
Sounds Profitable
The pace of change the podcast industry is undergoing is staggering. The implications for podcasters, hosting providers, podcast listening app developers, and advertisers and agencies are enormous. And so is the growth potential. Presented as a companion to the weekly newsletter of the same name, our podcast provides you with direct access to our narrated articles, interviews with industry experts, bleeding-edge research, and can't miss industry news recaps. That Sounds Profitable, right? Assumptions and conventional wisdom will be challenged. Easy answers with no proof of efficacy will be exposed. Because the thinking that got podcast advertising close to a billion dollars annually will need to be drastically overhauled to bring in the tens or hundreds of billions of dollars podcast advertising deserves.
Latest episodes

5 snips
Jun 13, 2025 • 8min
YouTube's Place in Podcasting, Telling Stories with Pixels, & More
Discover the impact of tracking pixels on podcast campaigns. Dive into discussions about YouTube's evolving role in podcast discovery and how Amazon is introducing private auctions to Prime Video. Gain insights into the latest features added by Apple Podcasts during WWDC. Uncover vital updates that could shape the future of podcasting and advertising.

Jun 12, 2025 • 9min
Mattresses and Metrics
Tracking pixels are awesome at what they do, but like any tool there's also a way to misuse them and podcasting should remain conscious of that. Written and narrated by Tom WebsterEdited by Bryan Barletta and Gavin GaddisAudio editing by Gavin GaddisFind the full article here on Sounds Profitable.

Jun 12, 2025 • 4min
Spotify’s Rolling Out Transcripts, Podscribe Industry Rankings, & More
Today in a special episode of The Download we're covering nine stories rapid-fire in an "Oops, all Quick Hits" spectactular. As a result, you can find links to every piece mentioned here on SoundsProfitable.com

Jun 11, 2025 • 6min
2025 Audio Ad Forecast, YouTube's Place in Podcasting, & More
Today in the business of podcasting: a more nuanced look at YouTube's place in podcasting, Australia's ad market, the global ad forecast, and how Google AI is impacting search traffic. Find links to every article mentioned here on SoundsProfitable.com

Jun 10, 2025 • 6min
New Podcast Features @ WWDC, How a Podcast Promoted EuroMillions, & More
Today in the business of podcasting: Apple's announcements from WWDC, YouTube has backed off of removing videos via moderation, Acast boosted interestin EuroMillions with a podcast, and what the Creator's Caucus intends to do. Find links to everything mentioned here on SoundsProfitable.com

Jun 9, 2025 • 8min
Podcasting's Programmatic Future, How Podcasts Use Patreon, @ More
Discover the future of podcast advertising as generative AI tools like Wondercraft's Convo Mode redefine the landscape. Explore how platforms like Patreon are transforming monetization opportunities for creators. Delve into the recent challenges in the industry, including Spotify's layoffs and their impact on the podcasting community. Plus, learn about upcoming appearances at major events like Cannes Lions, highlighting the ongoing evolution of podcasting.

Jun 6, 2025 • 8min
Audiences Trust Podcasts, HLS Could Upgrade RSS, & More
This week in the business of podcasting: Sound Profitable's latest study shows podcasting trust is at an all-time high, HLS could be the future of RSS, and NPR's CEO writes an open letter to Congress about funding for public media. Find links to every article mentioned right here on SoundsProfitable.com

Jun 5, 2025 • 5min
The Advertising Landscape, Australian Audio Engagement, & More
Today in the business of podcasting: Why podcasting's advertising advantage is bigger than we thought, The Trade Desk looks at audio's effectiveness in Australia, and Gartner has a new annual CMO survey.Find links to every article mentioned right here on SoundsProfitable.com

Jun 5, 2025 • 9min
Why Podcasting’s Advertising Advantage Is Bigger Than We Thought
The latest edition of The Advertising Landscape shows podcasting's biggest fans are also paying a lot of attention. Written and narrated by Tom WebsterEdited by Bryan Barletta and Gavin GaddisAudio editing by Gavin GaddisFind the full article here on Sounds Profitable.

Jun 4, 2025 • 6min
Podcasting's High Trust and Recall, NPR's Open Letter to Congress, & More
Today in the business of podcasting: Digiday covers Sounds Profitable's latest study, Spotify is prepping to add podcast inventory to their ad exchange, and NPR's CEO writes an open letter to Congress about public media funding. Find links to every article mentioned right here on SoundsProfitable.com