Podcast Perspectives

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

The podcast industry, like all media and entertainment, is undergoing a course correction.In this episode, I speak with Rachael King, CEO of Pod People. Rachael and I chat about podcast marketing strategies, team building advice, her latest predictions for the future, and why her first question to client has nothing to do with podcasts.To learn more about Pod People, visit podpeople.com. Rachael is on all the socials, just Google her name. 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

Storytelling podcasts are a unique subsection of podcasting, and one with many obstacles and challenges to overcome.In this episode, I’m talking with Hassan Chaudhry, head of partnerships and strategy at Blanchard House, a UK-based independent podcast company which focuses on storytelling. Hassan is the former director of business and strategy with HBO.Hassan and I chat about his experience at Blanchard House, his beginnings as an investment banker, his career progression at HBO, and the world of companion podcasting and its similarity to DVD extras.To learn more about Blanchard House, visit blanchard-house.com. Hassan is 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