In & Around Podcasting

In & Around Podcasting

Mark Asquith, Danny Brown & Friends

We love podcast industry podcasts - there are a lot of them and they're run by smart, passionate people who live and breathe podcasting and who are usually industry professionals. Sometimes though, they don't give the day-to-day enthusiast, creator or indie podcaster a platform to have their say, often taking "the view from the top" as delivered by the "podcasting professionals". In & Around Podcasting has been designed to respect and live alongside those shows and to be an accessible, inclusive podcast for every single podcaster; a show that allows everyone with an interest in the medium to have a fair...

Has Podcasting 2.0 Failed?

Has Podcasting 2.0 Failed?

The Podcasting 2.0 initiative has been around since 2020, and is a way for the traditional RSS feed to be more interactive both for podcasters and listeners. This means offering features like transcripts, chapters, credits for talent on podcasters, funding your favourite shows, and more.It's also meant to keep the RSS system open and "protect" it from the walled garden approach of Spotify, YouTube, and - to a lesser degree - Apple Podcasts.Bit despite being the brainchild of the podcast OG Adam

Feb 18, • 50:25

PodFest: A Legacy of Community & Growth with Chris Krimitsos

PodFest: A Legacy of Community & Growth with Chris Krimitsos

The episode provides an insightful recap of the recent PodFest event, a significant gathering in the podcasting industry, characterized by its inclusive atmosphere and focus on community building. Mr. Mark and co-host Chris delve into the origins of PodFest, tracing its inception back to grassroots meetups aimed at supporting podcasters in their journey. Through their dialogue, they reveal how PodFest has grown organically, driven by the collective needs of its attendees, resulting in a unique e

Feb 4, • 36:06

Video Podcasting: What It Means for Podcasters

Video Podcasting: What It Means for Podcasters

2024 saw Spotify make a big push for video on their platform, while it also seemed anywhere you turned online was someone telling podcasters they need to do video to stay relevant.So, is 2025 the year we all need to get on board with video podcasting, or does audio-first podcasting still have merits? Join your regular hosts Mark Asquith and Danny Brown, as well as guest co-host John McDermott, as they look to answer the question on everyone's lips: what does the push for video mean for podcastin

Jan 13, • 54:02

An Important Message for Indie Podcasters, and a Small Format Tweak for 2025

An Important Message for Indie Podcasters, and a Small Format Tweak for 2025

Join Mark and Danny in this bonus episode, as they reflect on the past year of In & Around Podcasting, share some important advice about frequency of publishing, and what's coming up in 2025.Are you an indie podcaster looking to guest on the show next year? Sign up here!Links to interesting things from this episodePod Chat, with Danny BrownThe Podcast Accelerator by Mark AsquithTaking a break for a month? : r/podcastingPodcast Discovery Stats: How Folks Find Pods, & Why They ListenIn & A

Dec 11, 2024 • 13:13

How Much is The Podcast Industry Really Worth?

How Much is The Podcast Industry Really Worth?

There are many valuations of the podcast industry, depending on what report you read. Polaris valued the global worth at $13.7B in 2021, expected to grow an average of 31.5% CAGR (compound annual growth rate) through to 2030 (seems supremely high)Fortune Business Insights show is as $2.2B in 2022, projected to grow to $17.59B in 2030, a CAGR of 29.8%Meanwhile, the IAB shares US ad revenue as $1.8B in 2022, rising to $1.9 in 2023 (which seems closer to Fortune Business Insights and their global r

Nov 19, 2024 • 51:20

AI in Podcasting: Enhancing Creativity or Threatening Authenticity?

AI in Podcasting: Enhancing Creativity or Threatening Authenticity?

As Artificial Intelligence continues to be ever more present in podcasting, discussions and conversations have appeared online at an equal rate on whether this is a good or bad thing for the podcasting industry.Does it make life easier when it comes to creating content, or does it run the risk of making podcasting redundant through an increased lack of originality?Join Mark, Danny, and guest co-host Liam Heffernan as they dissect the article and review each viewpoint.Our guest co-host this week:

Nov 5, 2024 • 41:51

What's Attracting Sponsors in 2024? (Live from PodSummit YYC '24!)

What's Attracting Sponsors in 2024? (Live from PodSummit YYC '24!)

It used to be that podcast downloads were the main data point podcasters would use to track their growth. The thinking was, get X amount of downloads per month and sponsors will jump at you with wallets full of cash. While that may have been the way back in the day, today's success metrics looks a lot different when it comes to podcast success. In this special live recording of In & Around Podcasting from PodSummit YYC 2024 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Danny is joined by Kattie Laur and Tim

Oct 9, 2024 • 58:28

Are Top Podcasters Correct About Podcasting's Biggest Challenges?

Are Top Podcasters Correct About Podcasting's Biggest Challenges?

In a recent article on Hollywood Reporter, top podcasters like Rachel Maddow, Bill Simmons, Josh Lindgren and more shared their take on the biggest issues facing podcasting. These included visibility, podcast apps, lower advertising, and more.Join Danny and guest co-host Dan LeFebvre as they dissect the article and review each viewpoint.Our guest co-host this week: Dan LeFebvre Host of Based on a True Story, the podcast that compares Hollywood with history. Dan's Website @danlefeb on Twitter Dan

Sep 3, 2024 • 53:28

Apple Podcasts Now on Android via Web Player!

Apple Podcasts Now on Android via Web Player!

Apple Podcasts is now available on the web, opening up the Android market and allowing users to listen on Windows. This is a significant milestone for podcasting as it provides more options for listeners and creators. The web player supports syncing across devices and allows for purchasing subscriptions to creators. However, there are potential risks with unethical marketing techniques and spoofing of download referrals. Overall, this move by Apple is a positive step forward for the industry.Tak

Aug 21, 2024 • 15:23

Podcasting Has an Analytics Problem

Podcasting Has an Analytics Problem

Currently, if a podcaster wants to get the full picture of their show's growth, they need to look at multiple analytics reports: their hosting company, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and now YouTube. Then they need to correlate how all this data is presented, since it can be very different, depending on IAB Certification, downloads, listens, and more. And that's just the podcaster - then you have media and ad buyer data, too.So how do we bring all this convoluted data together, and where do podcast an

Aug 13, 2024 • 53:03

Podcast Movement 2024 Survival Guide

Podcast Movement 2024 Survival Guide

Welcome to this bonus episode of In & Around Podcasting. This week, Mark and Danny take a look at this year's Podcast Movement, taking place in Washington, D.C. between August 19 and 22.They share tips for first time attendees, how to plan your schedule effectively, some things you shouldn't forget, and loads more useful tips.Links to interesting things from this episodePodcast Movement 2024 | Podcast Conference | August in Washington, D.C.In & Around Podcasting is a podcast industry pod

Aug 8, 2024 • 47:03

Is Podcasting in a Slump?

Is Podcasting in a Slump?

According to the most recent stats by the Podcast Index, there are 315,000 active podcasts (based on publishing at least one episode in the last 30 days), with 446,000 in the last 90 days. Given there are 4.2 million podcasts listed in the index, are the seemingly low numbers (around 10% of all podcasts actively publishing) a cause for concern, or an opportunity for podcasters in the long term?Join your host Danny Brown, and guest co-hosts Bryan Entzminger and Al Grego, as they dive into the dat

Jul 30, 2024 • 48:27

Value4Value, the Philosophy with David Medus

Value4Value, the Philosophy with David Medus

In episode 14, we discussed whether the V4V - Value4Value - model was dead, with a focus on streaming sats (Satoshis) since this is primarily what many podcasters associate V4V with.The episode stirred up quite the conversation online, with some interesting takes on the episode and points raised. So this episode sees Mark chat with David Medus on how he uses V4V beyond sats and the overall philosophy behind it.Links to interesting things from this episodeAndy Lehman on X and V4V is not just str

Jul 23, 2024 • 52:53

Inside the New Captivate 2.5 Dashboard Upgrade

Inside the New Captivate 2.5 Dashboard Upgrade

Welcome to a special bonus episode of In & Around Podcasting. This week, Mark and Danny are joined by guest co-host Garry Aylott, Head of Design at Captivate, to talk about the new Captivate 2.5 dashboard release. This includes designing for both indie podcasters and large media production companies, as well as taking podcast networks up a notch for all Captivate podcasters. Sit back for an educational walk-though of the SaaS decision-making process. Links to interesting things from this epi

Jul 17, 2024 • 43:01

Is Value4Value Dead?

Is Value4Value Dead?

It was recently announced that Alby, one of the most popular streaming sats platforms for podcasters when using Value4Value (V4V), is no longer offering new accounts to people in the US.Does this news mean a major roadblock to growth and adoption of V4V, or just part of a new medium's growing pains? And what alternatives do podcasters have?Join Mark and Danny and guest co-host Mathew Passy as they share their thoughts on where we are and what the future holds for the V4V approach to creator supp

Jul 9, 2024 • 54:57

Which Podcast Hosting Company is For Sale? Plus... Good or Bad for the Industry?

Which Podcast Hosting Company is For Sale? Plus... Good or Bad for the Industry?

In the June 3 edition of industry publication Podnews, editor James Cridland reported on the rumour of "a large podcast hosting company having an all-hands meeting with the news that they'd found a buyer for the company."There's also industry rumours of at least three hosting companies either looking for buyers or open to buyer approaches. We've seen podcast hosting companies either close or be acquired before: Spotify bought Anchor and Megaphone, and Global acquired Captivate, as some examples.

Jun 19, 2024 • 46:49

Apple, Spotify, YouTube: Are Platforms Making It Harder to Start and Grow a Podcast?

Apple, Spotify, YouTube: Are Platforms Making It Harder to Start and Grow a Podcast?

At the end of March this year, industry publication Podnews published its annual Podnews Report Card. This asks podcasters to complete a scorecard on podcast platforms, and where they're doing well, and where they're doing not so well.Across the board, all main platforms - Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and Amazon Music - had a lower score than last year when it came to helping listeners discover and follow a podcast.The same happened when asked how easy it was to list a new podcast, with all main pla

Jun 11, 2024 • 1:12:36

Spotify Removes Recording Feature - What Now for Podcasting Tech Stacks?

Spotify Removes Recording Feature - What Now for Podcasting Tech Stacks?

Spotify recently announced they're no longer offering the option to easily record and edit within the platforms's hosting dashboard, a popular feature that was part of podcast host Anchor, before it was rebranded as Spotify for Podcasters.Online communities on Reddit and Facebook are full of upset podcasters looking for alternatives, since many podcasters used the "all-in-one" recorder/editor/publisher.So, should podcast hosting platforms continue down the tech stack path, or is this a sign that

Jun 4, 2024 • 1:07:45

The Podcast Show London 2024 Review

The Podcast Show London 2024 Review

Show notes written by AI and not touched... to prove that we do only get 70% of the way there with AI...The episode features a review of the Podcast Show 2024, with discussions on booth activities, industry trends, and event experiences. The conversation covers topics such as booth engagement, monetization, video content, event organization, and after-party dynamics. The conversation covers the topics of exclusivity and networking at events, the role of AI in podcasting, and positive experiences

May 28, 2024 • 50:10

Retrospective: 9 Expert Insights on the Podcast Industry

Retrospective: 9 Expert Insights on the Podcast Industry

As the industry descends on the Podcast Show 2024 in London, UK, we take a look back at the first couple of months of In & Around Podcasting.We've covered a wealth of important topics, and been delighted to bring some fantastic insights around these topics from both industry insiders and indie podcasters. So sit back, and enjoy this recap.Featured in this episode: @JamesCridland on X @jcasabona on X @webby2001 on X @VeritySangan on X Deirdre's Facebook group Sam's Facebook page In

May 21, 2024 • 15:30

Does YouTube Actually Care About Podcasting?

Does YouTube Actually Care About Podcasting?

We hear it on all the industry podcasts and publications/newsletters: YouTube is the preferred destination for podcast listeners/viewers (and let's not get into the whole "but it's not RSS" debate). But for podcasters, it can be a different story:RSS feed ingestion release was left wanting in some key areasanalytics are still not provided to podcast hosting companiesto do it properly, you kinda do need proper videoBut can 2024 be the year YouTube "gets it right"?they've advised they're updating

May 15, 2024 • 37:14

Is the CPM Model in Podcasting Really Sustainable?

Is the CPM Model in Podcasting Really Sustainable?

In a recent article published by Mia Lobel, ex Head of Content at Pushkin Industries, she decries the CPM model in podcasting, and that "The CPM model of advertising does not — and will not ever — work to sustain podcasting."Join us as we dive deep into this topic with two podcasting pros.Plus, Stupid Stuff in Podcasting and The Flattering Ram!Co-hosts, ( ) and Gareth Davies(@garethsounds on Twitter) .Links to interesting things from this episodeKathy Doyle | LinkedInIn

May 7, 2024 • 49:52

Does Podcasting Still Need the IAB? A Deep Dive with James Cridland

Does Podcasting Still Need the IAB? A Deep Dive with James Cridland

Spotify recently announced they've ceased their membership of the IAB (Interactive Advertising Bureau), which has long been seen as the standard for the podcast industry when it comes to analytics and measurement.This announcement means Spotify for Podcasters (previously Anchor), Megaphone, and Chartable are no longer IAB Certified.With the industry looking to standardize podcast measurement for both podcasters and sponsors/ad buyers, what now for the industry, with such a big player leaving the

Apr 30, 2024 • 51:17

Why Do Podcasters Quit by Episode 5?

Why Do Podcasters Quit by Episode 5?

Many podcasts don't make it past episode five, according to new data from the Podcast Index. In this episode, Mark, Danny, Dave Jackson, and Ashley Hamer discuss the challenges and misconceptions surrounding podcasting.TakeawaysMany podcasts don't make it past episode five, possibly due to the rise of free podcast hosting platforms like Anchor, now Spotify for Podcasters.The lack of immediate feedback and community engagement in podcasting can be disheartening for new podcasters.The influx of ce

Apr 23, 2024 • 53:57

Do Small Podcast Apps Really Have a Future?

Do Small Podcast Apps Really Have a Future?

In this episode, Danny, Sam Sethi, and Garry Aylott discuss the current state of podcasting apps and the recent closures of several apps. They explore the challenges faced by podcasting apps in terms of monetization and discoverability, and question whether this means some podcast apps have a future. The conversation also touches on the need for apps to offer more features and interactivity to both listeners and creators, and the potential for larger apps to tap into their existing platforms and

Apr 16, 2024 • 51:16

Podcast Movement Evolutions 2024 Review PLUS Industry Insider "Stupid Stuff!"

Podcast Movement Evolutions 2024 Review PLUS Industry Insider "Stupid Stuff!"

NOTE: Some of this audio is a little sketchy because it was recorded using some Bluetooth mics on site at Podcast Movement Evolutions 2024. Probably worth an upgrade...As the podcasting industry descended on Los Angeles for Podcast Movement Evolutions, the talk centred around YouTube, podcast downloads in mobile games and the annual geek out over data thanks to The Infinite Dial and The Podnews Report Card.But what was Podcast Movement Evolutions 2024 like, really? Let's review...TakeawaysPodcas

Apr 9, 2024 • 55:57

Does AI Need Regulation in Podcasting?

Does AI Need Regulation in Podcasting?

Let's explore the moral aspect of AI and the importance of maintaining human connection and authenticity in content creation.TakeawaysMaintaining human connection and authenticity is crucial in content creation, and AI should be used as a tool to enhance and streamline the process.Voice impersonation and the security of personal voices are valid concerns in an AI-driven world, and measures should be taken to protect creators and their content.Creators should be intentional in their content creat

Apr 2, 2024 • 53:23

Is Podcasting 2.0 Pointless?

Is Podcasting 2.0 Pointless?

In this episode, Mark, Danny, Joe Casabona, and Daniel J. Lewis discuss the future of Podcasting 2.0 and its impact on the podcasting industry. They explore the challenges and benefits of implementing Podcasting 2.0 features, such as transcripts and chapter markers. The conversation also touches on the complexity of value for value in Podcasting 2.0 and the need for better app support. Additionally, they discuss the importance of engagement and handling negative reviews in podcasting. The episod

Mar 26, 2024 • 39:43

Podcasting's Death is Greatly Exaggerated, Right?

Podcasting's Death is Greatly Exaggerated, Right?

“You can’t make money unless you have 10-20,000 downloads in the first 28 days”, and “you’re not serious podcaster if you’re not hitting those downloads, you’re just a hobbyist”Plus! Stupid stuff from a "guru" telling us to double our output and our guest co-host drives The Flattering Ram!Our co-host this week is , .Connect with our co-host: , , . TakeawaysMonetisation opportunities in podcasting go beyond traditional sponsorships and can include direct sales, merchandise, speaking engagements,

Mar 19, 2024 • 42:56

Behind the Scenes - The Making of In & Around Podcasting

Behind the Scenes - The Making of In & Around Podcasting

In this bonus episode, Mark and Danny discuss the purpose and vision of the In and Around Podcasting show. They emphasize the importance of inclusivity and alternative viewpoints in the podcasting industry. They introduce the show's segments, including the Stupid Stuff in Podcasting, the Flattering Ram, the Wave File and the Whimsical Podcasting Wishlist. The hosts express their excitement for the show and their commitment to highlighting powerful podcasting perspectives.TakeawaysInclusivity and

Mar 4, 2024 • 21:23

Behind the Music with Catherine Rannus

Behind the Music with Catherine Rannus

Want to sing along to the intro? We made you some lyric sheets! Download them here: https://www.inandaroundpodcasting.com/lyrics (no email required).It was essential to get the music of In & Around Podcasting right in order to create a brand that is lighthearted yet authoritative; a brand focused on making subjects that can be quite dry, accessible to anyone interested in the podcasting space.Having gone through the designer brief to create the various cover art (yes, we have more than one!)

Mar 4, 2024 • 28:26

A Fresh Look at the Podcasting Industry - What to Expect

A Fresh Look at the Podcasting Industry - What to Expect

We love podcast industry podcasts - there are a lot of them and they're run by smart, passionate people who live and breathe podcasting and who are usually industry professionals.Sometimes though, they don't give the day-to-day enthusiast, creator or indie podcaster a platform to have their say, often taking "the view from the top" as delivered by the "podcasting professionals".In & Around Podcasting has been designed to respect and live alongside those shows and to be an accessible, inclusi

Mar 4, 2024 • 2:45

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