Past, Present & Future of Podcast Networks

What can we learn about the future of podcast networks from someone who’s seen the shift from grassroots collectives to fully professionalized media businesses? Rob Greenlee brings decades of perspective, from the earliest days of national radio syndication, through the uncertainties of early podcasting, to overseeing networks built for a fragmented, business-driven landscape. His experience shines a light on how podcast network models have adapted as the industry matured. A podcast hall of famer, Rob Greenlee began building and operating networks before “podcast network” meant a business strategy. He’s worked hands on with infrastructure, led network expansion at scale, and now runs both the Adore Network and the Passion Struck Network, putting him at the intersection of technology, monetization, and creator support. The episode’s heartbeat is the tension between podcasting as a collaborative, indie pursuit grounded in relationships and its current state as a mature, competitive business demanding scale and resources. Get an inside look at what a podcast network was, what it is today, and how it is evolving in a rapidly changing landscape. Listen for: 04:06 – How did early networks sell advertising? 07:59 – Did programmatic create heavier ad loads? 18:06 – Why choose revenue share? 22:38 – How would Rob start today? 33:56 – Will larger networks acquire smaller ones? 38:08 – Should creators join a network? 41:54 – What belongs in network onboarding? CONNECT WITH GUEST: ROB GREENLEE | FOUNDER/ CEO OF TRUST FACTOR LAB, THE ADORE PODCAST AND CREATOR NETWORK | CO-FOUNDER, THE PASSION STRUCK NETWORK Website | Adore Network | New Media Show | Passion Stuck Network | LinkedIn Podcast Rec.’s: The Colin and Samir Show | New Media Show Book Rec: Podcasting: The Do-It-Yourself Guide by Todd Cochran CONNECT WITH GREG WASSERMAN, HEAD OF RELATIONSHIPS AT RSS.COM Website | LinkedIn Greg’s book rec: Return on Courage by Ryan Berman Systems, Sponsors, and Partners: Hosted with RSS.com Podcast Hosting Produced by Stories & Strategies Content Repurposed with Castmagic Podcast Project Management with Northflow Please share your thoughts and record a voice note for me using this link.