Send James and Sam a message or voicemailWhy does James sound so different in the intro? Because he's standing in Hong Kong airport waiting to get onto an aeroplane, that's why.This week: Spotify quietly trims its podcast team while Apple pushes HLS video into Apple Podcasts, forcing hosts and creators to rethink what “open” distribution means. We also dig into transcripts as a baseline accessibility feature and test-drive the next wave of AI tools that curate listening and automate publishing. • Spotify podcast layoffs and what they signal • Apple Podcasts video on iOS 26.4 using HLS streaming • Which podcast hosts are supporting Apple’s video workflow • Whether Apple Podcasts is gaining new listeners • Goalhanger’s Accelerator and the fine print question • Overcast transcripts for everyone and why accessibility matters • Creator-produced transcripts versus app-generated transcripts • Snipped AI DJ and chatting with podcasts with Kevin Smith • Podhome AI for transcripts chapters clips and automation • MCP servers and using Claude to run hosting tasks • Live podcasting infrastructure and adoption with Podhome • Measurement and industry stats on new podcast feeds • Listener messages plus updates from TrueFans and travel notes Support the showConnect With Us: Email: [email protected]: @[email protected] and @[email protected] us: www.buzzsprout.com/1538779/supportGet Podnews: podnews.net