What Is a Podcast in 2026? Julie & Dan Talk Podcast Movement, Life and Everything Else

What happens when Julie comes home from New York after Podcast Movement with scraped-up knees, a head full of podcast statistics, strong opinions, and approximately 47 things she needs to tell Dan? You get this episode. Dan is back behind the mic, Julie is finally home, Yogi has an injured paw, and before they can get anywhere near the actual topic, there is monkey business, a Times Square wipeout and a brief disagreement over what constitutes an acceptable joke. In other words, welcome back to the Casa. Julie shares what she learned at Podcast Movement 2026 in New York City, including one deceptively simple question: What exactly is a podcast in 2026? As podcasting expands across audio, YouTube, video, social clips and connected TVs, the answer isn't as straightforward as it used to be. Julie and Dan talk about how people discover podcasts today, why short-form clips can annoy audiences while still helping them discover new shows, the growing opportunity for smaller podcasts to attract advertisers, and why committed audiences can matter more than massive download numbers. They also wander exactly where you'd expect them to wander. Dan considers starting a genealogy podcast. Julie shares her appreciation for mentor Ande Lyons and her experience at Podcast Movement. They debate cell phone carriers, discover who actually sang “I Love a Rainy Night,” talk about 9 to 5, celebrate afternoon tea, and share what's happening next in their world. There's also a more serious conversation about family leave, access to care and the importance of looking beyond one source of information when forming opinions. It's informative. It's occasionally educational. It is absolutely off the rails. Basically, it's Julie and Dan. What You'll Hear  Julie's very public fall in Times Square   What Podcast Movement 2026 was really like   Julie's biggest takeaway from the conference   What actually qualifies as a podcast today   Why audio and video aren't competing as much as we think   How social clips are helping audiences discover podcasts   Why smaller, highly engaged audiences are becoming interesting to brands   Dan's idea for a genealogy podcast   Why having a mentor matters to Julie   The value of exposing yourself to information outside your usual sources   Julie's afternoon tea adventure in Manhattan   Dan discovering 9 to 5 approximately 46 years late   Why Julie's cell phone is officially on notice   An update on The Nearly True Adventures of My Bunny Steve  Why confidence comes through practice Links: Podcast Movement Don't Be Caged By Your Age with Ande Lyons The Nearly True Adventures of My Bunny Steve Brave Moves Amy Scott's Casa De Confidence episode Factor referral link UC Berkeley summary of the Fox News/CNN study I want to hear your thoughts about the show and this episode. Text us here... Support the show Casa De Confidence is a podcast for women navigating midlife reinvention, entrepreneurship, leadership, and personal growth. Hosted by Julie DeLucca-Collins, the show explores confidence, sustainable business success, visibility, authority building, and aligned growth for women entrepreneurs ready to lead boldly and live intentionally. Through real conversations and practical insights, listeners gain clarity, strengthen confidence, and develop strategies to expand their impact, voice, and opportunities. Liked this episode? Share it with your midlife woman, entrepreneur friends! Love this show? Let us know how we helped you increase your confidence by leaving a review. For more about me and what I do, check out my website. If you’re looking for support to grow your business faster, be positioned as an authority in your industry, and impact the masses, schedule a call to explore if you’d be a good fit for one of my coaching programs. Follow Julie DeLucca-Collins on Instagram at @julie_deluccacollins