If you are trying to understand where podcasting is going in 2026 and beyond, this is one of those conversations that clarifies the whole board.

On Episode 657 of The New Media Show, Host Rob Greenlee shares a microphone and a video camera with Justin Jackson, CEO and Co-Founder of Transistor.fm, to unpack two forces reshaping the medium at the same time: Apple’s push back into video podcasts using HLS streaming, and the accelerating rise of synthetic creators and human clones powered by AI.

The real takeaway in this episode is that this is no longer just a podcasting story. It’s a media transformation story, and creators who treat it that way will have the advantage.

Justin brings a rare combination to this topic because he is not just watching the ecosystem from the outside. He is building one of the most respected independent podcast hosting platforms and is deeply involved in coordinating the industry’s progress through the Podcast Standards Project.

One of the most useful parts of this episode is hearing how standards actually get adopted. Podcasting has a coordination problem, and the only way the open ecosystem keeps evolving is when hosting providers, apps, and major platforms agree on what becomes “standard.” Justin explains why this work is slower than people want and why it matters, using real examples such as transcript support and creator-recommendation tooling via Podroll.

From there, we go straight into the big shift: Apple leaning harder into video again, this time through HLS. The practical impact for creators is obvious. Video becomes easier to distribute, monetize, and measure across platforms.

The strategic impact is bigger. Apple’s move creates a cascade effect. As more hosts build HLS workflows, those streams can increasingly appear not only within Apple’s experience but also through open standards like alternate enclosures, especially if apps continue to adopt them. Justin is bullish on RSS-based open podcasting surviving, not because it is nostalgic, but because consumer demand and creator distribution needs keep pulling it forward.

A core theme in this episode is that creators and consumers decide what “a podcast” is, not the industry. Justin puts it plainly: if everyday listeners think podcasts are something they watch on YouTube, that belief drives behavior, and behavior drives platforms. This is why the listen-and-watch switching paradigm matters. Consumers want to start in audio and seamlessly jump into video. That pressure changes production habits over time, because the “audio from the video” becomes the default in many workflows. For some audio-first producers, that feels like a loss. For video-first creators, it is an opportunity to build a more fluid media experience that meets people where they are, whether they are watching closely or listening in the background.

Rob and Justin also dig into a topic most platforms are not talking about enough: demographics and attention. Apple Podcasts remains a valuable audience, often older, higher-income, harder-to-reach, and premium-friendly. But YouTube and short-form feeds have already shaped younger consumer habits.

Justin raises an interesting possibility that a backlash is forming among Gen Z against addictive, brain-rotting feeds. If that continues, there is a real opening for more mindful media experiences, which could benefit audio- and podcast-style consumption and even give Apple an unexpected positioning angle if they choose to lean into it.

Then move into the other major shift: synthetic creators, AI cloning, and AI-generated media at scale. We talk about what is real, what is hype, and what’s already happening in the market. Justin’s perspective is grounded: audiences still choose what they care about, and a lot of AI-generated “slop” is being produced with no real demand. At the same time, I warn that this is the worst the tech will ever be, and that quality is moving fast.

The deeper layer is that AI is already part of the content distribution pipeline, because algorithms decide what gets surfaced and recommended.

As cloning and synthetic production improve, trust and identification become the bigger story. If people cannot tell what is real, standards for disclosure, verification, and labeling become essential to preserve credibility.

This episode ultimately lands on a simple reality: creators do not need to panic, but they do need to adapt. Video is becoming a default entry point. RSS is still resilient, but platform native APIs are expanding. AI will increase volume, forcing platforms to filter more aggressively. The winning creators will be the ones who build trust, produce content people actually want, and package it so it travels across environments without losing the core promise that made the audience show up in the first place.

Quick answers

What does Apple HLS video mean for podcast creators in 2026?
It signals a stronger platform push toward seamless listen-and-watch experiences, better measurement, and future monetization opportunities, and it pressures hosts and apps to support HLS workflows more broadly.

Is RSS dying because platforms want APIs and direct uploads?
RSS remains highly resilient because creators want distribution portability and consumers want access to the shows they already follow. Platforms may add more native workflows, but RSS continues to power the open layer.

Will AI-generated creators replace humans?
AI will dramatically increase content volume, but audience trust and relevance will still determine what survives. The big shift is that trust, verification, and disclosure become more important as synthetic media becomes harder to detect.

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome and big shifts

01:13 Meet Justin Jackson

02:50 Why podcast standards matter

06:23 Apple HLS video ripple

10:34 Transistor distribution view

13:24 Video podcasting history

17:09 Why the video faded to audio

22:30 YouTube wins attention

29:33 Apple subscriptions and TV

35:57 Demographics and Gen Z

39:03 Mindful media backlash

43:32 Apple culture and video

45:44 Retro tech resistance

46:50 Apple Ads And Privacy

47:40 HLS Rollout And Ad Load

49:25 Will RSS Survive Platforms

50:25 Why RSS Keeps Winning

54:17 Open Standards Like Email

59:16 Gen Z Video Threat

01:01:01 HLS Video Via RSS

01:04:40 Audio Video Switching Pain

01:07:53 Creators Adapt To Fluid Media

01:19:09 Consumers Define Podcasts

01:24:10 AI Voices Enter Podcasting

01:25:16 Reid Hoffman Digital Twin

01:28:17 AI Video Not Live

01:28:46 Latency And Real Time Avatars

01:29:08 Julia McCoy Avatar Demo

01:32:31 Do Audiences Care

01:33:28 AI Lowers Creation Bar

01:35:41 Real Humans Still Win

01:38:20 Noise Raises The Bar

01:40:53 AI For AI Audiences

01:47:39 Deepfake Hype Check

01:50:32 Trust And Disclosure Standards

01:52:19 Platform Overload From Slop

02:00:00 Pulia Spam Example

02:02:57 Throttling And Verification

02:08:27 Wrap Up And HLS Updates

Links

Guest Justin Jackson Links

Transistor.fm: https://transistor.fm/
Justin Jackson: https://justinjackson.ca/

Host Rob Greenlee and Show Links
New Media Show: https://newmediashow.com/
Rob Greenlee: https://robgreenlee.com/
Trust Factor Lab: https://trustfactorlab.com/
Adore Creator Network: https://adorenetwork.com/
Podcast Hall of Fame: https://podcasthall.com/
Rob Greenlee YouTube: https://youtube.com/@robgreenlee
Rob Greenlee LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/robgreenlee
Rob Greenlee Instagram: https://instagram.com/robwgreenlee

The post Apple Video Podcasts, RSS vs API, Rise of Synthetic Creators | Justin Jackson #657 first appeared on New Media Show.

In episode 656 of the New Media Show, Podcast Hall of Famer Rob Greenlee is joined by Jay Nachlis,  Media Research VP at Coleman Insights.

“It’s a timely and deeper conversation about Apple Podcasts moving more aggressively into HLS video streaming and what that really means for the future of podcasting, audience behavior, platform competition, and creator strategy in 2026.”

This episode goes far beyond the Apple announcement itself. Jay brings a strong audience research and brand strategy perspective to the conversation, and together we dig into the real question behind all of this: will Apple’s push into video actually change listener and viewer behavior, or is this simply Apple trying to catch up to audience habits that are already being shaped by YouTube and Spotify?

“Apple Podcasts still has major brand recognition in podcasting, but may face an uphill battle in the current environment where YouTube has become the default platform for video-based podcast discovery, and Spotify continues to build a more native monetization and creator ecosystem.”

We talk about how audience habits often outweigh platform features, why consumer perception matters as much as technical innovation, and whether Apple can reclaim any meaningful momentum in a category it helped establish years ago.

We also discuss how this shift is creating a more fragmented publishing environment for creators. Audio and video are no longer just different formats. They increasingly represent different user expectations, different discovery paths, and different monetization opportunities.

“We discuss the growing need for creators to think strategically about separate audio and video feeds, platform-native publishing, HLS streaming delivery, audience experience, and the long-term risks of overreliance on closed ecosystems.”

Jay and I also explore the broader competitive chessboard. That includes YouTube’s dominance in video & video podcast consumption, Spotify’s continued attempts to define its role in both audio and video, and even whether players like Netflix could successfully move into podcast-adjacent content formats. This episode is really about where podcasting is headed as a medium, not just one Apple feature update.

If you are a podcaster, creator, media strategist, advertiser, or platform watcher trying to understand where podcasting, video, discovery, and monetization are all heading next, this is an episode you should not miss.

Chapters:

00:00 Apple Video Podcast Push
00:47 Meet the Hosts
01:56 Apple Streaming Update
03:14 Early Podcasting Era
05:19 YouTube Spotify Takeover
07:05 Can Apple Compete
08:25 Research YouTube Wins UX
10:30 Awareness Drives Usage
12:07 Netflix Podcasting Fit
15:58 Discovery Algorithms Habits
18:10 Apple Video Hidden Toggle
19:26 Audio Quality vs Video
22:22 Brand Content Trust Matrix
24:05 Apple Podcasts Brand Gap
24:51 Differentiation Over Video
25:41 RSS and HLS Debate
27:09 Why Listeners Choose Apple
28:03 Zune Era Video Podcasts
30:07 YouTube Parallel History
30:59 Winning Tech Standards
33:16 Reaching Younger Audiences
36:48 Hosting Costs and HLS
39:05 Creator Burden of Video
41:20 Future Screens in Cars
43:23 Marketing and Discovery Fixes
45:35 Alternative Enclosures Path
46:49 Wrap Up and Where to Follow

Guest Jay Nachlis Links
Jay Nachlis LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaynachlis/
Coleman Insights: https://colemaninsights.com/
Tuesdays with Coleman: https://colemaninsights.com/blog/

Host Rob Greenlee and Show Links
New Media Show: https://newmediashow.com/
Rob Greenlee: https://robgreenlee.com/
Trust Factor Lab: https://trustfactorlab.com/
Adore Creator Network: https://adorenetwork.com/
Podcast Hall of Fame: https://podcasthall.com/
Rob Greenlee YouTube: https://youtube.com/@robgreenlee
Rob Greenlee LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/robgreenlee
Rob Greenlee Instagram: https://instagram.com/robwgreenlee

The post Can Apple Make Video Podcasts Matter? | Jay Nachlis #656 first appeared on New Media Show.

Podcast discovery feels harder in 2026, not because creators stopped trying, but because attention is now split across podcast apps, YouTube, short-form video feeds, newsletters, and search-driven recommendations.

On this recorded episode of the New Media Show, host Rob Greenlee shares the screen and a microphone with Arielle Nissenblatt, 2026 Podcast Hall of Famer and Founder of EarBuds Podcast Collective and Head of Community and Content at Pinwheel by Audily, to break down what is actually changing right now and what creators can still do that consistently grows audience and trust.

“Arielle brings a listener-first, creator-first perspective that cuts through the noise. Platforms matter, but they are not the whole story. If a show is not clearly positioned, consistently delivered, and genuinely recommendable, the best metadata in the world will not create retention.”

This episode focuses on the practical middle ground: respect the power of platforms, but build your growth strategy around behaviors you can control.

“A big part of that conversation is Apple’s renewed push into video podcasts and what an HLS-based video experience signals for the direction of distribution.”

Rob frames it as part of a broader convergence toward a unified listen-and-watch experience, where measurement and monetization are easier for platforms when content is native.

“Arielle agrees that video is becoming an important top-of-funnel entry point, not because every show should be video-first, but because platforms can more easily optimize what they can see, track, and sell.”

We also talk through Spotify’s monetization strategy and what it means when major platforms keep building native paths to get paid. The underlying point is that creators need to understand the economics behind product decisions.

“The more platforms own the experience, the more they can shape the rules of distribution, monetization, and visibility.”

Then we get into the part that matters most for working creators: what still works.

“Arielle argues that recommendation culture remains one of the most underused growth engines in podcasting. Word of mouth, curated lists, and community flywheels can outperform algorithm chasing, especially for shows that serve a clear audience with a clear promise.”

That is exactly why EarBuds has remained durable for years in a market that constantly reinvents itself.

“Human curation is still a superpower because it creates trusted signals that travel even when platforms turn the knobs.”

Community comes up too, with a reality check. Not every show needs a community, and not every audience wants one.

“The test is whether people are already reaching for a deeper connection and shared identity around your content. When that demand exists, the community can compound trust and retention. When it does not, forcing it can drain your energy and distract you from the actual product, the show.”

If you are building in 2026, the creators who win are not the ones who panic-switch formats every quarter.

They are the ones who lock in a format strategy, build audience ownership where possible, and package their content for multiple environments without losing the core promise that makes listeners return.

Quick answers people are searching for:

Is podcast discovery broken in 2026?
It is fragmented. People discover shows across apps, video platforms, newsletters, and search experiences, so creators need packaging that works across multiple paths.

Do I need a video to grow a podcast?
Not always. Video is becoming a common entry point, but growth still comes from clarity, consistency, and ease of recommendation.

What is the fastest reliable growth lever right now?
Recommendation loops: collaborations, curated lists, newsletters, and audience sharing that create real trust signals.

What should creators prioritize this year?
Format strategy, audience ownership, cross-platform packaging, and a repeatable workflow you can sustain.

Show and Guest Links:

Host Rob Greenlee
https://robgreenlee.com/ (Rob Greenlee)
New Media Show
https://newmediashow.com/ (New Media Show)
Rob Greenlee Live Podcasts
https://robgreenlee.com/live-podcasts/ (Rob Greenlee)
Rob Greenlee & New Media Show YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@RobGreenlee (Rob Greenlee)
Spoken Human Show – YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@spokenhuman (Rob Greenlee)
LinkedIn – Rob Greenlee
https://www.linkedin.com/in/robgreenlee (Rob Greenlee)
Instagram – Rob Greenlee
https://www.instagram.com/robwgreenlee (Rob Greenlee)
X.com – Rob Greenlee
https://x.com/robgreenlee (Rob Greenlee)
Adore Podcast Network
https://AdoreNetwork.com (Rob Greenlee)
Podcast Hall of Fame
https://PodcastHall.com (Rob Greenlee)

Guest Arielle Nissenblatt
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/arielle-nissenblatt
EarBuds Podcast Collective:
https://earbuds.audio/
Pinwheel by Audily:
https://pinwheelshows.com/

The post Podcast Growth and Discovery in 2026 | Arielle Nissenblatt #655 first appeared on New Media Show.

As AI becomes more embedded into content creation, discovery, and distribution, one truth is becoming clearer: the long-term winners in media may not be the fastest or the most automated. They may be the most human.

That was the core idea behind this conversation with Erin Diehl of Improve It! and the host of the Workday Playdate Podcast, and New Media Show host and Podcast Hall of Fame Inductee Rob Greenlee on New Media Show Episode 654, where we explored what it really means to build a media business rooted in trust, emotional connection, authenticity, and memorable audience experiences.

Erin Diehl, founder of improve it! and host of the Workday Playdate podcast, brings a distinctive perspective to this discussion.

Her work sits at the intersection of improv, leadership, communication, and community-building. On her podcast and in her live workshops, she focuses on helping people reconnect with empathy, listening, adaptability, humor, and playfulness as practical tools for stronger communication and leadership. Erin describes those same qualities as the traits of both a great improviser and a great human, and that framing shaped this entire conversation. (itserindiehl.com)

What made this episode especially timely is that it did not treat AI as the enemy. Instead, it argued that AI is becoming part of the infrastructure of modern media, especially in discovery, distribution, workflow, and scale, while human presence remains the true differentiator. I said during the episode that creators are still in the human media business, and Erin agreed that what continues to work is the authenticity of human experience.

That idea matters because audiences are increasingly surrounded by an abundance of content. When everything becomes easier to generate, the value of presence, perspective, vulnerability, and emotional resonance goes up.

Erin argued that humanity is not becoming less important in the AI era. It is becoming more important. She pointed to empathy, trust, culture, and connection as qualities that are not going away, even as new technologies reshape jobs, workflows, and media formats.

A major theme in this conversation was the role of play in serious work. Erin’s approach is not about being frivolous. It is about using play, improv, and emotional openness to create real breakthroughs in communication. In her workshops, she guides people step by step out of their comfort zones, not to embarrass them but to help them reconnect with spontaneity, attentiveness, and confidence. She explained that many adults lose that natural instinct for play as they grow older, replacing it with judgment, self-doubt, and emotional caution. Her work is designed to reverse some of that pattern and reawaken more authentic human interaction.

We also talked about how this translates directly into content creation. Erin shared that her podcast has become more than just a show. It is part of a broader ecosystem that supports her workshops, speaking, community, and business growth. She uses monthly themes to shape her episodes, guest selection, social content, and offers. That strategy helps create consistency, clarity, and a stronger trust pathway between audience attention and business outcomes. It is a smart reminder that a podcast today often works best when it is part of a larger media and relationship-building system.

Another valuable part of this episode was Erin’s openness about team building. She made it clear that creating across podcasting, social media, video, live events, and community is difficult to sustain on one’s own. She credited her team with helping manage production, guest coordination, marketing, logistics, sales, and creative execution. That is an important lesson for professional creators and media entrepreneurs. Building a durable media business often means building systems and support around your voice, not trying to do every part of the machine alone.

We also dug into mindset, self-expression, and the emotional reality of being a creator today. Erin spoke candidly about doubt, comparison, and the danger of code-switching or muting your true personality to fit an environment. Her advice was direct: find the people, audiences, and teams that allow you to be more fully yourself. In a media environment increasingly shaped by algorithmic incentives and imitation, that may be one of the most important strategic advantages a creator can have.

This episode is really about a bigger question facing everyone in podcasting, video, and digital media right now: if AI can help produce and distribute content at scale, what still makes a creator matter? The answer from this conversation is not just better tools or smarter systems. It is humanity. It is the ability to make people feel seen, understood, energized, and connected. That is what creates trust. That is what builds community. And that is what makes a media business more durable over time.

Brief Episode Description

In New Media Show Episode 654, Rob Greenlee talks with Erin Diehl, founder of improve it! and host of Workday Playdate, about what it takes to build a truly human media business in an AI-driven era.

They explore why trust, empathy, emotional intelligence, playfulness, authenticity, and community may become even more valuable as AI expands across media creation and distribution.

The conversation also looks at how improv principles can strengthen podcasting, leadership, content strategy, live events, and audience connection. Erin shares how she built her business and shows around human transformation, while Rob frames why creators still need to think of themselves as being in the human media business first.

Key Takeaways

– Creators are still in the human media business, even as AI becomes more useful for discovery, workflow, and distribution.

– Authenticity, empathy, trust, and emotional connection are becoming more valuable as content volume increases.

– Improv skills like listening, adaptability, humor, and presence map directly to stronger media creation and leadership.

– A podcast works best when it is part of a broader ecosystem that includes community, services, events, and business strategy.

– Monthly content themes can help creators build a more focused and sustainable content engine across multiple platforms.

– In-person human experiences still have unique power in an increasingly digital media world.

– A strong team can be essential for creators trying to build across audio, video, social, and live experiences.

– The future of media may depend less on sounding polished and more on being unmistakably human.

Relevant Links

Host Rob Greenlee
https://robgreenlee.com/ (Rob Greenlee)
New Media Show
https://newmediashow.com/ (New Media Show)
Rob Greenlee Live Podcasts
https://robgreenlee.com/live-podcasts/ (Rob Greenlee)
Rob Greenlee & New Media Show YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@RobGreenlee (Rob Greenlee)
Spoken Human Show – YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@spokenhuman (Rob Greenlee)
LinkedIn – Rob Greenlee
https://www.linkedin.com/in/robgreenlee (Rob Greenlee)
Instagram – Rob Greenlee
https://www.instagram.com/robwgreenlee (Rob Greenlee)
X.com – Rob Greenlee
https://x.com/robgreenlee (Rob Greenlee)
Adore Podcast Network
https://AdoreNetwork.com (Rob Greenlee)
Podcast Hall of Fame
https://PodcastHall.com (Rob Greenlee)

Guest Erin Diehl
https://www.itserindiehl.com/meet-erin (itserindiehl.com)
improve it!
https://www.learntoimproveit.com/ (learntoimproveit.com)
Workday Playdate Podcast
https://www.learntoimproveit.com/podcast-page (learntoimproveit.com)
Workday Playdate on Apple Podcasts
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/workday-playdate/id1508450538 (Apple Podcasts)

The post Building a Very Human Media Business | Erin Diehl #654 first appeared on New Media Show.

If you’re trying to figure out how to build a future-proof show in 2026, the answer is not a new platform or a new gimmick.

Podcasting is changing expectations. Audiences judge creators like brands, platforms reward shows that behave like programs, and AI is raising the baseline quality while making trust and differentiation harder to earn.

On this episode #653 of The New Media Show,  Rob Greenlee (Podcast Hall of Fame Chairperson, 2017 inductee), and am joined by Anika Jackson, founder of Your Brand Amplified and faculty at USC Annenberg, where she teaches podcasting and digital media management.

Anika brings a rare educator-operator perspective because she’s building in the real world while shaping how the next generation of creators thinks about content, AI personalities, human clones, business, and audience growth.

Listen and follow: https://newmediashow.com/ and https://robgreenlee.com/
Learn more about Anika: https://yourbrandamplified.com/

A big theme in this conversation is that future-proofing is a systems problem, not a motivation problem.

Creators are pulled toward audio, video, clips, social, newsletters, community, sponsors, and now AI tools. The ones who win in the long term are the ones who turn chaos and complexity into a repeatable content engine. That starts with a clear show promise, a consistent format, and a realistic publishing rhythm you can sustain.

We also dig into AI in podcasting as leverage, not the story. AI can accelerate production tasks, packaging, and distribution, but it cannot replace the point of view. In a world where “good enough” content is easy to generate, the advantage shifts to trust, taste, credibility, and consistency. If you want your show to perform in AI search results and platform recommendations, clarity matters. Tight topic lanes, explicit language that matches what people search for, and a library of episodes that consistently deliver on the promise of your title and description.

We touch the platform battlefield too. YouTube continues to shape expectations around search and discovery, while Apple’s renewed push into advanced video podcast delivery, including HLS workflows, signals more competition and more fragmentation. The takeaway is not that everyone must do video, but that show packaging and distribution can’t be stuck in the past. Audio-first can still win, but the strategy has to match modern consumption.

Anika also shares what she’s seeing with emerging creators, including more students creating in their own languages and leaning into global communities. With AI-driven translation, transcription, and metadata, multilingual growth is becoming more achievable than ever for creators willing to build for it intentionally.

Chapters:
00:00 Welcome and 2026 Theme
01:34 Meet Anika Jackson
04:03 Teaching Podcasting as Business
04:37 Global Languages and AI Skills
06:30 Broadcast to Podcast Shift
10:03 Liquid Content and PESO
12:00 Delphi Clones and Feedback Loops
15:07 AI Influencers and Trust
22:55 Purpose and Human Connection
29:03 IP Copyright and Monetization Models
31:21 LLM Economics and Ethics
34:53 Humans Behind AI Content
35:30 AI Translator Jobs
36:49 Human in the Loop Reality
37:37 AI in Media and Medicine
38:24 YouTube Shifts to Longform
39:34 Creator Teams and Monetization
40:48 Global Access and Digital Divide
42:47 Personal AI Workflows and Search
44:05 Websites SEO and LLM Traffic
46:42 Students Creativity and Careers
51:24 Disclosure and AI Clones
54:28 Labeling Standards and Regulation
59:45 Ads, Agents, and App Ecosystems
01:02:18 Podcast Wrap and Farewell

Host
Rob Greenlee
https://robgreenlee.com
https://www.youtube.com/@RobGreenlee
https://www.youtube.com/@spokenhuman
https://www.linkedin.com/in/robgreenlee
https://www.instagram.com/robwgreenlee
https://x.com/robgreenlee
https://AdoreNetwork.com
https://PodcastHall.com

Guest
Anika Jackson:
https://yourbrandamplified.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anikajackson
Your Brand Amplified (Apple Podcasts): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-brand-amplified/id1543221243

The post How to Build a Future Proof Show in 2026 | Anika Jackson #653 first appeared on New Media Show.

On Episode 652 of the New Media Show, host Rob Greenlee shares a screen with Lauren Shippen, Creative Director at Atypical Artists, to tackle a growing tension in creator media around audio fiction, which is thriving as a storytelling format but is being pressure-tested by the industry’s video-first discovery push.

Fiction podcasts did not stop working. What changed is how platforms signal value, how audiences discover new shows, and how creators feel forced to look video-ready to compete.

The real question for fiction creators in 2026 is not “How do I force my story into video?” It is “How do I protect the magic of audio storytelling while adding the right discovery layers for today’s platforms?”

Lauren shares what fiction creators often misunderstand about sustainability, what typically breaks first when the story stalls, and where video helps, hurts, or becomes unrealistic.

Rob lays out a practical framework for separating audio as the product from video as the discovery layer, plus realistic tiers of visual strategy that will not turn your show into a second production company.

Quick answers for creators

What is the episode about
A practical conversation about protecting audio fiction storytelling while adapting to video-driven discovery across platforms in 2026.

Should fiction podcasts become video podcasts to grow
Not automatically. The strategy is to keep audio as the core product and use video selectively as a discovery layer when it improves reach without breaking the production model.

What is the biggest mistake fiction creators make
Trying to solve growth with promotion before fixing story retention fundamentals like onboarding, pacing, cadence, and season design.

How should fiction shows think about video?
As budget tiers. Start with lightweight discovery assets and only move toward full narrative adaptation if the economics and workflow support it.

Topics we cover

– Why fiction creators feel pulled between story-first goals and video-first platform expectations
– The top growth inputs fiction creators still control, even when platforms shift
– Story architecture that drives retention before promotion pacing, onboarding, cadence, and season design
– Video pressure: what is real, what is hype, and what creators should ignore
– Audio only vs video for fiction when format helps and when it hurts
– Budget tiers for video lightweight discovery assets vs full narrative adaptation
– Trailers as conversion assets and how to build a simple start here listener path
– Why human recommendations still beat algorithm chasing for story shows
Community reality checks what to prove before building Discord or fan spaces
– Where AI helps scripted storytelling workflows, and where it can damage authorship and trust
– A practical 30-day growth plan for fiction podcasters

Chapters:

00:00 Story Versus Screen
01:41 Meet Lauren Shippen
03:22 What Counts As Podcast
06:00 Video As Discovery
08:18 Netflix Podcast Strategy
15:30 Monetization And Paywalls
19:48 Apple Video Feed Tension
22:36 Always On Audio Fiction
27:47 Audience Growth Beyond Podcasts
32:50 AI Slop Versus Art
40:21 Sports Analogy For AI
42:38 Why AI Lacks Heart
43:31 Gaming and Interactive Futures
45:03 If Everyone Can Generate It
47:10 The Internet Shapes AI Adoption
48:45 Podcasting as Human Story
51:14 Blurring Fiction and Truth
54:01 Atypical Artist Slate Tour
57:17 Making Shows Work Economically
01:03:54 Producing and Adapting Workflow
01:06:04 Origin Story Bright Sessions
01:10:21 New Projects and Immersive Marketing
01:14:14 Serial Model and Journalism Worries
01:15:38 Fiction Podcast Evolution
01:17:22 Wrap Up and Next Episode Tease

Featured projects mentioned

The Bright Sessions
Rebel Robin
2000 and Late
Breaker Whiskey

Resource Links:

Host: Rob Greenlee [https://robgreenlee.com]
The New Media Show [https://newmediashow.com/]
Adore Network [https://AdoreNetwork.com]
Podcast Hall of Fame [https://PodcastHall.com]
Rob on YouTube [https://YouTube.com/@RobGreenlee]
Rob on LinkedIn [https://LinkedIn.com/in/robgreenlee]

Guest: Lauren Shippen [https://www.laurenshippen.com/]
Atypical Artists [https://www.atypicalartists.co/]

Book Rob Calendly [https://calendly.com/robgreenlee]

The post Can Fiction Story Podcasts Survive Video Push | Lauren Shippen #652 first appeared on New Media Show.

On Weds, February 18th Live Episode #651 of the New Media Show, Rob Greenlee, Host, 2017 Podcast Hall of Famer and CEO of Trust Factor Lab at https://RobGreenlee.com, and James Cridland, Editor, https://Podnews.net and 2026 Podcast Hall of Famer discuss Apple’s announcement of a new and improved video podcast experience in the Apple Podcasts app and what it changes technically and strategically heading into 2026. 

They explain how video was previously active in Apple Podcasts but was hidden and poorly presented in the iOS apps, and how this new updated experience makes video playback front and center, with a “turn video off” option that keeps the audio track playing. 

The episode breaks down Apple’s preferred move to HLS-based on-demand video delivery (via a separate, proprietary API HLS video streaming pass-through submission from approved hosting partners) while still supporting legacy MP4 video via RSS. 

They cover HLS basics (chunked delivery, adaptive quality, reduced bandwidth, and hosting costs), improved seeking/scrubbing versus progressive MP4 playback, and new measurement implications (better insight into drop-off and ad viewing). A major focus is monetization: Apple plans to enable dynamic ad insertion for HLS video and charge a per-impression fee, positioning Apple to take revenue without operating an ad business. 

The conversation notes early launch partners (Acast, Art19, Omny Studio, Simplecast), questions about specs and rollout timing (an app update is likely by the end of March; dynamic ad features later in the year), and the risk of platform fragmentation as distribution shifts from open RSS to proprietary APIs. 

James and Rob discuss alternate enclosures (Podcasting 2.0) as an open path to wider app support, reference iHeart’s stated support for video via RSS alternate enclosures, and highlight creator concerns about losing separate audio edits when video replaces the audio feed during playback. 

They also touch on device support (not initially on Apple TV; CarPlay doesn’t show video; Vision Pro support) and briefly discuss future RSS innovation ideas like comments, payments, transcripts, and location tags, plus a short note on upcoming podcast events (Podcast Show London, Podcast Movement New York, Podcast Movement at SXSW).

Chapter Topics:
00:00 Welcome + Why Apple’s Video Podcast Update Matters
01:31 Apple Brings Video Front-and-Center (and Why Now)
06:00 The New Playback Experience: Full-Screen Video & One Feed
10:49 How Apple’s HLS Video Works (and Why It’s Better)
11:36 The Money Shift: Dynamic Video Ads & Apple’s Per-Impression Fee
17:59 Rollout Timeline, Unknown Specs, and Early Partner Shows
23:54 Partners, Two Ingestion Paths, and the RSS vs HLS Debate
34:47 Hands-On Demo: Video Icons, Turn Video Off, and MP4 vs HLS
39:47 Bandwidth, Scrubbing, and What HLS Enables for Measurement
44:16 Quality/Resolution Questions + Missing Apple TV (for Now)
46:26 CarPlay & Vision Pro: Where Apple Podcasts Video Actually Plays
47:09 Will HLS Replace MP3 for Audio? Monetization, Costs, and Reality Check
49:51 Apple vs Spotify: Open Hosting, Dynamic Ads, and Why This Helps Creators
52:30 Audio Isn’t ‘Video Without Pictures’: Why Separate Edits Matter
55:21 Will It Work With Spotify for Creators? Partners, Megaphone, and Pressure
01:00:02 How HLS Interstitials Work: Client-Side Ad Breaks and Spec Unknowns
01:07:48 Keeping RSS Relevant: Alternate Enclosures, Comments, Payments, and New Tags
01:13:48 Local Podcasting & Specialized Apps: Location Tag, TuneIn, and the Future
01:20:20 Wrap-Up: Conferences, Cold Weather, and Final Goodbyes

What you will learn in this episode
– How Apple’s HLS video differs from RSS MP4 enclosures in real-world creator workflows 

– Why HLS segment-based delivery enables adaptive streaming and modern video ad insertion – What Apple’s limited launch partner list means for hosting competition and creator choice

 (Podnews) – https://podnews.net/article/video-apple-podcasts-details

– How Apple Podcasts Connect API keys work, and what they do and do not grant to hosting providers – https://podcasters.apple.com/support/5593-how-to-publish-video
– How creators should decide between RSS video, Apple HLS video, and other platform video strategies in 2026 – https://www.theverge.com/tech/879749/apple-podcasts-video-swap-hls-live-streaming

Links for show notes

Watch live or On Demand
https://newmediashow.com

Apple announcement
https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2026/02/apple-introduces-a-new-video-podcast-experience-on-apple-podcasts/

Apple creator documentation
https://podcasters.apple.com/video-apple-podcasts 
https://podcasters.apple.com/support/5593-how-to-publish-video
https://podcasters.apple.com/support/3684-video-podcasts 

Podnews analysis
https://podnews.net/article/video-apple-podcasts-details 
https://podnews.net/update/apple-podcasts-hero 

Guest James Cridland, Editor, https://Podnews.net
https://james.cridland.net/biography/ 

Host Rob Greenlee, 2017 Podcast Hall of Fame Inductee
https://robgreenlee.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/robgreenlee
https://www.youtube.com/@RobGreenlee
https://x.com/robgreenlee
https://PodcastHall.com

The post Apple’s New Video Podcast Deep Dive | James Cridland #651 first appeared on New Media Show.

AI-generated podcast hosts and shows are rapidly changing podcasting, video podcasting, and the creator economy across all distribution platforms, including AI LLMs.

In this episode of The New Media Show Live #650 from Feb 4th, 2026, Host Rob Greenlee, CEO/Founder of Trust Factor Lab, explores how AI-generated podcasts affect people, trust, and the future of media with Jeanine Wright, Co-Founder and CEO of Inception Point AI.

Jeanine Wright will help us better understand what Inception Point AI is building and why AI-generated personalities are different from human-created podcasts and AI-assisted editing tools.

This conversation is designed to help podcasters, creators, media executives, and advertisers understand AI-generated podcast content without fear. It will be a clear, accurate discussion about how synthetic hosts work, how audiences respond emotionally, and what the next 12 to 24 months may look like as AI improves.

As humans seem to be rejecting AI-generated content, its human consumption is growing and quality is rapidly improving.

Key topics covered in this 60-minute conversation
-AI-generated podcast hosts and synthetic media explained in plain language
-How AI personalities are created using story plus technology
-How listeners build trust and emotional attachment with AI voices
-Disclosure and transparency for AI-generated content
-Authenticity and credibility in AI-created podcasts versus human-created podcasts
-Ethics, consent, voice, likeness, and IP issues in synthetic media
-Brand safety, advertising readiness, and monetization for AI-hosted shows
-Platform discovery and distribution when AI content volume explodes
-What human creators should do now to stay differentiated and future-proof?
-Practical strategies for building trust and growth in 2026 and beyond

Who this episode is for
-Podcast creators and video creators
-Media companies, podcast networks, and platform teams
-Advertisers and brand safety leaders
-Listeners curious about AI-generated content and the future of podcasting

Watch live at YouTube.com/@RobGreenlee and join the conversation
Watch On-Demand/Podcast Audio and Video Versions at https://newmediashow.com 

Guest
Jeanine Wright, Inception Point AI
https://www.inceptionpoint.ai

Host
Rob Greenlee
https://robgreenlee.com
https://www.youtube.com/@RobGreenlee
https://www.youtube.com/@spokenhuman
https://www.linkedin.com/in/robgreenlee
https://www.instagram.com/robwgreenlee
https://x.com/robgreenlee
https://AdoreNetwork.com
https://PodcastHall.com

00:00 Introduction to the New Media Show
00:55 Guest Introduction: Janine Wright
01:42 Addressing AI Controversies
05:18 AI’s Impact on Jobs and Content Quality
13:36 Exploring AI-Generated Content
14:41 AI Personalities and Content Creation
22:42 Future of AI in Content Creation
31:32 Transparency and Ethical Considerations
43:25 Human Creators in an AI-Driven World
46:40 Exploring Swap Farms and Bot Traffic
47:28 The Evolution of Podcast Quality
50:45 AI in Video Content Creation
52:20 Digital Clones and Ethical Considerations
56:50 AI Personalities and Content Creation
01:04:19 The Future of AI in Podcasting
01:23:09 Advertiser Reactions and Industry Impact
01:25:43 Final Thoughts and Future Conversations

The post How AI-Created Podcasts Impacting Humans? | Jeanine Wright #650 first appeared on New Media Show.

This week in episode 649 of the New Media Show, Rob Greenlee is joined by Jordan Harbinger to unpack the question creators ask nonstop in 2026:

What actually grows a podcast or show (and what doesn’t)?

– Jordan’s core answer is refreshingly “boring,” but real: long-term consistency, and realistic expectations about how long monetization can take—even for shows that eventually become huge.

From there, the conversation expands into the bigger shift happening right now:

– Audio podcasts increasingly competing (and collaborating) with video ecosystems especially YouTube where the “rules” and algorithmic expectations are fundamentally different from audio distribution.

They also dig into platform strategy and brand-fit tension like whether “talk show” style content truly belongs on Netflix, and why creators may face tough tradeoffs when platforms want exclusivity that can limit reach elsewhere.

After Jordan wraps and leaves the show, Rob closes with a rapid-fire, ranked set of growth plays emphasizing that none are magic bullets, but together they form a practical menu you can test based on your format and audience:

– Short-form clips (done well) to reach different audiences while recognizing shorts viewers don’t always convert to long-form listeners/viewers.

– Guest/social amplification that’s genuinely value-add (not generic promo spam).

– Niche community, value-first posting built around knowing exactly who your show serves.

– Owned audience via email/newsletter + even a WhatsApp group concept.

– AI clip volume + testing (alternate cuts, tighter versions, experimentation).

– Structured cross-promos / feed drops with comparable shows and fair “impressions”-style thinking.

– Video distribution expansion including Spotify video (if Spotify makes changes) as another potential growth surface—and the emerging “start audio, finish video” behavior across devices.

Guest: Jordan Harbinger
Website: https://www.jordanharbinger.com
Podcast: https://www.jordanharbinger.com/podcast/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JordanHarbinger
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jordanharbinger/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanharbinger
X: https://x.com/jordanharbinger

Host: Rob Greenlee and New Media Show Links
Rob Greenlee Website – https://robgreenlee.com/
New Media Show (Audio & Video) – https://newmediashow.com/
New Media Show Audio (Apple Podcasts) – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-media-show-audio/id392545649
Rob Greenlee on YouTube – https://youtube.com/@RobGreenlee
Podfest Expo – https://podfestexpo.com – https://podcasthall.com

The post What Actually Grows a Podcast or Show Now? | Jordan Harbinger #649 first appeared on New Media Show.

The New Media Show #648 Live On-Stage at Podfest Expo (Jan 16, 2026)

Where Audio, Video, and AI Flow Together Recorded live on stage at Podfest Expo in Orlando,  Rob Greenlee is joined by three of the smartest voices shaping where podcasting is headed right now: James Cridland (Podnews), Rox Codes (Flightcast), and Philip Nelson (Nelco Media).

This episode tackles the collision of audio RSS, platform-native video, and AI-powered creator workflows and why the podcast conversation in 2026 is less about labels and more about content that works everywhere.

What we cover:
-Audio podcasting vs video podcasting and what audiences actually want
-Why content first matters more than format wars
-The roots of video in early podcasting and why it feels full circle again
-Fragmented audiences across YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Shorts
-Practical creator strategy packaging, titles, thumbnails, retention, and workflow systems that scale

Guests and Links:

James Cridland
Podnews – https://podnews.net/
Podnews Weekly Review – https://weekly.podnews.net/

Rox Codes
Flightcast – https://flightcast.com/
Rox Codes – https://rox.codes/

Philip Nelson
Nelco Media – https://nelco.media/
Philip Nelson – https://nelco.media/about/

Rob Greenlee and New Media Show Links
Rob Greenlee Website – https://robgreenlee.com/
New Media Show (Audio & Video) – https://newmediashow.com/
New Media Show Audio (Apple Podcasts) – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-media-show-audio/id392545649
Rob Greenlee on YouTube – https://youtube.com/@RobGreenlee
Podfest Expo – https://podfestexpo.com – https://podcasthall.com

The post Where Audio, Video, and AI Flow Together | Podfest Panel #648 first appeared on New Media Show.

The New Media Show Episode 647 Live on Jan 21st, 20026 at 6pm ET.

Show Topic: Digital Creator 2026 Money Playbook

Content Creator’s Business and Financial Strategies are moving faster than ever with video, audio podcasting, AI tools, and nonstop platform changes, but many are still running the business side like a hobby.

The New Media Show with Rob Greenlee is joined live by Ralph Estep Jr, licensed accountant and host of The Content Creators Accountant, to break down the simple money systems creators need to turn creator chaos into calm financial clarity. If you earn from YouTube AdSense, brand deals and UGC, affiliate income, memberships and subscriptions, courses, coaching, digital products, or PayPal and Stripe payouts, this episode is built for you.

Topics we cover:

– How to separate business money from personal without overcomplicating it
– How to track income across multiple platforms without headaches
– How to set aside taxes automatically even in uneven months
– How to make smarter gear decisions without wrecking cash flow
– How to build simple repeatable financial systems that creators can follow
– What to focus on in 2026 to run a real creator business that lasts
– 2026 Podcast Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Jan 16th, 2026

Watch Live and Subscribe:

New Media Show Website – https://newmediashow.com
Rob Greenlee Website – https://robgreenlee.com
Rob Greenlee YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@RobGreenlee
Podcast Hall of Fame – https://podcasthall.com
Adore Creator Network – https://AdoreNetwork.com
Passion Struck Network – https://PassionStruckNetwork.com
Rob Greenlee LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/robgreenlee
Book Rob Greenlee – https://calendly.com/robgreenlee

Ralph Estep Jr Links:
Content Creators Accountant Website and free resources https://contentcreatorsaccountant.com
The Content Creators Accountant Podcast https://contentcreatorsaccountant.com/podcast

The post Digital Creator 2026 Money Playbook | Ralph Estep Jr. #647 first appeared on New Media Show.