What will podcasting actually look like by the end of 2026, once the hype settles and habits stick?

In this episode, we make grounded predictions about where the medium is heading and what creators may want to do less of. We examine the growing pushback against video-first shows that neglect audio listeners, why audio-only content may regain strength, and how screen fatigue could reshape creator priorities.

We also look at the future of tools and platforms. Where AI editing genuinely saves time, where it risks flattening personality, and why rougher, more human solo content may become more valuable rather than less. We explore distribution too, including what might come next from Spotify, whether Apple Podcasts is likely to evolve, and why open RSS still matters even as video grows.

Finally, we wrap up by looking ahead. Which formats are likely to thrive, how monetisation and advertising may shift, and how creators can decide what is actually worth their time.

Podcraft is brought to you by Alitu and The Podcast Host

Do you still need all the “must-do” podcasting advice that gets recycled every year, or has some of it quietly expired?

In this episode, we revisit a long list of podcasting essentials and ask one question of each: Does this still matter in 2026? We look at what still earns its place, what has changed, and what you can stop worrying about entirely.

The focus is on practical decisions, not trends. When consistency helps and when it gets in the way, why some advice was never essential to begin with, and how much effort makes sense depending on whether your show is a hobby, a growth project, or a business.

The thread throughout is simple. Understand why you are doing something, not just whether you have been told you should.

Do you still need...

• A podcast website?
• A podcast trailer?
• Apple Podcasts reviews?
• A microphone?
• A consistent format or length?
• To launch with three episodes?
• An email list?
• To add metadata to your files?
• Interview guests?
• An RSS feed?
• To listen back to your episodes?

Also mentioned

• Get in touch
• Podpage
• Podcast trailer guide
• Using Rephonic to find collaborators
• The Samson Q2U mic

Podcraft is brought to you by Alitu and The Podcast Host

Can you legally use music, TV clips, or radio audio in your podcast, or is it a fast track to takedowns and trouble?

In this episode, we unpack how copyright actually works for podcasters. What fair use really means, why it is a legal defence rather than permission, and where creators most often get caught out. We look at the practical risks, including automated copyright detection, platform removals, and takedown requests from rights holders.

A quick note before you listen: we are not lawyers. This episode is based on our experience and understanding of how copyright is applied in practice, not legal advice. If you plan to rely on a fair use defence, you should understand the risks involved and make that call deliberately.

Our conversation also widens into modern podcasting workflows. We discuss why video podcasts still need to work as audio-first shows, how many “video listeners” are actually listening in the background, and how relying on visuals can quietly break the experience for most of your audience.

Mentioned

• Where to Get Podcast Music
• The Maono PD200W Hybrid Mic (affiliate link)
• The One Essential Rule Video Podcasters Can't Ignore
• Guardian piece on some video podcasts making for bad audio experiences

Podcraft is brought to you by Alitu and The Podcast Host

Almost all the benefits of podcasting stem from one thing – and that’s consistency. If you publish quality content over a prolonged period of time, you eventually hit a critical mass of episodes you can now call your “back catalogue” – and it’s a powerful tool.

On this episode of Podcraft, we’re going to look at the benefits of this published body of work, which includes the ability for new listeners to binge your content, as well as providing you with a tonne of repurposing options, too.

Following up on our previous episode, From Doubt to Determination, we’ll also continue to explore the barriers and challenges our Indiepod Legends have faced, as well as how they’ve overcome them. It’s another value-packed programme filled with lessons, takeaways, and motivating anecdotes!

The Podcasts

• Bring Your Product Idea to Life
• The Joy of Cruising
• Wild for Scotland
• Travel N Sh!t
• Board Game Design Lab
• She Well Read
• Fighting Through
• Lush Life
• The One Percent Better Runner
• The Savvy Social Podcast
• The Euro Trip
• I Should Be Writing

Podcraft is brought to you by Alitu and The Podcast Host

We test your podcasting knowledge in a series of quizzes and challenges. Along the way, we tackle industry stats, listener behaviour, gear trends, and a mix of real and not-so-real podcasts, while reflecting on the numbers and themes that shaped podcasting over the past year.

Podcraft is brought to you by Alitu and The Podcast Host

Are you using AI to sharpen your thinking, or quietly letting it replace it?

Can podcasters and creators still work with AI without losing the slow, human thinking that makes ideas worth sharing? We talk about using AI as a sounding board rather than a generator, why “thinking walks” still matter, and how convenience can flatten creativity if you are not careful.

There are practical lessons, too. We cover how to handle co-hosted interviews without talking over each other, what changed after a recent home studio move, including audio and lighting choices, and details of a new podcast launch challenge aimed at getting shows live in January.

Mentioned

• The 2026 Podcast Launch Challenge
• 7 Ways to Make Your Content Irresistibly Human in an AI Age
• Tour of Colin's Video Podcast Setup

Colin's Video Lighting (Affiliate Links)

• Neweer LED Panel Lights
• Softbox Attachment
• Grid Attachment
• Philips Hue Strip Lights
• Philips Hue Go Light

Podcraft is brought to you by Alitu and The Podcast Host

Imagine a podcaster who has been publishing for a couple of years. Every time they check their stats, the number is the same.

They assume they have hit a plateau.

So they spend more on marketing. They push harder on promotion. Nothing changes. The number stays flat.

What that number does not show is what is happening underneath. New listeners are finding the show. At the same time, existing listeners are drifting away. Growth and churn are cancelling each other out.

The show is moving. The metric makes it look stuck.

In this episode, we're joined by Dan Misener from Bumper to unpack why download numbers can be misleading, and what better signals actually tell you how your podcast is performing. We also tackle churn head-on. If new listeners are finding your show but not sticking around, we look at what might be driving that drop off and what you can do to change it.

• The Bumper Dashboard
• Colin's tour of the Bumper Dashboard & Podcraft's analytics
• How to Calculate Your Podcast Listen Time
• The 2026 Podcast Launch Challenge

Podcraft is brought to you by Alitu and The Podcast Host

Fiction podcasts often hold listeners for longer than non-fiction shows. But what can non-fiction creators learn from this?

We break down the simple storytelling tools that keep audiences hooked, including open loops, stronger intros, clearer arcs, and themed seasons. We also highlight some easy wins that improve retention, such as smoother transitions, cleaner audio, and titles that set clearer expectations.

We then dive into a detailed review of a history and policy podcast and explore the lessons it offers for growth. Naming clarity, smarter show notes, and better use of a back catalogue all come up as high-impact opportunities. We also look at ways to reach more listeners through collaborations, community spaces, news-reactive episodes, and in-app promotion. The thread throughout is simple. Strengthen retention first, then build reach with structure, consistency, and relevance.

Mentioned

• Putting the Past to Work: The History-Policy Podcast at UCLA
• How to Record the Perfect Podcast Intro
• Apply to be Featured on Apple Podcasts
• The SCALE Podcast Growth Framework
• The Bumper Dashboard: The Future of Podcast Analytics

Podcraft is brought to you by Alitu and The Podcast Host

What if monetising a podcast was simpler than the usual laundry list of tactics suggests? A new model called the Three As breaks earning potential into three clear paths: 

• Audience, which includes supporter perks and light ads
• Authority, which covers coaching, courses, and specialist services
• Assets, which includes books, products, and affiliate income

The aim is to choose the route that fits your show’s size and purpose rather than copy the strategies used by giants.

Elsewhere, recent Independent Podcaster survey results show creators splitting into two broad groups. Audio-first shows follow flexible production routines, while video-led podcasts often feel the pressure of weekly uploads from platforms like YouTube. These differences show up in formats, production time, and a growing worry that video’s rise could narrow the types of stories podcasters feel able to make.

There is also a look at the event season ahead and how to get more from it. The focus is on going in with clear intentions, using the space to meet potential guests, and treating each venue as a chance to make connections rather than sit through panels all day.

The episode ends with practical studio advice. Creating depth behind you, shaping your light, and mixing fixed and angled shots can all lift your visuals without expensive gear. A bit of planning and a thoughtful layout often matter more than the camera you use.

Podcraft is brought to you by Alitu and The Podcast Host

In this conversation, Colin sits down with Craig Hewitt, founder of Castos, to discuss the shifting landscape of content creation. Fresh off completing a 100 Days of YouTube challenge, Craig shares why he chose video over podcasting during that time, what he learned about platform growth, and the powerful truths about podcast numbers versus engagement (where podcasting still shines!)

They explore the convergence of audio, video, and email platforms, the challenges of monetization in podcasting, how AI is reshaping content workflows (without replacing creators), and why a few hundred engaged podcast listeners might be more valuable than 100,000 YouTube views.

Guest

Craig Hewitt - Founder of Castos, a podcast hosting platform. Recently completed 100 Days of AI on YouTube, growing from 250 to 11,000 subscribers. Find him at Castos.com or search "Craig Hewitt" on YouTube.

Chapter Markers

[00:00] Introduction & Catching Up

[02:15] Has Podcasting Changed More in the Last Year?

[05:30] What is Podcasting in 3-5 Years?

[08:45] Craig's 100 Days of YouTube (And No Podcasting)

[12:20] The Convergence of Content Platforms

[16:00] Product Development: When to Expand vs Focus

[20:45] Spotify as a Video Platform

[25:30] Exclusive APIs and Platform Access

[30:15] What Really Matters in Podcast Software

[35:00] The Monetization Challenge

[42:30] AI in Content Creation

[48:00] Building AI-First Products

[52:15] Craig's AI Learnings from 100 Days

[56:45] Growing on YouTube: Concept is Everything

[62:00] The 800 vs 11,000 Paradox

[66:30] Small Audiences, Big Revenue

Key Takeaways

• Platform choice matters: Optimize content for one channel rather than trying to make everything work everywhere
• Engagement beats reach: A few hundred loyal podcast listeners can be more valuable than 100K YouTube views for certain business models
• AI is a tool, not a replacement: It amplifies human capability but requires strategic implementation
• Concept is king on YouTube: Title, thumbnail, and mass appeal trump production quality
• Podcasting works best for: Coaches, consultants, and anyone with high-ticket offerings and existing audiences
• The industry irony: Even podcast hosting companies prioritize YouTube and blogs over their own podcasts

Links & Resources

• Castos: https://castos.com
• Alitu: https://alitu.com (podcast editing and hosting)
• The Podcast Host: https://thepodcasthost.com
• Craig's YouTube: Search "Craig Hewitt Castos"
• Creator Hooks: https://creatorhooks.com (mentioned for title/thumbnail generation)

Notable Quotes

"For certain types of people in certain situations, a podcast is by far the most valuable kind of marketing real estate they can have. The rub is that's not everyone or even most people." - Craig Hewitt

"If you have 1,000 podcast listeners, you might convert 500 of them, but if you have 10,000 YouTube watchers, you might still only convert 500 of them." - Colin Gray

Subscribe to PodCraft for more conversations about running a successful podcast in today's evolving content landscape.

Our Indie Podcasters Report shows that once production goes past six hours, audio-only creators are the ones spending the most time in the edit.

But why?

The answer goes beyond workflow. Audio culture has always valued clean mixes, careful pacing, and detailed sound design, so creators tend to polish every moment. Video makers often move faster by embracing jump cuts and a simple top, tail, publish routine.

That doesn't mean video is the easier path. It brings its own challenges, from codec issues and lighting problems to huge file sizes that slow everything down.

In the end, this isn't a contest between formats. It is about understanding the differences so you can choose the approach that suits your skills, your time, and your goals.

We also put our heads together to try and flesh out a USP for Colin's new podcast, discuss gear-related accessibility issues, and look ahead to the upcoming Black Friday deals season.

Also Mentioned

• Alitu: The Podcast Maker
• Tella
• aiCarousels
• Genspark
• Black Friday for Podcasters
• Seedpace Kids Audio Player
• The Podcraft Academy