Overcast, the case for one-person podcast apps
30 Aug 2026 • Ben Bowler
Overcast is Marco Arment's independent iOS podcast app, and one of the clearest arguments for why open, RSS-based podcasting still works in 2026.
Industry
Why value-for-value is the quiet revolution in podcasting
16 Aug 2026 • Ben Bowler
Value-for-value is podcasting's quiet payment revolution. What boostagrams, streaming sats and Podcasting 2.0 mean for listeners, in plain English.
What podcast charts actually measure, and why they mislead
15 Aug 2026 • Ben Bowler
Podcast charts don't rank what's most listened to. Here's what Apple and Spotify actually measure, and better ways to find shows worth your time.
Who podcast advertising really serves
22 Jul 2026 • Ben Bowler
Programmatic ads and platform lock-in have quietly reshaped podcasting around advertisers and networks, not creators. Here is what changed, and the case for a listener-first alternative.
Why Every Podcast App Is Adding AI Summaries in 2026
28 Jun 2026 • Ben Bowler
Why every podcast app is shipping AI summaries in 2026 — what it means for listeners, where it falls short, and how to spot one that's actually useful.
Why Podcast Apps Are Pivoting to Freemium in 2026
21 Jun 2026 • Ben Bowler
Why podcast apps are pivoting to freemium in 2026 — and what the model means for listeners. A look at where the trend is heading and who benefits.
How AI is changing podcast listening in 2026
9 Jun 2026 • Ben Bowler
How AI is changing podcast listening in 2026. The shift from show-level to topic-level, on-device transcription, and what's coming next.
Why Podcast Discovery Is Broken (and What Works in 2026)
7 Jun 2026 • Ben Bowler
Why podcast discovery is broken in 2026. Algorithm fatigue, the shift to AI search, and what's actually helping listeners find shows they'll love.
How AI search is changing podcast discovery
31 May 2026 • Ben Bowler
How AI search engines are reshaping podcast discovery in 2026 — what changes for listeners when search becomes a chatbot and transcripts get indexed.
The state of podcast subscriptions in 2026
29 May 2026 • Ben Bowler
Where podcast subscriptions stand in 2026: Patreon, Substack, Apple Podcasts Subscriptions, Memberful, and what's changing for listeners and creators.
Why indie podcasters are winning in 2026
27 May 2026 • Ben Bowler
Indie podcasters are winning in 2026: cheaper production tools, open RSS distribution, and audiences quietly migrating off big-network shows.
Why audio-only podcasts are still winning
22 May 2026 • Ben Bowler
Audio-only podcasts are still winning in 2026 despite the YouTube-first push. Here's why background listening and commute time still outweigh video on screen.
Why podcasts are switching to YouTube-first publishing
18 May 2026 • Ben Bowler
Why podcasts are publishing on YouTube first in 2026. How discovery, ad rates, and listener data are quietly pushing shows away from audio-first.
Are AI-generated podcasts taking over?
11 May 2026 • Ben Bowler
AI-generated podcasts now make up nearly half of new podcast feeds. Whether they're taking over depends on what you mean by 'over' — here's the actual picture.
Why Podcast Discoverability Is Broken
1 May 2026 • Ben Bowler
Podcast discoverability is broken: 4 million shows, charts dominated by majors, search that barely works. Here's why and what's fixing it.
Why Celebrity Podcasts Are Taking Over the Charts
27 Apr 2026 • Ben Bowler
Celebrity podcasts now dominate top charts worldwide. Here's why they work, where they fall short, and what it means for independent shows.
Why YouTube Is Winning the Podcast Race
19 Apr 2026 • Ben Bowler
YouTube is now the most-used podcast platform in the US. Here's how it happened, what it means for listeners, and why the audio-only players still matter.
Why Tech Giants Are Buying Podcasts
12 Apr 2026 • Ben Bowler
Tech companies buying podcasts is a 2026 trend with real consequences for listeners. What's happening, why it matters for your feed, and what to watch for.
How Gen Z Is Changing Podcast Listening
5 Apr 2026 • Ben Bowler
Gen Z now makes up 35 million monthly podcast listeners in the US. Here's how their habits differ from older audiences and what it means for you.
Podcast AI Summaries Are Changing Discovery
29 Mar 2026 • Ben Bowler
Podcast AI summaries help you decide what to listen to in seconds. See how apps use AI to surface episode highlights and key topics.
AI Is Changing How We Listen to Podcasts
15 Mar 2026 • Ben Bowler
AI now powers transcripts, smart summaries, search, and recommendations in podcast apps. Here's what that means for everyday listeners.
Video Podcasts Are Changing How We Listen
8 Mar 2026 • Ben Bowler
Video podcasts grew massively in 2025-2026, with YouTube, Spotify, and Apple competing for creators. Here's what it means for listeners.
Podcast Listening Habits Are Changing Fast
20 Feb 2026 • Ben Bowler
Podcast listening habits are shifting in 2026. Video podcasts, shorter episodes, and new platforms are reshaping how audiences tune in.
Are Podcast Subscriptions Worth the Money?
13 Feb 2026 • Ben Bowler
Are podcast subscriptions worth paying for? We break down what you get, what you don't, and when free alternatives make more sense.
Podcast Industry Growth: What the Numbers Say
30 Jan 2026 • Ben Bowler
Podcast industry growth by the numbers: 619 million listeners, $40 billion market, and ad spend topping $4 billion. What these trends mean for you.
Are Podcast Ads Targeted to You?
28 Jan 2026 • Ben Bowler
Yes, podcast ads are targeted using your IP address, location, and listening habits. Here's exactly how it works and what you can do about it.
Podcast Listening Stats That Might Surprise You
9 Jan 2026 • Ben Bowler
Podcast listening stats for 2026: who listens, how often, and where the industry is headed. The numbers that explain podcasting's growth.
Are Podcasts Replacing Radio?
7 Jan 2026 • Ben Bowler
Are podcasts replacing radio? We look at the listening data, where podcasts win, and why radio isn't dead yet.