Are Podcast Networks becoming Creator Networks? | Greg Wasserman #666
<p data-start="571" data-end="895"><img decoding="async" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-2201" src="https://newmediashow.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/NMS-666-300x300-Episode-Art.jpg" alt="New Media Show with Rob Greenlee and guest Greg Wasserman" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://newmediashow.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/NMS-666-300x300-Episode-Art.jpg 300w, https://newmediashow.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/NMS-666-300x300-Episode-Art-150x150.jpg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />In episode 666 of the New Media Show, hosted by <strong>2017 Podcast Hall of Famer Rob Greenlee</strong>, Rob talks with <strong>Greg Wasserman, Head of Relationships at RSS.com and host of <em data-start="736" data-end="762">Podcast Network Insights</em></strong>, for a <em><strong>deep conversation about one of the biggest questions</strong> facing podcasting, video, creator media, and digital networks right now:</em></p>
<p data-start="946" data-end="1269"><strong>Podcast networks were originally built for an audio-first industry, but audiences have already moved the definition of a podcast beyond audio.</strong> Today, a podcast can be a YouTube show, a Spotify video, an Apple video podcast, a livestream, a short clip, a newsletter, a community, or part of a larger creator-led media brand.</p>
<p data-start="1271" data-end="1693"><strong>Greg brings a unique perspective from his work at RSS.com and from interviewing the leaders behind podcast networks, collectives, production companies, and niche media groups on <em data-start="1449" data-end="1475">Podcast Network Insights</em></strong>. He explains that podcast networks are no longer one simple model. Some are media-sales businesses. Some are community-driven groups. Some operate more like production companies, collectives, or full creator networks.</p>
<blockquote>
<p data-start="1695" data-end="1929"><em><strong>Rob and Greg explore how the network model is shifting as video, live streaming, AI, Apple Podcasts, HLS video, YouTube, Netflix, Spotify, FAST channels, private communities, and creator monetization reshape what podcasting can become.</strong></em></p>
</blockquote>
<p data-start="1931" data-end="2222"><strong>The conversation also asks whether independent podcasters should join networks</strong>, what creators need to understand before making that decision, and why the future may depend less on downloads alone and more on trust, audience relationships, collaboration, niche value, and direct monetization.</p>
<p data-start="2224" data-end="6220">00:00 Welcome to New Media Show #666<br data-start="2260" data-end="2263" /><br />
00:32 Are podcast networks becoming creator networks?<br data-start="2316" data-end="2319" /><br />
01:00 How audiences have already redefined podcasting<br data-start="2372" data-end="2375" /><br />
02:00 Introducing Greg Wasserman from RSS.com<br data-start="2420" data-end="2423" /><br />
03:00 Why Greg created Podcast Network Insights<br data-start="2470" data-end="2473" /><br />
04:00 How different podcast networks define community<br data-start="2526" data-end="2529" /><br />
05:00 Monetization, growth, and the changing role of networks<br data-start="2590" data-end="2593" /><br />
06:00 Internal network community vs audience community<br data-start="2647" data-end="2650" /><br />
07:00 Private communities, subscriptions, and audience relationships<br data-start="2718" data-end="2721" /><br />
08:00 Nova Podcast Network and media-company network models<br data-start="2780" data-end="2783" /><br />
09:00 Cross-promotion and collaboration inside networks<br data-start="2838" data-end="2841" /><br />
10:00 Are creators returning to collaboration?<br data-start="2887" data-end="2890" /><br />
11:00 Podcast networks as media companies<br data-start="2931" data-end="2934" /><br />
13:00 Owned-and-operated shows vs independent rev-share shows<br data-start="2995" data-end="2998" /><br />
15:00 Why ad revenue is not the only network business model<br data-start="3057" data-end="3060" /><br />
16:00 Marketing Podcast Network and niche value<br data-start="3107" data-end="3110" /><br />
17:00 Jay Shetty, Netflix, and platform exclusivity<br data-start="3161" data-end="3164" /><br />
18:00 Is Netflix becoming a podcast network?<br data-start="3208" data-end="3211" /><br />
19:00 Collectives, media companies, and different network definitions<br data-start="3280" data-end="3283" /><br />
20:00 What is a podcast network today?<br data-start="3321" data-end="3324" /><br />
21:00 Production companies and network partnerships<br data-start="3375" data-end="3378" /><br />
23:00 How creators should decide whether to join a network<br data-start="3436" data-end="3439" /><br />
24:00 Understanding your “why” before joining a network<br data-start="3494" data-end="3497" /><br />
25:00 iHeart, ad inventory, and the volume-based network model<br data-start="3559" data-end="3562" /><br />
26:00 Why sponsor status can distract from real monetization<br data-start="3622" data-end="3625" /><br />
27:00 Does network branding still matter?<br data-start="3666" data-end="3669" /><br />
28:00 Pineapple Street, GZM, Disney, and network identity<br data-start="3726" data-end="3729" /><br />
30:00 MCNs, YouTube networks, and the return of multi-channel networks<br data-start="3799" data-end="3802" /><br />
31:00 Silicon Valley, new media networks, and digital-native media<br data-start="3868" data-end="3871" /><br />
34:00 Traditional media adopts podcasting, video, and companion content<br data-start="3942" data-end="3945" /><br />
35:00 Apple Podcasts HLS video as a future distribution channel<br data-start="4008" data-end="4011" /><br />
36:00 Why video attracts higher media dollars<br data-start="4056" data-end="4059" /><br />
37:00 Know, like, and trust as a creator value<br data-start="4103" data-end="4106" /><br />
38:00 Will Apple Podcasts HLS video matter?<br data-start="4149" data-end="4152" /><br />
39:00 Free platforms, hidden costs, and creator control<br data-start="4207" data-end="4210" /><br />
41:00 Future ad dashboards across Spotify, Apple, YouTube, and Twitch<br data-start="4279" data-end="4282" /><br />
42:00 Platform exclusivity, Jay Shetty, Joe Rogan, and audience loss<br data-start="4350" data-end="4353" /><br />
44:00 Creator hustle and why networks cannot do all the work<br data-start="4413" data-end="4416" /><br />
46:00 Subscription fatigue and fragmented media access<br data-start="4470" data-end="4473" /><br />
47:00 More than 20 ways creators can make money<br data-start="4520" data-end="4523" /><br />
48:00 Lean creator teams, production help, and content scale<br data-start="4583" data-end="4586" /><br />
49:00 How podcast networks are using AI<br data-start="4625" data-end="4628" /><br />
50:00 AI-generated voices, sleep content, and audience behavior<br data-start="4691" data-end="4694" /><br />
52:00 AI for ads, scripts, show notes, social, and workflows<br data-start="4754" data-end="4757" /><br />
53:00 AI podcast networks and automated show creation<br data-start="4810" data-end="4813" /><br />
54:00 Agentic workflows and creator production systems<br data-start="4867" data-end="4870" /><br />
56:00 AI-generated content, humanity, and audience trust<br data-start="4926" data-end="4929" /><br />
57:00 Algorithms, AI interfaces, and future discovery<br data-start="4982" data-end="4985" /><br />
58:00 Platform algorithm changes and creator risk<br data-start="5034" data-end="5037" /><br />
59:00 Human connection, live events, and AI video podcasts<br data-start="5095" data-end="5098" /><br />
01:00:00 Why human storytelling still matters<br data-start="5143" data-end="5146" /><br />
01:01:00 Could creators build AI clones of themselves?<br data-start="5200" data-end="5203" /><br />
01:02:00 Avatars, HeyGen, Gemini, and disclosure<br data-start="5251" data-end="5254" /><br />
01:03:00 Human-hosted content labels and AI transparency<br data-start="5310" data-end="5313" /><br />
01:04:00 Video-first creators and separate audio/video feeds<br data-start="5373" data-end="5376" /><br />
01:05:00 Why The New Media Show still uses separate audio and video feeds<br data-start="5449" data-end="5452" /><br />
01:06:00 Audio-first creators, social media, and growth challenges<br data-start="5518" data-end="5521" /><br />
01:07:00 Different networks play different games<br data-start="5569" data-end="5572" /><br />
01:08:00 The future of compelling audio experiences<br data-start="5623" data-end="5626" /><br />
01:09:00 Spatial audio, AI audio, and interactive media<br data-start="5681" data-end="5684" /><br />
01:10:00 Personalized audience experiences and liquid content<br data-start="5745" data-end="5748" /><br />
01:11:00 Can audiences be moved from YouTube to Netflix?<br data-start="5804" data-end="5807" /><br />
01:12:00 Bundling, subscriptions, and platform experiments<br data-start="5865" data-end="5868" /><br />
01:15:00 Algorithms vs human curation<br data-start="5905" data-end="5908" /><br />
01:16:00 Netflix, FAST channels, and new distribution models<br data-start="5968" data-end="5971" /><br />
01:17:00 The technology challenge behind FAST channels<br data-start="6025" data-end="6028" /><br />
01:23:00 Greg’s Tesla and the future of in-car video podcast listening<br data-start="6098" data-end="6101" /><br />
01:24:00 RSS.com, Podcasting 2.0, and AI labeling standards<br data-start="6160" data-end="6163" /><br />
01:25:00 Closing thoughts and where podcasting is heading</p>
<h2 data-section-id="1m15ll9" data-start="6222" data-end="6245">Guest and Host Links</h2>
<p data-start="6247" data-end="6270"><strong>Guest: Greg Wasserman</strong></p>
<p data-start="6272" data-end="6343"><strong>Head of Relationships at RSS.com and host of <em data-start="6317" data-end="6343">Podcast Network Insights</em></strong></p>
<ul data-start="6345" data-end="6588">
<li data-section-id="lqyn8" data-start="6345" data-end="6371">RSS.com: <a class="decorated-link" href="https://rss.com" target="_new" rel="noopener" data-start="6356" data-end="6371">https://rss.com</a></li>
<li data-section-id="166l3lh" data-start="6372" data-end="6437">Greg Wasserman at RSS.com: <a class="decorated-link" href="https://rss.com/blog/greg-wasserman/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_new" rel="noopener" data-start="6401" data-end="6437">https://rss.com/blog/greg-wasserman/</a></li>
<li data-section-id="dt2e4b" data-start="6438" data-end="6516">Podcast Network Insights: <a class="decorated-link" href="https://rss.com/podcasts/podcast-network-insights/" target="_new" rel="noopener" data-start="6466" data-end="6516">https://rss.com/podcasts/podcast-network-insights/</a></li>
<li data-section-id="1fyvsgk" data-start="6517" data-end="6588">Greg Wasserman on LinkedIn: <a class="decorated-link cursor-pointer" target="_new" rel="noopener" data-start="6547" data-end="6588">https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregwasserman</a></li>
</ul>
<p data-start="6590" data-end="6608"><strong>Host: Rob Greenlee</strong></p>
<ul data-start="6610" data-end="6865">
<li data-section-id="y32vgr" data-start="6610" data-end="6652">New Media Show: <a class="decorated-link" href="https://newmediashow.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_new" rel="noopener" data-start="6628" data-end="6652">https://newmediashow.com</a></li>
<li data-section-id="jhg2cr" data-start="6653" data-end="6692">Rob Greenlee: <a class="decorated-link" href="https://robgreenlee.com" target="_new" rel="noopener" data-start="6669" data-end="6692">https://robgreenlee.com</a></li>
<li data-section-id="phxw19" data-start="6693" data-end="6740">Podcast Hall of Fame: <a class="decorated-link" href="https://podcasthall.com" target="_new" rel="noopener" data-start="6717" data-end="6740">https://podcasthall.com</a></li>
<li data-section-id="1myh55g" data-start="6741" data-end="6808">Rob Greenlee on LinkedIn: <a class="decorated-link cursor-pointer" target="_new" rel="noopener" data-start="6769" data-end="6808">https://www.linkedin.com/in/robgreenlee</a></li>
<li data-section-id="1gokmrd" data-start="6809" data-end="6865">Rob Greenlee Booking: <a class="decorated-link cursor-pointer" target="_new" rel="noopener" data-start="6833" data-end="6865">https://calendly.com/robgreenlee</a></li>
</ul>
<p data-start="6867" data-end="7430"><strong>About the Host/Author:</strong><br data-start="6889" data-end="6892" /><br />
<em>Rob Greenlee is a 2017 Podcast Hall of Fame inductee and Chair, a global new-media leader who bridges podcasting’s human roots and its AI-driven future. As founder of Trust Factor Lab and host of the “New Media Show” and “Spoken Human”, Rob helps creators start, grow, monetize, and future-proof their content. He’s held leadership roles at Microsoft, Spreaker, Libsyn, StreamYard, and PodcastOne, and serves as Chairperson of the <a href="https://podcasthall.com">Podcast Hall of Fame</a>. Learn more at <a href="http://RobGreenlee.com">RobGreenlee.com</a> and join the Trust Factor Lab Creator/Podcast Services.</em></p>
<p data-start="7432" data-end="7783"><strong>Personal/AI Disclosure Note:</strong> <em>I used AI tools to help organize and edit this episode and generate show notes. I have made hand edits; the views, clarifications, responsibility, and industry perspective are mine and my guest’s. I have been working in podcasting and platform adoption for more than two decades, and this article reflects my own position.</em></p><p>The post <a href="https://newmediashow.com/are-podcast-networks-becoming-creator-networks-greg-wasserman-666/">Are Podcast Networks becoming Creator Networks? | Greg Wasserman #666</a> first appeared on <a href="https://newmediashow.com">New Media Show</a>.</p>