Platforms, Performance, and Podcast Week

Substack is making a bigger play in audio with a new podcast tab — a dedicated space that helps creators reach their current listeners while boosting discovery for new ones.  It centralizes shows from Substack writers and reflects a fast‑growing ecosystem where podcasters on the platform now earn over $200 million a year.  It’s another step in Substack’s push to become a full home for independent media, where writing, audio, and community live together. We also dig into new research showing that AI host‑voice replicas outperform human announcer‑read ads by 26% — and that real host‑read ads still beat both.  The takeaway: authenticity, even when cloned, moves the needle. And finally, Podcast Week kicks off in New York. Sounds Profitable’s Business Summit leads the charge, followed by the 2026 IAB Podcast Upfront and Podcast Movement — a full week spotlighting the business, the brands, and the creators shaping the industry’s next chapter. A fast, focused look at the platforms, the tech, and the events driving podcasting forward.