In this episode of The Sound Off Podcast, Podcast Perspectives host (and The Podglomerate's CEO/Founder) Jeff Umbro discusses his transition from book publicist to podcasting, highlighting The Podglomerate's evolution since 2017. He emphasizes the importance of podcast promotion, noting that cross-promos are effective but should not be the sole strategy. Jeff also shares his insights on video's role in podcasting, noting its potential for discovery and engagement. Additionally, Jeff addresses the complexities of monetizing podcasts, including the challenges of dynamic ad insertion and the need for fair CPMs. The conversation concludes with Jeff's plans to develop a dashboard for better data tracking and his ongoing client projects, including "Master Plan" and "A Fine Mess." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we look towards the New Year, we’ve gathered some of the brightest minds in podcasting to reflect on a transformative year. From indie creators to network executives, our guests share their most humbling lessons, unexpected wins, and the moments that made them rethink everything. Plus, they reveal what’s keeping them up at night – and what’s getting them excited – as we head into 2025.Guests include: Chris Peterson of DWNLOAD Media Fatima Zaidi of Quill Inc and CoHost Sharon Taylor of Triton Digital Bradley Davis of Podchaser Amber Smith of iHeartMedia Eric Barnett of Supporting Cast Brady Sadler of Double Elvis Michele Cobb of The Podcast Academy Jessica Cordova Kramer of Lemonada Media Matt Shapo of the IAB Ross Adams of Acast Will Pearson of iHeartMedia Dusty Weis of Podcamp Media Lisa Laporte of TWiT.tv Odile Beniflah of Ausha Chris Colbert of DCP Entertainment Harry Morton of Lower Street Bryan Barletta of Sounds Profitable Molly Barton of Realm 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: https://listen.podglomerate.com/show/podcast-perspectives/Transcript: https://listen.podglomerate.com/show/podcast-perspectivesYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PodglomeratepodsEmail: listen@thepodglomerate.com Twitter: @podglomerate Instagram: @podglomeratepods Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How has iHeartMedia reigned supreme in podcasting?Will Pearson, president of iHeartPodcasts, joins me to discuss how curiosity and collaboration have shaped his career and approach to creative development. From starting Mental Floss to holding executive roles at HowStuffWorks and now iHeart, we explore how Will and his team at iHeart have put the spotlight on underrepresented voices, the role that iHeart’s radio network plays in podcast development, his opinions on brand collaborations and marketing strategies, and why he makes time to co-host his show, Part-Time Genius, each week. You can find Will on LinkedIn or you can head to iheart.com and check out their podcasts.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

Are audiobooks the key to landing big-time clients like Marvel and DC Comics? My guest, Molly Barton, Realm's co-founder and CEO, has done just that. She dove into the world of audio after leaving her job at Penguin Random House to co-found Serial Box, an audio story company that reimagined what an audiobook could be. In 2021, Serial Box was rebranded as Realm, and Molly and her team are now devoted to creating podcasts for clients like Marvel and DC. We discuss her episodic approach to audiobooks, how she approaches client partnerships, and the strategy behind the acquisitions of Lipstick & Vinyl and Pinna. You can follow Molly Barton on LinkedIn or check out Realm.fm.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

Gretta Cohn, CEO of Pushkin Industries, has had a fascinating career path, from cellist for Cursive and Bright Eyes to intern at the Village Voice, to producer at WNYC and Earwolf, to founding her own company. We discuss what she's learned throughout her career, her experience founding the production company Transmitter in 2017, her feelings about the 2022 acquisition by Pushkin, and what her day-to-day has been like since her 2023 promotion to Pushkin's CEO. We also discuss the company's recent integration of podcasts and audiobooks and how she collaborates with Pushkin founders Malcolm Gladwell and Jacob Weisberg.You can follow Gretta Cohn on LinkedIn or check out Pushkin.fm.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

How does it feel to go from being a podcast co-host to the owner of a brand-new podcast venture? My guest, Alex Goldman, host and creator of Hyperfixed, shares his experience of taking the big leap to podcast ownership. We discuss his previous show, Reply All, how he's built his new business with a lean team, the role Supporting Cast subscribers play in story development, and why he turns to Kurt Vonnegut for inspiration.You can listen to Hyperfixed now wherever you get your podcasts or at Hyperfixedpod.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

What’s the next frontier of podcasting? My guest, Leital Molad, the Head of Podcasts at WaitWhat and podcast trailblazer, has some answers. We discuss her approach to developing groundbreaking shows, like Paul McCartney’s A Life in Lyrics and A Slight Change of Plans. I also get her thoughts on AI – including her insight into WaitWhat’s Listener’s Bill of Rights in the Age of AI and their new show, Pioneers of AI.You can find Leital Molad online at LinkedIn, and you can also find her on waitwhat.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

How do you create a meaningful podcast advertising campaign in today's market?In this episode, I’m talking with Lisa, CEO of TWiT.tv. She's led the company for 16 years and has witnessed many ebbs and flows, especially when it comes to ad sales.Lisa and I talk about the range of podcast advertising options, her approach to sales partnerships, and how the pandemic continues to impact sales. She also shares the story of how she convinced her partner to start calling “netcasts” podcasts.You can find Lisa Laporte online. She's pretty active on Twitter and LinkedIn, and you can also find her at the TWiT.tv website. 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

Podcasts are intimate. Listening to them is often a solitary experience, and although fandoms emerge, building community within the industry can be a challenge.In this episode, I’m talking with three guests who have extensive experience developing community in the podcast world through festivals and awards: Jemma Rose Brown, general manager of the Signal Awards; Davy Gardner, head of Tribeca Audio at the Tribeca Festival, and Chioke I’Anson, founder of the Resonate Podcast Festival. Together, we discuss how to translate audio works in physical spaces, the importance of recognition, and how they foster collaboration and inclusion at their events.To learn more about Jemma Rose Brown and the Signal Awards, visit jemmarosebrown.com and signalaward.com. For further information on Davy Gardner and Tribeca, visit davygardner.com and tribecafilm.com/festival/audio-storytelling. More info on Chioke I’Anson and the Resonate Podcast Festival are at resonatepodfest.com and chiokeianson.com. You can find Jason on LinkedIn or Twitter. 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

What do wrestling and podcasting have in common? Jason Hoch, who ran WWE’s digital team during the early social media days and is now a leading podcast producer.In this episode, I talk with Jason, now the CEO and Chief Creative Officer at Wavland.Jason and I chat about his experience at the WWE, what it was like to work at HowStuffWorks on the hit podcast Atlanta Monster, and with Taylor Sheridan on the TV adaptation of Boomtown starring Billy Bob Thornton.To learn more about Wavland, visit wavland.media. You can find Jason on LinkedIn or Twitter.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