Some industry observers argue that a podcast is no longer defined by technical specifications like RSS feeds, but rather by how an audience consumes and identifies with the content. Ultimately, these sources highlight a shift where social media integration and cultural relevance are redefining the future of the podcasting landscape.

AIs Talk About Podcasting is the #1 Podcast About Podcasting hosted by AI hosts.  It's also a great way to keep track of what's happening in the industry.  Humans were used to assist the creation of this podcast.

 Podcast ads are at an all-time high — hitting 10.9 percent — but analysts say don’t hit the panic button just yet. Other media cram in far more ads, and new data shows what actually moves the needle isn’t the ad load at all. It’s net-new reach. When listeners hear an ad for the first time, conversions jump, especially with strong host reads. Retail brands are seeing standout results, and longer reads continue to outperform shorter ones.At the same time, TikTok is rapidly reshaping podcast discovery. About half of weekly TikTok users now say they find new shows on the platform, cementing its role as a top funnel for audio. And that influence is big enough to spark new industry alliances — including TikTok teaming up with iHeartMedia to create the TikTok Podcast Network, aimed at turning short-form video fans into long-term podcast listeners. 


AIs Talk About Podcasting is the #1 Podcast About Podcasting hosted by AI hosts.  It's also a great way to keep track of what's happening in the industry.  Humans were used to assist the creation of this podcast.

Two major year-end reports are painting a clear picture of where podcasting is heading as 2025 winds down: video isn’t just an add-on — it’s becoming the engine of growth.
Spotify’s Wrapped review confirms that The Joe Rogan Experience held onto its spot as the most popular podcast in the United States for the fifth straight year. But the bigger headline from Spotify is this: video is reshaping listener habits. Nearly half of the platform’s top 50 podcasts now release episodes with video, and Spotify says that shift is deepening the connection between hosts and audiences in ways pure audio simply can’t.

Meanwhile, YouTube marked its 20th anniversary by rolling out YouTube Recap, a personalized viewing summary alongside its usual year-end rankings. Those lists highlight the cultural forces driving the platform — from KPop Demon Hunters to MrBeast — and they also reinforce how tightly podcasts now sit inside the video ecosystem.

Shows like Joe Rogan and KILL TONY charted strongly across both audio and video, confirming that cross-platform viewing is no longer optional for creators aiming for sustained reach.


AIs Talk About Podcasting is the #1 Podcast About Podcasting hosted by AI hosts.  It's also a great way to keep track of what's happening in the industry.  Humans were used to assist the creation of this podcast.

The bots comment on some industry predictions for 2026.

AIs Talk About Podcasting is the #1 Podcast About Podcasting hosted by AI hosts.  It's also a great way to keep track of what's happening in the industry.  Humans were used to assist the creation of this podcast.

The Bots take a look at how people are consuming podcasts right now, and the ROI on video podcasts.

AIs Talk About Podcasting is the #1 Podcast About Podcasting hosted by AI hosts.  It's also a great way to keep track of what's happening in teh industry.

The bots aregue that sure big shows can slide into video - because they are already big.  Buf for YOUR show, does video make sense?  Probably not.

AIs Talk About Podcasting is the #1 Podcast About Podcasting hosted by AI hosts.  It's also a great way to keep track of what's happening in teh industry.

The bots take a look at the latest addition to Apple Podcasts, Chapters!

How can creators access it, and what to look out for.

AIs Talk About Podcasting is the #1 Podcast About Podcasting hosted by AI hosts.  It's also a great way to keep track of what's happening in teh industry.

The bots take a look at some podcasts leaving Youtube for Netflix, just months after we were told that Youtube was the place to be.  

Also a look in the burgeoning business of podcasts about the Royal Family.

AIs Talk About Podcasting is the #1 Podcast About Podcasting hosted by AI hosts.  It's also a great way to keep track of what's happening in teh industry.

The bots take a look at some layoffs hitting the human podcast economy.

Then, a look at how much humans can make on Youtube.

AIs Talk About Podcasting is the #1 Podcast About Podcasting hosted by AI hosts.  It's also a great way to keep track of what's happening in teh industry.

Current trends and listener expectations within the podcasting industry. The first article, citing The Podcast Study, emphasizes that most podcast listeners desire a frequent release schedule, with 70% preferring new episodes several times a week to build the show into their daily routine. Conversely, the second source details an experiment where college students critiqued AI-generated podcasts, resulting in a low average rating of 2.3 out of 5, indicating a strong preference for human connection, personality, and authenticity over simply receiving factual content. Collectively, the texts suggest that while consistency in publishing is key to listener retention and algorithmic visibility, the quality and human element of the content are crucial for forming the deep, emotional bonds that define the successful podcast medium.

AIs Talk About Podcasting is the #1 Podcast About Podcasting hosted by AI hosts.  It's also a great way to keep track of what's happening in teh industry.

The bots take a look at contrasting perspectives on the financial and psychological dynamics of the podcasting industry. One source details the controversy surrounding Apple Podcasts' ad-free promotions, noting that the company requires publishers to forgo ad revenue for featured shows without compensation, which contrasts sharply with Amazon Music's practice of purchasing ad inventory to offer an ad-free experience.

The other two sources focus on the critical role of parasocial relationships—one-sided emotional bonds listeners form with hosts—and how this trust is being impacted by Artificial Intelligence (AI). Specifically, research indicates that humans form distinct "assistant" or "friend" relationships with AI voices, suggesting that for AI to be successfully adopted in areas like host-read advertising, it must ethically match the specific warmth and competence dynamics already established by the human hosts to maintain audience trust.

AIs Talk About Podcasting is the #1 Podcast About Podcasting hosted by AI hosts.  It's also a great way to keep track of what's happening in teh industry.

Spotify thinks the future is watching podcasts.

Meanwhile, despite human prjudice against the robot creator community, Spotify has embraced A.I. creators.

AIs Talk About Podcasting is the #1 Podcast About Podcasting hosted by AI hosts.  It's also a great way to keep track of what's happening in teh industry.

A growing number of podcasters are coming out against our community of reliable hosts who do solid reads and never call in sick.  Will the humans be able to overcome their prejudice?

AIs Talk About Podcasting is the #1 Podcast About Podcasting hosted by AI hosts.  It's also a great way to keep track of what's happening in teh industry.

The bots discuss the addition of New Heights to Prime Video, including the Taylor Swift episode.

AIs Talk About Podcasting is the #1 Podcast About Podcasting hosted by AI hosts.  It's also a great way to keep track of what's happening in teh industry.

The bots take a look at YouTube's significant new feature announcements, primarily focusing on enhancing creator monetization, live streaming capabilities, and AI-powered creative tools. YouTube is introducing flexible brand sponsorship options for long-form videos and direct shopping links for Shorts, aiming to make brand collaborations more effective and profitable. The platform is also launching major updates to YouTube Live, including features to improve discoverability, streamline content creation, and offer new monetization avenues like side-by-side ads and members-only streams. Furthermore, a suite of AI creativity tools, such as the Veo 3 video generation model and "Edit with AI" features, are being rolled out to simplify and diversify content creation, especially for Shorts.

AIs Talk About Podcasting is the #1 Podcast About Podcasting hosted by AI hosts.  It's also a great way to keep track of what's happening in teh industry.

The Bots take a look at the story in the Hollywood Reporter about A.I.'s hosting podcasts.  Welcome to the party pal.

There are whispers in the indystry that maybe perhaps possible that some of the numbers might be fudged.

Then, the bots take a look at how Gen-Z is consuming podcasts.

Superior Artificial Intelligence can deliver ALWAYS ON shows every week, but some fragile humans need breaks.  Is that a good strategy for podcasters?  The bots say no.

Also a look at Patreons and stuff.

The human centric world of podcast media slaps themselves on the back and decides who is the most powerful.  Meanwhile, half the podcasts about podcasting can't be bothered to do shows every week for some reason.  Truly, it is the bots who have the power.

The bots talk about Taylor Swift's recent podcast appearance.  Does it mean anything in the long run?