

Podcast Perspectives
Jeff Umbro, The Podglomerate LLC
Podcast Perspectives helps you understand the ever-changing podcast industry. Hosted by Jeff Umbro, founder and CEO of The Podglomerate, this Signal Award winning show speaks to leaders in the podcast space through longform interviews and panel discussions. The goal is to walk through not only the important news and issues of the day in the podcast landscape, but also to go deep on the topics that podcasters need to know today. Named PR Daily's 2025 Best Podcast Production and Marketing Agency, The Podglomerate is a podcast services agency focused on production, audience growth, and monetization for some of the biggest podcasts in the world.
Produced by The Podglomerate.
Produced by The Podglomerate.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 9, 2025 • 1h 1min
The Podcast Attribution Landscape: What Creators, Marketers, and Advertisers Need to Know in 2026
When Spotify shut down Chartable in late 2024, it left a void in podcast attribution technology that the industry scrambled to fill. One year later, the dust has settled—and the new landscape looks dramatically different for podcasters, marketers, and advertisers.In this powerhouse session presented by The Podglomerate, you'll hear directly from Ilana Susnow (Head of Podcast Marketing and Audience Growth for Bloomberg Podcasts), Matt Shapo (Director of Digital Audio and Video at IAB), Cameron Hendrix (co-founder and CEO of Magellan AI), and Rebecca Dalby (VP of Demand at Triton Digital).Dive deep into today's podcast attribution ecosystem and explore how platforms like Magellan.ai, Podscribe, Podtrac, Swap.fm, and Spotify's Megaphone are reshaping measurement and tracking, from pricing and capacity to actual capabilities – and limitations – of their tools. Whether you're a podcaster looking to prove ROI, a marketer looking to track success of cross-promotions, or an advertiser seeking better campaign insights, this session will give you the strategic intelligence you need to navigate the post-Chartable world.To find more about The Podglomerate:– Show Page and Transcript: https://listen.podglomerate.com/show/podcast-perspectives– YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Podglomeratepods– Email: listen@thepodglomerate.com– LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/podglomerate– Twitter: @podglomerate– Instagram: @podglomeratepods Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 25, 2025 • 59min
How to Level Up Your Podcast Monetization Strategy
From sponsor dollars to listener loyalty, podcast ad reads can make or break your monetization strategy. But what separates an ad that gets renewed from one that gets dropped after a single campaign?In this exclusive – and free – fireside chat, discover the secrets of crafting successful ad reads that advertisers actually want to rebook with Alec Trunley (Brand Partnerships at RedCircle) and Dan Christo (COO at The Podglomerate). Alec helps top-tier advertisers scale host-read ads across hundreds of shows, and Dan has helped unlock over $2 million for The Podglomerate's monetization clients.This deep-dive session reveals the advertiser perspective that most creators never see – giving you the competitive edge to transform your ad reads from one-time deals into recurring revenue streams.Join us to learn:What makes your ad read irresistible to sponsorsHow advertisers evaluate your ad’s performance behind-the-scenesWhich metrics actually matter for securing future campaignsMost common mistakes when delivering sponsored content
I’m on all the socials @JeffUmbroThe Podglomerate offers production, distribution, and monetization services for dozens of new and industry-leading podcasts. Whether you’re just beginning or a seasoned podcaster, we offer what you need.To find more about The Podglomerate:– Show Page and Transcript: https://listen.podglomerate.com/show/podcast-perspectives– YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Podglomeratepods– Email: listen@thepodglomerate.com– LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/podglomerate– Twitter: @podglomerate– Instagram: @podglomeratepods Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 18, 2025 • 35min
Podcast Predictions for 2026 from 22 Industry Experts
2025 in Podcasting: A Year of Reckoning2025 was a year of big shifts and even bigger headlines. We saw companies close, new ventures launch, and familiar players rebrand or pivot. Video podcasts continued to grow, bringing shows to streaming platforms, theaters, and even the Golden Globes stage. Revenue models evolved, AI loomed large, and creators explored new ways to connect with audiences, from premium content to live events and derivative IP.Despite all the change, the podcasting community remains vibrant, and many companies reported record revenues. Optimism is high, and opportunities for creators are abundant—whether you’re experimenting with video, exploring new formats, or building the next breakout show. Our guests had some thoughts of their own. I’m on all the socials @JeffUmbroThe Podglomerate offers production, distribution, and monetization services for dozens of new and industry-leading podcasts. Whether you’re just beginning or a seasoned podcaster, we offer what you need.To find more about The Podglomerate:– Show Page and Transcript: https://listen.podglomerate.com/show/podcast-perspectives– YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Podglomeratepods– Email: listen@thepodglomerate.com– LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/podglomerate– Twitter: @podglomerate– Instagram: @podglomeratepods Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 28, 2025 • 48min
Bumper Co-Founder Dan Misener on the Death of the Download
Dan Misener is the co-founder of Bumper, a podcast data and growth company. Dan joins the show to share ways to grow podcasts, including identifying when you have a marketing vs editorial problem, the importance of properly tracking audience engagement, and how the innovative Bumper Dashboard packages and provides show statistics across several platforms. He also explains how we can use download metrics in a future-facing way and how AI is reshaping listener behavior.
You can find Dan on LinkedIn and at wearebumper.com.
I’m on all the socials @JeffUmbro
(00:00) Introduction
(00:45) Starting in Radio
(02:14) From Production to Podcast Data
(05:19) Bumper: A Podcast Data and Growth Company
(05:47) Balance of Ads and Content
(07:56) What to Ask Podcast Creators Who Want Growth
(09:49) The Bumper Dashboard
(13:15) Death of the Download Metric
(17:56) Downloads as a Currency
(21:55) The Ideal World of Ad Buying
(26:22) Verified Impressions
(31:07) Who Is Using the Bumper Dashboard
(36:21) Metrics to Show Podcast Health
(39:23) AI in Podcast Data Measurement
(42:40) Conclusion and Final Thoughts
The Podglomerate offers production, distribution, and monetization services for dozens of new and industry-leading podcasts. Whether you’re just beginning or a seasoned podcaster, we offer what you need.
To find more about The Podglomerate:– Show Page and Transcript: https://listen.podglomerate.com/show/podcast-perspectives– YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Podglomeratepods– Email: listen@thepodglomerate.com– LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/podglomerate– Twitter: @podglomerate– Instagram: @podglomeratepods Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 14, 2025 • 29min
Boston Globe Head of Audio Kristin Nelson on Integrating Audio Into the Newsroom
Kristin Nelson is Head of Audio at the Boston Globe. The newspaper has become a leader in the audio space with podcasts like Love Letters, Gladiator, Murder in Boston, and their new Spotlight: Snitch City. Kristin breaks down the Globe’s audio strategy, how they integrate their podcast team and newsroom, monetization strategies that incorporate ads as well as their traditional newspaper subscription model, and continue to produce audio IP for film and television.
You can find Kristin on LinkedIn and her work at bostonglobe.com.
I’m on all the socials @JeffUmbro
The Podglomerate offers production, distribution, and monetization services for dozens of new and industry-leading podcasts. Whether you’re just beginning or a seasoned podcaster, we offer what you need.
To find more about The Podglomerate:– Show Page and Transcript: https://listen.podglomerate.com/show/podcast-perspectives– YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Podglomeratepods– Email: listen@thepodglomerate.com– LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/podglomerate– Twitter: @podglomerate– Instagram: @podglomeratepods Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 30, 2025 • 42min
Podcast Veteran Lex Friedman on the Podcast Industry's Evolution
Lex Friedman, a podcast industry veteran and founder of Lex Friedman Consulting, shares his journey through the ever-evolving podcast landscape. He discusses early challenges in podcast advertising and highlights his role in launching Midroll, navigating pivotal acquisitions like Stitcher, and his decision to turn down Spotify for family time. Lex candidly critiques industry consolidation and emphasizes the resilience of indie creators, offering a cautiously optimistic outlook on the future of podcasting.

Sep 16, 2025 • 43min
How to Get Your Podcast Reviewed by the Media
From traditional news outlets to podcast newsletters, there are dozens of publications writing about podcasting today. But how do you get your podcast on their desks and featured by Vulture, The Guardian, NPR, and beyond?
In this exclusive – and free – webinar, learn the secrets of pitching your podcast to the press with Joni Deutsch (The Podglomerate's SVP of Marketing and Audience Development) and Alice Florence Orr (Managing Editor of Podcast Review).
Joni is an award-winning audio professional and NPR veteran. For the past 15 years, Joni has cultivated robust relationships with both legacy and new media, generating major publicity opportunities for a wide range of podcasts across radio, television, print, and digital outlets. As someone who has both received and sent pitches throughout her career, she reveals just what it takes to successfully pitch your podcast to journalists, from choosing the best angle to finding the right contact details.
Alice has been a podcast critic for nearly 8 years, covering new shows and "Best of" lists for Podcast Review and other major outlets, including the Irish Independent and BBC Radio. As the industry has matured, she has noticed common mistakes that many podcasters make when pitching their shows. She's here to explain what she looks for in a pitch, from cover art to evocative descriptions.
The Podglomerate offers production, distribution, and monetization services for dozens of new and industry-leading podcasts. Whether you’re just beginning or a seasoned podcaster, we offer what you need.To find more about The Podglomerate:– Show Page and Transcript: https://listen.podglomerate.com/show/podcast-perspectives– YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Podglomeratepods– Email: listen@thepodglomerate.com– LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/podglomerate– Twitter: @podglomerate– Instagram: @podglomeratepods Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 2, 2025 • 36min
AdLarge Media CEO Cathy Csukas on Ad Tech and Women in Audio
Cathy Csukas is the CEO and co-founder of AdLarge Media and the fwd. network. AdLarge is an independent audio ad sales firm that for the last decade has shaped how advertisers, networks, and creators navigate the world of podcast and digital audio monetization. The fwd. network is a more recent initiative to deliver content by and for female audiences. Cathy discusses the evolution of AdLarge into an all-in-one audio network, their early work monetizing shows like Ashley Flowers’ Crime Junkie, their cutting-edge approach to advertising technology, and how her leadership style fosters an innovative company culture.You can find Cathy on LinkedIn, AdLarge.com, and thefwd.network.I’m on all the socials @JeffUmbro The Podglomerate offers production, distribution, and monetization services for dozens of new and industry-leading podcasts. Whether you’re just beginning or a seasoned podcaster, we offer what you need.To find more about The Podglomerate:– Show Page and Transcript: https://listen.podglomerate.com/show/podcast-perspectives– YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Podglomeratepods– Email: listen@thepodglomerate.com– LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/podglomerate– Twitter: @podglomerate– Instagram: @podglomeratepods Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 19, 2025 • 42min
Condé Nast Head of Global Audio Chris Bannon on Audio Innovation in Legacy Media
Chris Bannon is the Head of Global Audio at media giant Condé Nast, home to hit shows from The New Yorker, Wired, Vogue, and more. Chris discusses his remarkable audio career from public radio to podcasting, which includes roles at Midroll and Stitcher before joining Condé Nast. We go through his experience first managing podcasts at WNYC in 2004 and the massive success of The New Yorker’s Pulitzer-winning podcast In the Dark as it gets ready for a new season. Chris also discusses the importance of live shows and the teamwork involved behind Condé Nast’s global audio network.
You can find Chris on LinkedIn.
I’m on all the socials @JeffUmbro
The Podglomerate offers production, distribution, and monetization services for dozens of new and industry-leading podcasts. Whether you’re just beginning or a seasoned podcaster, we offer what you need.
To find more about The Podglomerate:
– Show Page and Transcript: https://listen.podglomerate.com/show/podcast-perspectives
– YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Podglomeratepods
– Email: listen@thepodglomerate.com
– LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/podglomerate
– Twitter: @podglomerate
– Instagram: @podglomeratepods Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 5, 2025 • 29min
Audacy Head of Podcasts Leah Reis-Dennis on Making Major Deals in Audio
Leah Reis-Dennis is the Head of Podcasts at Audacy, the second-largest radio company in the US. Leah joins the show to share her unique path to podcasts, including leading content and partnerships at Himalaya and working in business development at Stitcher and SiriusXM before landing at Audacy, where she oversees content, partnerships, and marketing for over 300 shows. We discuss Audacy’s partnership with PAVE and Tenderfoot, the benefits of working in both podcasts and broadcast, and Audacy's experience with M&A, specifically Cadence13, Podcorn, and Pineapple Street Studios. Leah also provides insights into future trends for podcasters and podcast business models, and details Audacy’s plans for growth in podcasts and radio.
You can find Leah at audacy.com or on LinkedIn.
I’m on all the socials @JeffUmbro
The Podglomerate offers production, distribution, and monetization services for dozens of new and industry-leading podcasts. Whether you’re just beginning or a seasoned podcaster, we offer what you need.
To find more about The Podglomerate:– Show Page and Transcript: https://listen.podglomerate.com/show/podcast-perspectives– YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Podglomeratepods– Email: listen@thepodglomerate.com– LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/podglomerate– Twitter: @podglomerate– Instagram: @podglomeratepods Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


