New Media Show (Audio)

What Actually Grows a Podcast or Show Now? | Jordan Harbinger #649

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

Where Audio, Video, and AI Flow Together | Podfest Panel #648

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

Digital Creator 2026 Money Playbook | Ralph Estep Jr. #647

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

Shocking Change: Video, AI, and RSS Podcasting | Dave Jackson #646

In this new episode from a LIVE Jan 7th, 2026 New Media Show, Host RobGreenlee.com is joined by Dave Jackson (School of Podcasting and co-host of Ask the Podcast Coach) to unpack why the current shift toward video and AI feels like an earthquake inside podcasting, while the YouTube creator world treats it like a normal day. We dig into how creators are now forced to play two games at once: the RSS subscription game and the algorithm discovery game especially for video, and why the definition debates did not matter as much as audience behavior. Rob and Dave also get practical about what breaks and what endures, including growing frustration with heavy ad loads and pre-roll stacking, the realities of programmatic monetization, and why the first thing a listener should hear is you. We cover where video delivery and monetization are heading (including HLS and video ad insertion), why “watch something” still defaults to YouTube for most people, and what Apple Podcasts would need to change if it ever wanted to truly reprioritize RSS-based video podcasting again. Plus, a look at what live content signals in an AI-accelerated era, including the idea of live as proof of life and real-time audience feedback. Rob also shares reminders about Podfest Expo (Jan 14–18 in Orlando) and the upcoming 2026 Podcast Hall of Fame activity on Jan 16th, 2026 (PodcastHall.com). Topics Covered: – Video becoming default across platforms – AI accelerating the creator loop and increasing pressure to optimize for algorithms – RSS portability, ownership, and the growing discovery gap – Programmatic ads, pre-roll backlash, and audience ad tolerance – HLS, video ad insertion, and why the ad infrastructure is pushing streaming delivery – Apple Podcasts video discoverability problems and what would need to change – Netflix exclusivity lessons after the Spotify era of exclusives – Live as proof of life in a world flooding with synthetic content Hosts Links New Media Show: https://newmediashow.com/ Rob Greenlee: https://robgreenlee.com/ Rob on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RobGreenlee Rob on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robgreenlee Rob on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robwgreenlee/ Podcast Hall of Fame: https://podcasthall.com/ Podfest Expo: https://podfestexpo.com/ Dave Jackson, School of Podcasting: https://schoolofpodcasting.com/ Ask the Podcast Coach (Live Saturdays): https://askthepodcastcoach.com/ The post Shocking Change: Video, AI, and RSS Podcasting | Dave Jackson #646 first appeared on New Media Show.

What’s a Podcast Era Is Over – Welcome Liquid Content Era #645

This week (December 17th, 2025) on episode #645 of The New Media Show with Rob Greenlee host is joined by longtime podcasting pioneer and returning guest co-host Cliff Ravenscraft, the Podcast Answer Man, for a wide-ranging and timely conversation about where podcasting has been and where it’s heading next. The episode opens with a reflection on the long-running industry debate around the definition of a podcast and why that question has resurfaced so often over the last few years. Rob and Cliff explore how audience behavior has quietly moved ahead of industry debates, shifting consumption toward a mix of audio, video, livestreams, and platforms like YouTube, often without waiting for permission or consensus. Cliff shares the full story behind his return to the Podcast Answer Man brand after stepping away years ago, including why he left, what he focused on during his time away, and what changes in the podcasting and creator landscape made this the right moment to come back. He reflects on two decades in podcasting, helping tens of thousands of creators launch shows, and why many creators today feel overwhelmed by conflicting advice around video, algorithms, and monetization. Rob introduces the concept of podcasting’s evolving eras, beginning with the often-forgotten “Zero Era” where audio and video podcasting coexisted early on, followed by the MeUndies era, the experimentation and acquisition boom, and the more recent identity-crisis phase defined by the question “What is a podcast?” Together, Rob and Cliff discuss why the industry may now be entering what’s being called the Liquid Content Era, where shows are no longer confined to a single format and content flows across feeds, platforms, and experiences. The conversation digs into the tension between creator intent and audience convenience, the role of RSS in a changing ecosystem, and the risks of letting algorithms dictate creative decisions. Cliff offers a counterbalance to the pressure many creators feel to be everywhere at once, emphasizing that audio-only podcasting can still succeed when aligned with clear goals, sustainable workflows, and meaningful audience relationships. The episode also explores production quality, evolving audio standards, video integration challenges, international podcast growth, and why podcasting remains a powerful global medium despite constant claims that it’s “over” or “dead.” This episode is both a reality check and a recalibration, encouraging creators to stop defending definitions, focus on serving audiences, and choose formats intentionally rather than reactively. Join the conversation in comments, and be part of the discussion about what podcasting really means now and what it can become next. Rob Greenlee Rob Greenlee Website https://RobGreenlee.com New Media Show for Audio and Video RSS feeds https://NewMediaShow.com Adore Podcast Network https://AdoreNetwork.com Adore Creator Community on Skool https://Skool.com/AdoreNetwork Podcast Hall of Fame https://PodcastHall.com https://YouTube.com/@OfficialPodcastHallofFame The Pro Creator Playbook with Rob Greenlee Audio podcast https://www.adorenetwork.com/show/pro-creator-playbook-audio/ Video show https://www.adorenetwork.com/show/pro-creator-playbook-video/ Spoken Life Show https://www.adorenetwork.com/show/spoken-life-show/ Spoken Human show on YouTube https://YouTube.com/@spokenhuman Rob Greenlee YouTube channel https://YouTube.com/@RobGreenlee Cliff Ravenscraft https://CliffRavenscraft.com https://PodcastAnswerMan.comThe post What’s a Podcast Era Is Over – Welcome Liquid Content Era #645 first appeared on New Media Show.