As 2024 draws to a close, let’s take a step back and see just how far the industry has come this year:
- Podcast listening in the US has reached a record high. 47% of Americans aged 12+ have listened to a podcast in the past month, a 12% year-over-year increase, with a notable 19% rise among women listeners
- 45% of regular podcast listeners in 2023 listened to more podcasts in 2024
- On Spotify, the number of creators posting video content each month has increased by nearly 70% over the past year
- AI-powered podcasts experienced a staggering 500% growth throughout 2024
However, it’s not only the time to reflect but also look at the year ahead.
We teamed up with 28 of the best and brightest brains in podcasting to get their predictions for audio in 2025 and their advice for creators looking to stay ahead of the curve.
Here’s what they had to say:
TL;DR: Podcast trends predicted to dominate 2025
- The rise of video and accompanying analytics: With YouTube’s secured position in podcasting and Spotify’s move toward video, creators will gain access to video-specific insights to drive deeper audience engagement and refine their promotion strategy.
- Multi-channel podcasts by executives: Business leaders will increasingly use podcasts to amplify their company’s marketing efforts and engage with consumers who follow people, not brands.
- Split between open and proprietary platforms: The podcast industry will face a fork in the road with the rise of proprietary video-focused platforms like YouTube and Spotify, potentially challenging traditional open RSS apps like Apple Podcasts.
- Always-on podcasts: Podcasters will create more continuous content, moving away from seasonal shows to keep audiences engaged and attract new sponsors.
- Rise of narrative and hybrid formats: Narrative, documentary, and hybrid interview formats will grow, as podcasters seek new ways to stand out beyond traditional interview shows.
TL;DR: Advice to podcasters this coming year
- Know your audience: Focus on creating content for a specific audience and understand their preferences, needs, and behaviors. Use engagement metrics over vanity stats to guide your content and promotional strategies.
- Balance production and promotion: Invest 50% of your effort into producing top-quality content, and the other 50% into marketing and growing your show through strategic outreach and community-building.
- Don’t discount video: Consider incorporating video into your podcast strategy, whether through clips or full episodes, to expand reach and stay competitive.
- Embrace authenticity and creativity: Stay true to your voice, create unique content that excites you, and differentiate yourself by offering something special that can only come from you.
- Build a community: Focus on fostering a community, not just an audience. Engage with listeners on a deeper level through platforms like Discord or Patreon, and connect with other creators to amplify your reach.
What podcasting trend do you see being most dominant in 2025 and why?
”In 2025, I think we’ll see a shift in how video podcasters understand their audiences”
“In 2025, I think we’ll see a shift in how video podcasters understand their audiences. With better analytics tools, creators will be able to track how people interact with their episodes—whether they’re watching the full video on YouTube, engaging with reels, or toggling between audio and video on Spotify.
This level of detail will help podcasters fine-tune their content, focus on what’s working, and make smarter choices about where to invest their time and effort. It’s going to make video podcasting more impactful and efficient for creators and brands alike.”
–Fatima Zaidi, Founder and CEO of CoHost and Quill
“More executives and business professionals will create multi-channel podcasts (video, audio, social media) as an amplifier for their company's marketing efforts”
“More executives and business professionals will create multi-channel podcasts (video, audio, social media) as an amplifier for their company's marketing efforts. As consumers continue to pivot towards following "people" rather than "brands," the companies that put their leaders front and center will win the battle for attention.”
–Robert Tuchman, Co-Founder of Amaze Media Labs
“A split between traditional, open RSS apps like Apple Podcasts and Overcast, and proprietary video-focused apps, like YouTube and Spotify”
“Perhaps 2025 will mark a fork in the road - a split between traditional, open RSS apps like Apple Podcasts and Overcast, and proprietary video-focused apps, like YouTube and Spotify.
Podcasting needs to decide how to react to this significant industry change: either to welcome it willingly and reorganize itself to take advantage of the new proprietary gatekeepers of our industry, or to reject it, in an effort to ensure the survival of open RSS and the wide variety of business models and editorial possibilities that openness has given our industry.
As more than 50% of total podcast plays move to these proprietary, closed ecosystems - which don't support DAI or programmatic advertising - then what does that mean for our industry? And when "podcasting" becomes synonymous with "video", does that raise barriers to entry while removing the unique benefit that podcasts have: that you can listen while your eyes are busy doing something else?”
–James Cridland, Editor of Podnews
“More podcasters will begin making moves towards becoming always-on (or closer to always-on) shows”
“In 2025, more and more podcasters will begin making moves towards becoming always-on (or closer to always-on) shows. Limited-run and seasonal shows are great and can be really impactful for brands and storytelling, but they are limiting when it comes to marketing and eventual monetization.
I think more production companies and sponsors will pressure what otherwise would've been a 10-12 episode series to expand their episode numbers by way of behind-the-scenes content, Q&A episodes featuring listener questions, and other forms of content expansion.
In many cases, these extra episodes will be additive, both to the brands that are advocating for them AND for the listeners who'll benefit from hearing from the hosts they love more often. But in some cases, it will feel like a stretch. That's what I'll be watching out for.”
–Arielle Nissenblatt, Founder of EarBuds Podcast Collective
“The more serious podcasters will find ways to better understand their audiences and adapt to them”
“More video will probably be the strongest trend but the one I'd love to comment on is podcasters will listen more to their audiences in 2025.
Shows that want to grow need to find evidence their listeners are sharing their show. This is apparent through the obvious new ratings, reviews, social media activity, and the resulting chart appearances.
But the more serious podcasters will find ways to better understand their audiences and adapt to them. They will survey and interview their listeners AND make use of solid analytics tools like the CoHost prefix. What habits do their listeners have? What are their lifestyles? Their neighborhoods? Where do they work? What social media habits do they have?
A listener that will share your show with their friends will feel they're in a relationship with you... you'd better invest in that relationship.”
–Doug Downs, Director of Stories and Strategies Inc.
“Narrative podcasts, hybrid interview/documentary forms, and even forms like monologues are on the upswing”
“Interestingly, I think narrative podcasts, hybrid interview/documentary forms, and even forms like monologues are on the upswing. It seems people may have finally noticed that it's harder to stand out with a 1-1 interview show these days, and they are starting to look around for alternatives. Thank goodness, because this places talented audio storytellers in a great position. Plus, lots of action on YouTube -- with video podcasts continuing to be a thing. That said -- there's also the rise of YouTube as a LISTENING platform. I'll be interested to learn how those audience stats develop.“
–Jennifer Moss, Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer at JAR Audio
“Podcasting will see technology and content come together in more seamless and intuitive ways”
“In 2025, podcasting will see technology and content come together in more seamless and intuitive ways, making the whole experience feel more immersive. Podcast platforms will offer content recommendations and ads that feel more relevant and less disruptive.
Discovering new shows will be easier too, thanks to improved metadata, automated transcriptions, and AI tools helping listeners find more of what they're looking for. The mix of audio and video, especially on platforms like YouTube, will continue to open up more opportunities for reach and revenue.
To succeed in this evolving world, publishers will need to stay on top of trends, experiment with new formats, and embrace the latest tech innovations.”
–Ainsley Rossitto, Sr Director, Podcast Marketing at Paramount
“Video has necessarily become a default option for most production companies”
“Video will continue to dominate discussions in all aspects of the industry. YouTube, Spotify, and changing consumption habits are pushing the industry to figure out video urgently. As a result, video has necessarily become a default option for most production companies.
However, there are still SO MANY issues and challenges to solve! What do mixed production workflows and operations look like? How should you best integrate metrics from audio and video? What show formats work well for both audio and video and which ones don't? When does it make sense to have a separate video strategy from your audio podcast? What are the best ways to sell both audio and video in a seamless and integrated way? And perhaps most important of all, how do you create video solutions that audiences actually want to spend time with... without compromising the strength and intimacy of the audio medium?“
–Steve Pratt, Author, Earn It: Unconventional Strategies for Brave Marketers and Founder of The Creativity Business
“We'll see a resurgence of the smaller, tight-knit communities of early podcasting”
“1. 2025 will be the year when video podcasting will continue to grow and really blow up. YouTube is now the #1 platform where people consume podcasts and Spotify is clearly moving to a more video-centric platform -the change to Spotify for Creators and the Spotify Partner Program point to their long-term video strategy.
2. AI podcasting tools will lower the barrier to entry even further by making it super easy to edit videos or create engaging clips. But what I believe the game-changer will be is all-in-one platforms (like Riverside). These will allow creators (even solo creators or complete beginners) to record, edit, livestream, and distribute their content faster and easier than ever. Without the added costs and hustle of having to use separate tools for each step of the process.
3. While big shows and celebrity-driven podcasts will remain popular, we'll see a resurgence of the smaller, tight-knit communities of early podcasting. Small to medium-size shows will be able to monetize and find success through niche communities, direct patronage, and paid memberships.”
–Abel Grünfeld, Head of Marketing at Riverside
“Consumer preferences are changing. Audiences are shifting to video-first platforms”
“Video: Podcasts often struggle with distribution. Consumer preferences are changing. Audiences are shifting to video-first platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Spotify is pushing its own video product. Podcasters looking for scale will need to produce for both audio and video, then publish to Spotify and YouTube for discovery.”
–Kyle Denhoff, Sr. Director, Audience Development at HubSpot Media
“I see community-driven monetization and breaking news relevance becoming the most dominant trends in podcasting”
“In 2025, I see community-driven monetization and breaking news relevance becoming the most dominant trends in podcasting.
When it comes to community-driven monetization, the relationship between creators and their audience will go deeper than ever. Podcasts will move beyond ad revenue and focus on creating tighter, more exclusive communities. Think subscription-based models, premium content, and interactive experiences like live Q&As, virtual meetups, and even direct messaging with hosts. It’s all about building trust and offering real value—people are willing to pay to feel like they’re part of something special.
On the other hand, breaking news relevance is going to explode. Podcasts have this incredible agility that traditional media just can’t match. In 2025, we’ll see creators responding to world events in real-time, offering not just updates but unique analyses and actionable takeaways. Listeners want to feel informed but also empowered, and podcasts are perfect for bridging that gap.
The common thread here is connection—whether it’s with your audience or with the events shaping the world, podcasts will thrive by being the go-to source for timely, trusted, and interactive content.”
–Stephanie Arakelian, Podcast Marketing & Audience Development Specialist at Impact Theory
“It's getting more and more difficult to book my clients on other shows with straight-up pitching. More creative partnership solutions have been needed”
“I see video dominating, is that the boring answer? I'll get more specific. I think, and worry, that podcasters that do go to video will forget that a large amount of their audience are listening, and will rely on visual cues that they can't see.
Or how's this? I have been noticing for a year now that it's getting more and more difficult to book my clients on other shows with straight-up pitching. More creative partnership solutions have been needed.
But Tim Ferriss just announced some new rules for guests on his show (no more book-launching episodes, a "90/10 barbell strategy," prioritizing living legends, and experimentation) and I assume a mass amount of shows will follow his lead.”
–Lauren Passell, Founder of Tink Media
“I hope that 2025 will be the year of independent creators”
“I hope that 2025 will be the year of independent creators. We're at a moment where commercial pressures threaten independence and where digital giants are reshaping the landscape, but podcasting has always been truly driven forward by independent and entrepreneurial innovators.
The top of the podcast pyramid is stacked with influencers and celebrities - they will drive new audiences to the medium. My hope is that those new listeners find creative delight in things they are less familiar with - stories that move us, lift our spirits or teach us about the world.”
–Kerri Hoffman, CEO of PRX
“Advertising to grow your podcast is one of the biggest trends we are seeing growing in the podcast sector right now”
“Advertising to grow your podcast is one of the biggest trends we are seeing growing in the podcast sector right now.
For years, companies have just been focused on "Creating a podcast" yet now they are realizing that it's not worth putting all of that work into creating a podcast unless their target audience is listening to it.
We are seeing more and more companies putting promotional budgets behind their podcast and getting more sophisticated in their promotion strategies. It's not just enough to get downloads; they want to get the right people listening and subscribing to the show. Platforms like LinkedIn are allowing brands and companies to market their show to the exact target buyers they want to get in front of.“
–Jake Jorgovan, CEO of Content Allies
“Big Fortune 500 brands will come into the space in a big way”
“Sadly, I think it's my annual answer....but growth! I say every December that more brands, big Fortune 500 brands, will come into the space in a big way....and they have...but there are so many more that still need to.
They need to know the strength of our reach in podcasting. They need to see all this research we offer. They need to use our tools, like host-endorsed personal experience stories, week after week in these podcasts that have the most loyal and engaged audiences in any medium. They need to work with attribution tools to see that return on their ad spend. But is that going to be a trend? I sure hope so! 🇨🇦💪🏼”
–Bob Kane, Country Manager, Canada at Libsyn Ads
“More long-form news podcasts taking full advantage of the depth and personal connection that podcasts deliver”
“The recent "podcast election" will usher in two big trends:
1) More long-form news podcasts taking full advantage of the depth and personal connection that podcasts deliver in a world with too many soundbites and too much social media scrolling.
2) Brands that capitalize on proof that podcasts are uniquely engaging, influential and persuasive.”
–Jeff Vidler, Strategic Advisor and Founder of Signal Hill Insights Inc.
“Programmatic and other ways for advertisers to buy aggregated supply will continue to rise”
“1. From RSS to Spotify Video to Youtube to X … listeners will consume ‘podcasts’ across a greater variety of platforms – increasingly in video form – requiring tools to improve cross-platform publishing, reporting, & measurement.
2. Pixel-based measurement will continue to solidify itself as table stakes for buyers & sellers committed to ROI, with incrementality emerging as a simple yet convincing way to prove audio’s channel-wide impact.
3. Programmatic and other ways for advertisers to buy aggregated supply will continue to rise, due to their ease of use for both buyer and seller. These higher-level buying platforms will enable more sophisticated messaging, such as frequency capping across publishers.”
–Pete Birsinger, CEO of Podscribe
“Brands and companies will use long-form video and audio podcasts as one of their primary communication channels”
“Looking at the success of content like Inside Trader Joe's and the a16z podcast, brands and companies will use long-form video and audio podcasts as one of their primary communication channels in 2025 and beyond.”
–Brett Sklar, Co-Founder of Amaze Media Labs
“Video podcasting, the uptick of AI tools in production, and the continued dominance of people seeing podcasting as a new form of media as opposed to a new medium”
“The three trends I'm seeing as we enter 2025 are video podcasting, the uptick of AI tools in production, and the continued dominance of people seeing podcasting as a new form of media as opposed to a new medium.
Video podcasting: While I love that more and more creators are leaning into video podcasts as a new form of distribution and a new way to repurpose existing content, I fear that too many people will be aiming to stretch their budgets into unsustainable and unnecessary fields. The legacy 'audio' podcast is still able to create a leave a huge and lasting footprint with your intended audience. If you can afford to do video well (in terms of time, resources, and more), go for it. If not, don't fall into the trap that you won't succeed elsewhere.
AI production tools: There are new helpful AI production tools launching daily – transcription, audio enhancement tools, copywriting, etc. While they can be hugely useful in the right circumstances, remember that these tools are simply repurposing existing data sets. Without vigilance, using these tools is potentially a quick way to a boring and derived podcast.
New Media vs New Medium: Podcasting is simply a new way to communicate, one that is hopefully always accessible to everyone. Podcasting may be more mainstream than it has ever been, but always remember that the medium is just that: another way to reach people, hopefully in a more intimate manner.”
–Jeff Umbro, CEO of The Podglomerate
“Video podcasting will continue to dominate in 2025 and with it, interactive ways to engage with the content across platforms”
“I think video podcasting will continue to dominate in 2025 and with it, interactive ways to engage with the content across platforms. I think it's a trend that will last because it's a way to get your audio everywhere and tap into new audiences.”
–Amber Smith, Director, Audience Development, Ruby at iHeart
“eCPM (effective cost per mille) is going to be a key metric in podcast advertising”
“eCPM (effective cost per mille) is going to be a key metric in podcast advertising in 2025. eCPM is reshaping deal structures and helping brands maximize their ROI. Traditionally, CPM (cost per mille) measures the cost for every 1,000 impressions a podcast ad receives. The metric eCPM goes a step further—it calculates the total cost for impressions across all platforms where the ads are promoted, not just in the podcast itself. This includes impressions from social media, YouTube, emails, and other channels.
As more brands adopt an omnichannel 360° approach when advertising on podcasts, focusing on eCPM allows you to price deals more accurately based on the full spectrum of impressions delivered, not just your audio podcast. eCPM pricing with value-ad is a strategic play for shows because it aligns with audience behavior, maximizes brand ROI, assures fair campaign pricing, increases renewal rates, and ultimately leads to a better listener experience.”
–Hala Taha, Founder and CEO of YAP Media Network
“We're seeing more and more companies invest increasing amounts of money in [video podcasting]. However, we're yet to see a solution to the workflow and advertising challenges that chasing the video dream creates at scale.”
“With the popularity of video podcasting increasing, largely thanks to YouTube and Spotify who are competing to secure the lion's share of monthly active users and time on (their own) platform, I think this is going to be the most dominant trend in 2025.
It's clear that an audience for video podcasting exists, and is growing. We're seeing more and more companies invest increasing amounts of money in the functionality. However, we're yet to see a solution to the workflow and advertising challenges that chasing the video dream creates at scale.”
–Sharon Taylor, EVP Podcast and Content Delivery at Triton Digital
“For a long time, chat-style podcasts have been seen as the lesser form of the medium, but now I see studios seriously looking to chat-style podcasts in order to make the transition to video”
“Video is already looking like it'll be dominating the conversation in the podcasting industry in 2025, but I'm looking at one more layer of it: the come-back for chatcasts.
With video proving to be an impressive tool for discovery on social media platforms and YouTube, I see branded networks and studios in particular feeling the pressure to make that transition. But for branded podcasts, oftentimes audio-first, narrative style, high-production series are the type of shows that make the biggest impact compared to raw interviews and recorded conversations between C-suite executives.
Translating narrative-style audio over to video is going to be no easy feat. It means hiring animators, video editors, and thinking about storytelling that fits two mediums: audio AND video. For a long time, chat-style podcasts have been seen as the lesser form of the medium, but now I see studios seriously looking to chat-style podcasts in order to make the transition to video. They're cheaper to make and exploding in popularity online.
In 2025, many studios might find themselves on the hunt for the right personality to represent a brand from outside the company itself; a brand ambassador like an influencer, writer, critic, or anything in between. They might also find themselves in conversations about set-building. I see a big shift in how we look at chatcasts and how we think about the role of "influencers" in podcasting.”
–Kattie Laur, Podcast Producer, Specialist, and Canadian Podcasting Reporter/Writer at Pod The North
“Video as a format will grow but not at the expense of audio-only shows”
“The definition of a podcast will continue to evolve in 2025. Video as a format will grow but not at the expense of audio-only shows: listeners gravitate towards types of podcasts that best meet their current needs. This shift might be challenging for the podcast industry right now but presents an enormous opportunity for long-term growth.”
–Jonas Woost, Co-Founder of Bumper
“The adoption of more interesting and differentiated formats and show concepts—specifically those that are layered on top of interview-based shows”
“The obvious answer is a continued embrace of video... so let's ignore that as it's already been documented to death.
A more interesting and underreported trend is the adoption of more interesting and differentiated formats and show concepts—specifically those that are layered on top of interview-based shows.
This trend has been years in the making with video shows like Hot Ones, Carpool Karaoke, and Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee layering on additional hooks to otherwise undifferentiated interviews.
In the second half of 2024, however, this trend has been accelerating and I suspect it's only going to pick up steam in 2025. The main driver behind the trend is creators in the podcast space realizing that interview-based shows are the hardest format to grow—especially if you don't have a unique and memorable hook or angle that gives your show a different flavor than the countless other interview shows on a given topic.
Personally, I'm incredibly excited about this trend as there are literally infinite ways to explore a given topic, and thus far, podcasts by and large have tended to cluster around the tried and true... which leads to a lot of similar, generic content.
With greater emphasis on—and more creativity applied at—the show concept development phase, I suspect we're going to see an increase in distinctive, diverse, and highly growable shows, which is great for listeners, as well as the creators behind them.”
–Jeremy Enns, Founder of Podcast Marketing Academy
“Podcasters are being challenged to become Media Companies, and while it's not trivial on the production side, the operational tools needed to make this transition possible are severely lacking”
“Distribution.
In the words of Inigo Montoya, ‘You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.’ Back in the olden days, podcasters would upload everything to their hosting platform and it would distribute it everywhere people get their podcasts. Times have changed and today, no one platform distributes to everywhere people get their podcasts nor do they even aggregate all the reporting for where people get their podcasts. Podcasters are being challenged to become Media Companies, and while it's not trivial on the production side, the operational tools needed to make this transition possible are severely lacking.
I don't expect there to be one winner, but I do caution companies choosing to overlook this dire need that there may be losers.”
–Bryan Barletta, Partner, Sounds Profitable
“Video podcasts will continue to be on the rise”
“I believe that video podcasts will continue to be on the rise. Spotify is amping up the ability to add video in order to compete with YouTube, and Google continues to pump money into the YouTube podcast options.”
–Joanne Bolt, Founder and CEO of Podcast(H)er
“A research partner will figure out a way to integrate with traditional demographic/psychographic research to allow for estimation of cross-channel reach and frequency”
“A research partner will figure out a way to integrate with traditional demographic/psychographic research to allow for estimation of cross-channel reach and frequency, making it easier for traditional brands to plan their multichannel campaigns.”
–Krystina Rubino, GM, Offline Practice at Right Side Up
Do you have any tips or advice for creators in 2025?
“Create great content that targets a specific audience”
“Create great content that targets a specific audience. Broad is hard. It's a lot of work to create week after week. Have a bit of foresight to know what you are getting into. It's passion plus hard work and dedication. Join all the 'communities' and ask for help.”
–Bob Kane, Country Manager, Canada at LibsynAds
“Put 50% of your efforts into producing a world-class podcast”
“Put 50% of your efforts into producing a world-class podcast. The other 50% needs to be devoted to marketing and promotion if you want to have a top-ranked podcast.”
–Robert Tuchman, Co-Founder of Amaze Media Labs
“Search for a newsletter that serves [your] audience. Subscribe to it. Reply to the writer(s). Eventually, pitch yourself as the podcast correspondent”
“If you have a podcast that serves a specific audience, go searching for a newsletter that also serves that audience. Subscribe to it. Reply to the writer(s). Eventually, pitch yourself as the podcast correspondent so that you can build up your presence with that audience and even get a backlink to your own show.”
–Arielle Nissenblatt, Founder of EarBuds Podcast Collective
“Podcasters who want to make an impact need to have a detailed picture of who their ideal listeners are”
Creating a high-quality, engaging podcast is only part of the equation. The other half is ensuring that your show reaches the right listeners – which requires understanding who your target is, what their preferences are, and where they live online.
In 2025, podcasters who want to make an impact need to have a detailed picture of who their ideal listeners are in order to verify their content is reaching and resonating with them, tailor promotional strategies, and enhance sponsorships.
Instead of looking at vanity metrics like downloads and subscribers, you’ll find this information by tapping into engagement metrics like consumption rate, drop-off points, and listen-through time. Plus, audience demographic and psychographic information to find out more about who your listeners are, how they behave, and what their pain points are.
–Fatima Zaidi, Founder and CEO of CoHost and Quill
“Connect with your audience - they are your future”
“Keep making great stuff! Be savvy about the business and connect with your audience - they are your future.”
–Kerri Hoffman, CEO of PRX
“Podcasts that want to grow their audience will need to add video”
“1. New shows or longstanding podcasts that want to grow their audience will need to add video for continued growth in 2025.
2. If you're thinking of starting a podcast in 2025, make sure your set-up sets you up for success. With so much content being produced daily, quality, distribution, and cadence are the three things that will set you apart and help you grow.”
–Abel Grünfeld, Head of Marketing at Riverside
“Do something that can only come from you”
“Screw the algorithms! Do something different and special. Do something that can only come from you. Do something that you're excited about. And create something worthy of your audience's incredibly precious time and attention.”
–Steve Pratt, Author, Earn It: Unconventional Strategies for Brave Marketers and Founder of The Creativity Business
“Be early to adopt new opportunities”
“Be early to adopt new opportunities (like Spotify's video clips) to accelerate your podcast past the other shows in your content category.”
–Brett Sklar, Co-Founder of Amaze Media Labs
“Go ahead and begin using video”
“Go ahead and begin using video. No, you may not love it but yes, you will need it. Invest in a better camera for your computer, and get the right lighting. You don't have to be a 'YouTuber', but by continuing to go audio-only you're helping your competition beat you.”
–Joanne Bolt, Founder and CEO of Podcast(H)er
“Despite the hype, remember that video is optional”
“Despite the hype, remember that video is optional! More than half of North Americans are *listening* to podcasts, and audio-first content will always be valuable. Focus on creation in a manageable and sustainable way and don't burn yourself out trying to do everything!”
–Kattie Laur, Podcast Producer, Specialist, and Canadian Podcasting Reporter/Writer at Pod The North
“Podcast trailers are powerful tools. Use them”
–James Cridland, Editor of Podnews
“You need to obsess over the show title, concept, cover art, packaging, episode titles, content strategy, episode structure, and so on”
“The world of content (not just podcasting) is so incredibly saturated with so much incredible talent. It is still eminently possible to grow a podcast in 2025 and beyond, but you have to take every aspect of it seriously. If you want to grow, I think you need to obsess over the show title, concept, cover art, packaging, episode titles, content strategy, episode structure, and so on.”
YouTubers and online writers have known this (and behaved accordingly) for years, but the lack of hard data in podcasting has allowed us to generally keep our heads in the sand because we haven't been able to accurately assess our listener acquisition conversion rates or retention rates.
With more data and more algorithm-supported discoverability, however, it's quickly becoming clear that attention to the small details along the listener discovery journey is not just nice to haves... they're absolutely essential when it comes to growth.”
–Jeremy Enns, Founder of Podcast Marketing Academy
“If you have an interview show, pre-construct the approach so your guest shares in a story arc”
“Break the pattern in 2025. If you have an interview show, pre-construct the approach so your guest shares in a story arc. Most interview shows don't do that. Or change your interview style podcast to one that includes more narrative flow (eg Hidden Brain).“
–Doug Downs, Director of Stories and Strategies Inc.
“Stay curious, embrace the tools at your disposal, and always focus on delivering value to your audience”
“2025 will be all about connection, creativity, and adaptability. Stay curious, embrace the tools at your disposal, and always focus on delivering value to your audience! These are my 3 things creators should focus on next year:
1. Stay True to Your Voice
The podcasting landscape will only get noisier. The creators who thrive are the ones who stay authentic. Know your values, your message, and your audience—and show up for them consistently.
2. Build a Community, Not Just an Audience
The biggest wins in podcasting will come from fostering a sense of belonging. Go beyond creating content—create a space where your listeners feel connected to you and each other. Use platforms like Discord, Patreon, or even live events to engage on a deeper level. People stick around for the community, not just the content.
3. Be Agile and Relevant
Lean into real-time trends and breaking news when it aligns with your brand. Being able to address what's happening now gives you an edge. Plan content that’s timeless but leave space to pivot quickly when a topic becomes hot.”
–Stephanie Arakelian, Podcast Marketing & Audience Development Specialist at Impact Theory
“Time, cost and effort versus reward, is something to focus on”
“To navigate [2025] successfully, podcast creators are going to need to decide what their content publishing and monetization strategy is in 2025. Time, cost, and effort versus reward, is something to focus on.”
–Sharon Taylor, EVP Podcast and Content Delivery at Triton Digital
“Think deeply about who your podcast is for”
“My advice is to think deeply about who your podcast is for. What need does it serve? What can someone learn, or experience, by consuming it? If you can answer this question clearly, and allow it to inform your show, you will meet your audience "where they are" and have success in growing your show. Be proud of your role as a creator. The world needs your voice right now.
Also: don't be downcast by the sheer amount of AI-generated content out there. There is always a role for creators who understand how to connect to an audience in a meaningful way. The purpose of creativity is not efficiency. It's connection. Remember that, and you'll be ok.”
–Jennifer Moss, Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer at JAR Audio
“Creators should band together with other creators in their medium, working on creative partnerships”
Creators should band together with other creators in their medium, working on creative partnerships. In podcasting, partnerships solve 3 podcast growth problems—discoverability, conversion, and price/flexibility. It's THE way to get in front of the perfect audience that you have selected, it gets you in front of podcast listeners, and it's flexible and free. You're cutting out the middleman. F the middle man. (This was written by someone who could be considered a middleman.)
–Lauren Passell, Founder of Tink Media
“Find a routine that works for you and stick to it”
“Be consistent! It's the biggest key to growth, find a routine that works for you and stick to it.”
–Amber Smith, Director, Audience Development, Ruby at iHeart
“Don't get sidetracked by headlines about the latest big money deal from networks to top creators”
“Don't get sidetracked by headlines about the latest big money deal from networks to top creators. Guaranteed revenue deals will remain few and far between, and mostly isolated to the top few network partners who can afford the risk.”
–Krystina Rubino, GM, Offline Practice at Right Side Up
“An RSS feed and email capture for your audience should be your bedrock to secure an independent audience”
“It's gonna take a look a lot more work than you expect. Probably 10-100x more. Remind yourself of this constantly.
Don't forget an RSS feed and email capture for your audience should be your bedrock to secure an independent audience. Spotify Video, YouTube, X, etc are great platforms for spreading distribution, but you have extremely limited control over them. Your RSS feed and the emails of your fans are much more durably and reliably yours.”
–Pete Birsinger, CEO of Podscribe
What are your 2025 podcast predictions?
That’s a wrap for 2024! A big thank you to the top voices in podcasting for your insights, predictions, and advice for the year ahead.
From the insights shared, it’s clear we’re heading toward a more visual, multi-channel, and personalized podcasting experience. Whether it’s brands leaning into video or creators finding new ways to connect with niche communities, the common theme is adapting to what audiences want: more engagement, more value, and more authenticity.
If you’re interested in leveling up your podcast this coming year, get in touch with our team of podcast pros.
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