New Media Show (Audio)

Can Apple Make Video Podcasts Matter? | Jay Nachlis #656

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 LinksJay 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 LinksNew 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/@robgreenleeRob Greenlee LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/robgreenleeRob Greenlee Instagram: https://instagram.com/robwgreenlee The post Can Apple Make Video Podcasts Matter? | Jay Nachlis #656 first appeared on New Media Show.

Podcast Growth and Discovery in 2026 | Arielle Nissenblatt #655

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.

Building a Very Human Media Business | Erin Diehl #654

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.

How to Build a Future Proof Show in 2026 | Anika Jackson #653

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.

Can Fiction Story Podcasts Survive Video Push | Lauren Shippen #652

New Media Show #652 with Rob Greenlee and Lauren Shippen 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.