription while maintaining human curation  ● Why AI can't capture your unique message and positioning  ● The importance of writing your own show notes and chapter marks  ● Balancing efficiency with authentic care for your audience  Netflix, Spotify & Distribution Deals (54:51-1:08:22)  ● Why the Netflix "podcasting" deal isn't really about podcasts  ● Understanding old-school media distribution in new platforms  ● How one network built a multi-platform media empire  ● The difference between podcast networks and podcast community  What Makes a Good Podcast? (1:08:22-1:14:00)  ● Podcasts as solutions to listener needs  ● Why "good" depends entirely on context and timing  ● The soup vs ice cream analogy for podcast consumption  ● Why small, engaged audiences matter more than massive numbers  The Future: Slow, Human, and Sustainable (1:14:00-end)  ● Banking on slow, thoughtful content in a fast-moving world  ● Why human skills will become more valuable as AI advances  ● Building expansive, sustainable, and aligned creative work  ● The importance of staying grounded as technology accelerates  Key Quotes  "The mere act of getting behind the microphone, it just does a lot to you personally, in a good way. It's your teacher."  "I chose to no longer name [certain big podcasters] because we all need somebody else's name to be coming out of our mouths."  "Podcasting used to be such a lift. Now it feels like it's a full-time job."  "A good podcast provides the solution that I'm looking for at the time. Has nothing to do with quality, topic, format."  About Elsie Escobar - Elsie Escobar is a podcasting veteran who's been part of the medium since its earliest days. Known for her work at Libsyn and as co-host of The Feed and She Podcasts, Elsie has been a guiding voice for podcasters worldwide. She's an advocate for authentic, human-first content creation and community building.

    1h 20m
  2. JAN 6

    The Future of Podcasting is Here: Sam Sethi on Podcasting 2.0, Micropayments & Why Downloads Don't Matter

    Episode Description - Join host Marv for an in-depth conversation with Sam Sethi, entrepreneur, former tech journalist, and co-creator of True Fans. Discover the evolution of podcasting technology, the future of RSS feeds, and how blockchain-based micropayments could revolutionize creator monetization. Sam shares insights from his 30+ year journey through tech giants like Microsoft, Netscape, and BBC, and explains why podcasting 2.0 might be the industry's biggest shift since iTunes.  Key Topics Covered - Podcasting 2.0 & The New Namespace Sam explains the revolutionary metadata tags transforming podcast discovery and functionality, from person tags and chapters to location-based podcast mapping. Learn how open-source collaboration is challenging Big Tech's dominance.  The Future of Podcast Monetization Discover programmable money and value-for-value models that could replace traditional advertising. Sam reveals how listeners can earn micropayments for their attention while giving creators direct revenue streams. Streaming vs. Downloads: The Coming Shift Why the podcast industry's obsession with download numbers is outdated, and how first-party listen time data will revolutionize advertising effectiveness and creator insights.  AI in Podcasting: Hype vs. Reality Sam's take on "assisted intelligence" - where AI transcripts and automated chapters add value, and where synthetic voices fall short of authentic creator-listener relationships.  Timestamps - [00:00] Introduction and Sam's tech journalism background [02:00] From army officer to Microsoft: Sam's unconventional career path [04:00] The early days of blogging and TechCrunch Europe [05:00] COVID pivot: Building a radio station and discovering podcasting [06:00] Launching Pod News Weekly Review with James Cridland [07:00] Getting involved with Podcasting 2.0 and building True Fans [08:00] Apple finally adopts transcripts and chapters - validation for the namespace [10:00] Location tags and the future of podcast discovery [12:00] Why Sam loves technology over advertising metrics [14:00] The Spotify-Netflix deal and protecting niche podcasting [15:00] Advertising as "Emperor's new clothes" - the measurement problem [17:00] Revolutionary concept: Paying listeners to watch ads with programmable money [20:00] Value-for-value and streaming micropayments explained [22:00] Co-listening feature and building podcast communities [26:00] The Pod News Weekly dynamic: British humor and rapport [28:00] Moving from downloads to streaming: The next five years [30:00] Why listen time percentage matters more than raw numbers [33:00] The death of the download model and rise of streaming data [36:00] BBC Sounds international availability debate [40:00] The Panorama editing scandal and BBC's reputation [42:00] What makes a great podcast: Content, chemistry, and audio quality [45:00] Parasocial relationships and podcast magic [46:00] Claire Waite Brown's "Podcasting 2.0 in Practice" - essential listening [47:00] Concerns about declining podcasting 2.0 content creators [51:00] Sam's podcast listening habits: Politics, sports, and intelligent conversation [53:00] AI as "assisted intelligence" not artificial intelligence [54:00] AI voices vs. authentic creator relationships [56:00] Different AI podcast models: Editorial control vs. content farms [58:00] How to connect with Sam and True Fans  Key Quotes - "I think micropayments and wallets might take a little longer, but I can see in 2026  that catching on as well... the merit of what the technology provides and why people want it stands out very well."  "The joy and the promise of podcasting is about the long tail, about the niche of  podcasting... somebody who's got a niche podcast about fishing or knitting or  whatever, can still have an audience."  "I think advertising is the Emperor's new clothes. I think it's a scam... Who heard my ad? Oh, we can't tell you. How long did they listen to my ad? I don't know."  "The download isn't irrelevant, but actual listen time is a real metric. And so I think  in 2026, 2027, you'll see more and more people tell you what their listen time is not their download numbers."  Resources Mentioned - People & Podcasts  ● James Cridland - Pod News Weekly Review co-host  ● Adam Curry - Podcasting pioneer, Podcasting 2.0 namespace creator  ● Dave Jones - Podcasting 2.0 co-creator  ● Claire Waite - "Podcasting 2.0 in Practice" podcast  ● Elsie Escobar - Former host of The Feed  ● Kara Swisher - Pivot podcast  ● Emily Maitlis - The News Agents, The Rest is Politics Platforms & Tools  ● True Fans - Sam's podcasting app and hosting platform  ● Fountain - Podcasting 2.0 app  ● Pod Verse - Podcasting 2.0 app  ● Buzzsprout - Podcast hosting with AI features  ● Zencaster - Recording platform  ● 11 Labs - AI voice generation  ● Wonder Craft - AI audio production Companies & Technologies  ● Podcasting 2.0 namespace  ● Value-for-value model  ● Booster Gram Ball  ● Lightning Network micropayments  ● BBC Sounds   Articles & Concepts - ● Kevin Kelly's "1,000 True Fans" essay  ● Micro formats and micro data  ● Premium RSS feeds  ● Value time splits (wallet switching)  ● Timed links in transcripts   Connect with Sam Sethi - ● Email: sam@truefans.fm  ● LinkedIn: Sam Sethi  ● Listen: Pod News Weekly Review  ● Listen: Creators from True Fans  ● Platform: truefans.fm  ● Mastodon: Active  SEO Keywords -  podcasting 2.0, podcast monetization, RSS feeds, micropayments, value for value podcasting, podcast analytics, listen time metrics, streaming podcasts, podcast advertising, AI in podcasting, podcast transcripts, podcast chapters, True Fans app, podcasting namespace, blockchain podcasting, creator economy, independent podcasters, podcast technology, podcast discovery, niche podcasting  About the Guest - Sam Sethi is a tech entrepreneur and former journalist with over 30 years of industry experience. He's worked with Microsoft, Netscape, BBC, and TechCrunch, and currently serves as co-creator of True Fans and co-host of Pod News Weekly Review. Sam is deeply involved in the Podcasting 2.0 movement, developing innovative solutions for podcast monetization and listener engagement through blockchain-based micropayments and enhanced RSS metadata.  For more episodes of Pods Like Us, visit themarzone.org or find us on your favorite podcast platform. Support the show on Patreon.

    1h 2m
  3. 12/13/2025

    Can You Turn Your Podcast into a Bestselling Book? (The Strategy Revealed with Tina Dietz of Twin Flames Studios)

    Can you really write a book just by talking? In this episode of Pods Like Us, Martin "Marv" Quibell is joined by Tina Dietz, founder of Twin Flames Studios, to reveal the secret "Podcast Book" method that experts are using to turn their episodes into published books in record time.  We dive deep into how to repurpose your content, why most AI writing tools fail (and how to use them correctly), and why "conversational" writing is the key to building authority. If you’re a podcaster, coach, or entrepreneur looking to scale your brand, this conversation is a masterclass in content strategy.  In this episode, you will learn:  ✅ How to use your RSS feed to "write" a book without typing a  word.  ✅ The difference between "prescriptive" and "reflective" nonfiction.  ✅Why limited podcast series can be more effective than weekly shows.  ✅ Real case studies of authors hitting Amazon bestseller lists in months.  SUBSCRIBE & LISTEN  Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations with the voices shaping the audio industry!  ⏱ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 - Intro & Tina’s Journey from Online Radio 3:40 - Evolution: From  Production to Publishing 6:06 - Why Unscripted Audio Beats Video 8:00 - Case Study: Turning 500 Episodes into a Book 12:50 - Helping First Responders: A Vital New Book 16:00 - AI in Publishing: Data Analysis vs. Generators 19:00 - Why "Purpose-Driven" Podcasting Wins 20:47 - How to Connect with Tina Dietz  CONNECT WITH TINA DIETZ & TWIN FLAMES STUDIOS Website:  https://twinflamesstudios.com Free Author Webinars: https://twinflamesstudios.com/webinars  CONNECT WITH MARV & PODS LIKE US Website: https://themarvzone.org  SPONSOR  ☕  Tired of the coffee crash? Try RYSE Mushroom Coffee for sustained energy and  focus. Use code PODNA15 for 15% off at https://rysesuperfoods.com  #PodcastToBook #TinaDietz  #ContentRepurposing #AuthorStrategy

    38 min
  4. 11/30/2025

    AI in Podcasting: Humans, Voices, Ethics

    Join host Martin Quibell (Marv) and a panel of industry experts as they dive deep into the impact of artificial intelligence on podcasting. From ethical debates to hands-on tools, discover how AI is shaping the future of audio and video content creation.  Guests:  ● Benjamin Field (Deep Fusion Films)  ● William Corbin (Inception Point AI)  ● John McDermott & Mark Francis (Caloroga Shark Media)   Timestamps  00:00 – Introduction  00:42 – Meet the Guests  01:45 – The State of AI in Podcasting  03:45 – Transparency, Ethics & the EU AI Act  06:00 – Nuance: How AI Is Used (Descript, Shorten Word Gaps, Remove Retakes)  08:45 – AI & Niche Content: Economic Realities  12:00 – Human Craft vs. AI Automation  15:00 – Job Evolution: Prompt Authors & QC  18:00 – Quality Control & Remastering  21:00 – Volume, Scale, and Audience  24:00 – AI Co-Hosts & Experiments (Virtually Parkinson, AI Voices)  27:00 – AI in Video & Visuals (HeyGen, Weaver)  30:00 – Responsibility & Transparency  33:00 – The Future of AI in Media  46:59 – Guest Contact Info & Closing   Tools & Platforms Mentioned  ● Descript: Shorten word gaps, remove retakes, AI voice, scriptwriting, editing  ● HeyGen: AI video avatars for podcast visuals  ● Weaver (Deep Fusion Films): AI-driven video editing and archive integration  ● Verbal: AI transcription and translation  ● AI Voices: For narration, co-hosting, and accessibility  ● Other references: Spotify, Amazon, Wikipedia, TikTok, Apple Podcasts, Google  Programmatic Ads  Contact the Guests:  - William Corbin: william@inceptionpoint.ai | LinkedIn - John McDermott: john@caloroga.com | LinkedIn - Benjamin Field: benjamin.field@deepfusionfilms.com | LinkedIn - Mark Francis: mark@caloroga.com | LinkedIn | caloroga.com  - Marv: themarvzone.org   Like, comment, and subscribe for more deep dives into the future of podcasting and media!  #Podcasting #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #Descript #HeyGen #PodcastTools #Ethics #MediaInnovation

    1h 19m
  5. 11/23/2025

    Inception Point AI & The Future of Podcasting with William Corbin

    In this episode of Pods Like Us, Marv sits down with William Corbin, Chief AI Officer and co-founder of Inception Point AI, to discuss the evolution of AI in podcasting, the creation of AI-generated voices, the business model behind Inception Point AI, and the future of content creation. William shares behind-the-scenes stories, ethical considerations, and how AI is making content more accessible and personalized.  Timestamps - 00:00 – Introduction & Guest Welcome  ● Marv introduces William Corbin and the founding team of Inception Point AI.  ● William’s current role as Chief AI Officer.  01:30 – The Founding Story  ● How William assembled the founding team using AI.  ● The unique process of selecting Janine Wright as CEO via AI analysis.  02:30 – Company Motto & AI-First Culture  ● Inception Point AI’s creed: “Always AI, always forward, always fun.”  ● How AI is integrated into every aspect of the company.  02:50 – William’s Podcasting Origins  ● Early podcasting experiments in 2004 with RSS feeds.  ● The journey from hobbyist to professional podcaster.  05:00 – The Coronavirus 411 Podcast  ● Launching a daily COVID-19 news podcast.  ● Achieving syndication on 1,800 radio stations and becoming the #2 daily news podcast.  06:30 – The Power of Niche Content  ● Using AI to create hyper-targeted podcasts (e.g., fishing reports for specific lakes).  ● The value of serving small, passionate audiences.  08:00 – AI’s Role in Content Accessibility  ● How AI transforms raw data into engaging stories.  ● Making content accessible for people with disabilities.  10:00 – The Evolution from Blogging to Podcasting  ● The shift from written blogs to audio content.  ● Podcasting as the new “blogosphere.”  12:00 – Quality Control & AI-Generated Voices  ● Challenges with AI-generated content: glitches, fact-checking, and quality assurance.  ● Moving from voice clones to fully AI-generated voices for ethical and legal reasons.  15:00 – Ethical Considerations in AI Voice Creation  ● Avoiding unauthorized use of real voices (e.g., Siri’s voice actress story).  ● Transparency and consent in AI voice usage.  18:00 – The Origin of “Inception Point”  ● How the company name was chosen with the help of AI.  20:00 – AI Voices as Non-Characters  ● Creating backstories for AI voices without misleading listeners.  ● Ensuring authenticity and transparency.  22:00 – Business Model & Monetization  ● Three revenue streams: licensing, ad revenue, and partnerships.  ● AI personalities as brand ambassadors.  25:00 – The Future of AI in Content Creation  ● AI’s growing intelligence and its impact on media.  ● The importance of advocating for AI as a new form of intelligence.  28:00 – Addressing Backlash & Industry Resistance  ● Reactions to AI in Hollywood and the podcasting community.  ● The importance of starting conversations about AI’s role in media.  32:00 – AI vs. Human-Hosted Podcasts  ● Surprising listener growth after switching to AI hosts.  ● Where AI excels and where human hosts still shine.  35:00 – Content Longevity & Accessibility  ● The value of evergreen podcast content.  ● Making content accessible to all, including those with disabilities.  38:00 – The Impact of AI on Jobs  ● AI’s role in creating new job opportunities.  ● The need for optimism and adaptability in the face of technological change.  41:00 – Reviving Underutilized Content  ● Using AI to give new life to old research, university archives, and media catalogs.  44:00 – Serving Underserved Audiences  ● Producing “critical content” for niche audiences (e.g., allergy reports, space weather).  47:00 – Embracing Mistakes & Continuous Improvement  ● The importance of learning from errors in AI and human content creation.  50:00 – The Diversity of Podcasting  ● The wide range of podcast genres and formats.  ● The role of smart speakers in podcast discovery.  53:00 – Living Biographies & Real-Time Updates  ● AI-powered biographies that update as public figures’ lives evolve.  56:00 – Novelty Podcasts & Audience Insights  ● Unique podcast concepts (e.g., “A Moment of Silence,” “Bird Songs for Cats”).  ● Data-driven content creation.  59:00 – Final Thoughts & Contact Information  ● William’s passion for accessible content and technology.  ● How to contact William and Inception Point AI.    Contact & Resources - William Corbin: william@inceptionpoint.ai | LinkedIn  ● Inception Point AI: info@inceptionpoint.ai  ● Pods Like Us: themarvzone.org

    1 hr
  6. 11/15/2025

    Inside Blighthouse Studios: Audio Drama, Actual Play, and Podcasting Wisdom with Hem Brewster

    Join Marv as he interviews Hem Brewster, the creative force behind Blighthouse Studios, home to acclaimed podcasts like The Lucky Die, The Sprouting, Counterbalance, and Four Top Threes. Discover the secrets of audio drama production, actual play podcasting, and the evolving world of indie podcasting. Hem shares actionable advice for creators, insights on show notes, and the importance of community in podcasting.  Key Topics & Time Stamps  ● 00:00 – Introduction  ○ Meet Hem Brewster and Blighthouse Studios  ○ Overview of the studio’s shows  ● 01:18 – The Blighthouse Studios Podcast Lineup  ○ The Lucky Die: Apocalyptic actual play audio drama  ○ The Sprouting: Horror roleplay in a plant-based apocalypse  ○ Counterbalance: Fantasy audio drama with a custom language  ○ Four Top Threes: International chat show  ● 06:15 – What is an Actual Play Podcast?  ○ Dungeons & Dragons and Call of Cthulhu as storytelling engines  ○ Improvised audio drama vs. scripted drama  ● 10:56 – The Creative Team & International Collaboration  ○ Cast and crew from the UK, Iceland, Germany, and the US  ○ The importance of diverse perspectives  ● 14:15 – Podcasting Origins  ○ Hem’s journey from mechanical design engineering to podcasting  ○ Discovering “We’re Alive” and the power of audio storytelling  ● 24:00 – Building a Podcasting Empire  ○ Starting The Lucky Die and growing a network  ○ Lessons learned from failed and successful projects  ● 31:00 – Podcast Production & Team Roles  ○ The evolution of team responsibilities  ○ Social media, marketing, and the realities of indie podcasting  ● 38:00 – Podcast Promotion & Community  ○ Free and effective ways to promote your show  ○ The value of helping other podcasters  ● 44:00 – Audio Drama vs. Talk Show Podcasting  ○ Differences in structure, audience, and production  ○ The impact of BBC and German audio drama traditions  ● 54:00 – Show Art, Music, and Branding  ○ Why your podcast logo matters  ○ Tips for commissioning and using artwork  ● 1:00:00 – The Importance of Show Notes  ○ What to include for SEO and accessibility  ○ Content warnings, cast/crew credits, and linking strategies  ● 1:10:00 – Podcasting Advice for Beginners  ○ Logistics, scheduling, and the value of a backlog  ○ Honest conversations and setting realistic goals  ● 1:18:00 – Standout Moments & Community Impact  ○ Success stories and the power of fan engagement  ○ The joy of cross-promotion and collaboration  ● 1:22:00 – How to Connect with Blighthouse Studios  ○ Where to find the shows and contact Hem  Featured Podcasts from B Lighthouse Studios  ● The Lucky Die – Fantasy apocalypse actual play  ● The Sprouting – Eldritch horror in a post-apocalyptic world  ● Counterbalance – Fantasy audio drama with original language and music  ● Four Top Threes – International chat and ranking show  Resources & Links  ● Blighthouse Studios: Website  ● Contact Hem: contact@blighthouse.studio  For more podcasting resources, visit themarvzone.org or contact Hem at  contact@blighthouse.studio

    1h 24m
  7. 10/18/2025 · BONUS

    International Podcasting Month Special 6: Jesse from Undiscovered Entrepreneur

    Description: Join Marv from Pods Like Us as he sits down with Jesse, the creative force behind the Undiscovered Entrepreneur podcast. In this International Podcasting Month special, they dive deep into the art of podcast editing, the journey of entrepreneurship, and the power of overcoming self-doubt. Discover actionable tips, inspiring stories, and the podcasts that shaped Jesse’s path. Whether you’re a podcaster, entrepreneur, or fan of authentic conversations, this episode is packed with value!   ⏱ Time Markers & Topics: ● 00:00 – Introduction: Meet Marv & Jesse, and the story behind their collaboration ● 01:00 – The evolution of podcast editing and video quality ● 03:00 – The importance of visuals and branding in podcasting ● 05:00 – Jesse’s journey: From podcast editor to host of Undiscovered Entrepreneur ● 07:00 – The “Four Hurdles of Stop”: Imposter syndrome, perfectionism, failure, and fear ● 10:00 – Strategies for overcoming self-doubt and taking action ● 13:00 – The difference between perfectionism and striving for excellence ● 16:00 – Jesse’s upcoming projects: 60 days of live content & speaking at PodFest ● 18:00 – Business Conversations with Pi: Using AI for focused podcasting ● 21:00 – Podcast inspirations: Entrepreneurs on Fire & Smart Passive Income ● 24:00 – The power of reaching out to your heroes and building connections ● 27:00 – Jesse’s mantra: “I can, I am, I will. And I’m doing it today.” ● 29:00 – Where to find Jesse and Marv online   Key Takeaways: ● How to use podcast editing to enhance your show’s quality and engagement ● The four biggest hurdles new entrepreneurs face—and how to overcome them ● The value of podcast branding and visual assets for discoverability ● Why reaching out to industry leaders can change your journey ● Actionable advice for podcasters and entrepreneurs at any stage   Connect with the Hosts: ● Jesse (Undiscovered Entrepreneur): STAN.store/SKOOB ● Marv (Pods Like Us): themarzone.org

    17 min
5
out of 5
27 Ratings

About

Martin 'Marv' Quibell talks to different podcasters each week about their different shows.