Media Roundtable

So… what is a podcast in 2025? As video takes over and platforms tighten their grip, the medium faces an identity crisis. In our final episode, we examine what’s at stake and where podcasting might go next. You’ll hear from industry leaders like Guy Raz, James Cridland, Dan Franks, and AJ Feliciano as they wrestle with the evolving definition of podcasting, the tension between independence and algorithms, and the future of audio-first storytelling. Because the word “podcast” might be up for debate—but its power is not. For the most comprehensive picture of what podcasting means to consumers today, check out our accompanying white paper with Edison Research, “What is a Podcast?: Preserving its Essence, Structuring for Expansion,” featuring quantitative and qualitative data compiled from over 4,000 Americans. Download the White Paper Here: https://oxfordroad.com/whats-a-podcast And if you’re really invested in the future of podcasting, there’s something you can do today. Help us bring YouTube, Spotify, and other platforms to the table—not to regulate, but to collaborate. Sign our petition for a shared definition, an open measurement framework, and a future where podcasting remains open, inclusive, and built to last. Add Your Name to the Petition Here: https://chng.it/6S5S7bPrjR See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After Serial broke the sound barrier, podcasting went from niche to everywhere—fast. In this episode, we follow the industry through its Hollywood makeover, the rise of podcast celebrities, and a pandemic-era boom that flooded the market with new voices. Hear from insiders like Bryan Barletta, Pete Birsinger, and the Meiselas Brothers on how podcasting became a business, a brand builder–for D2C brands and podcasters’ personal brands alike–and a battleground for independence. From million-dollar deals to the chaos of overproduction, this is the story of podcasting’s wildest decade. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Podcasting didn’t start with a business plan—it started with rebels, weirdos, and accidental pioneers tinkering in garages. In Episode 1 of What’s A Podcast?, we trace the medium’s origin story—from the earliest RSS hacks to the moment Steve Jobs brought podcasts to iTunes. Along the way, you’ll hear from Adam Carolla and Leo Laporte on bypassing traditional media, and Ira Glass on how public radio helped shape podcasting’s storytelling DNA. Featuring firsthand interviews with the people who built podcasting before it had a name—and who are still fighting to define what it is today. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The world’s only podcast solely dedicated to audio ads is back! Brought to you by this week’s sponsor Claritas, we give you Ad Infinitum Season 3, Episode 2 - "Stay Safe in Sound." Host Stew Redwine (VP, Creative Services, Oxford Road) welcomes journalist Suzanne Rico to talk about her deeply personal, fascinating podcast The Man Who Calculated Death. Suzanne did the hard work of reconciling with her grandfather Robert Lusser’s dark legacy as a Nazi scientist, then had to find a way to sell her show to networks and advertisers. Suzanne and Stew dive into why difficult subject matter done well is well worth supporting. “Clarity has a cleverness all of its own.”Stew Redwine (VP, Creative Services, Oxford Road)And no episode of Ad Infinitum is complete with an ad break-down. This week, Stew and Suzanne check out winners and losers from BetterHelp, Amazon Pharmacy, Rocket Money, and Ritual. Let’s dig in. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Media Roundtable is back with our very special Podcasthon episode supporting the Koala Corps. Plus, a blockbuster industry edition with a round-up of last week’s biggest audio industry moves. Fearless host James Ingrassia, (EVP of Client Services, Oxford Road) welcomes fellow audio all-stars: - James Cridland, (Editor, Podnews and Podcast Business Journal) - Neal Lucey, (EVP of Strategy & Product, Oxford Road) - Spencer Semonson, (Media Supervisor, Oxford Road) - Courtney O’Connor (Director of Podcast Media, Veritone One) “ If you cut your advertising, fewer people will buy your stuff.” - James Cridland, (Editor, Podnews and Podcast Business Journal)   The team is talking: Podcasting for Good, YouTube Lite, Wondery’s FAST moves, Tariffs vs Ad Budgets, and more. Let’s jump in. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.