New Media Show

In this new episode from a LIVE Jan 7th, 2026 New Media Show, Host RobGreenlee.com is joined by Dave Jackson (School of Podcasting and co-host of Ask the Podcast Coach) to unpack why the current shift toward video and AI feels like an earthquake inside podcasting, while the YouTube creator world treats it like a normal day.

We dig into how creators are now forced to play two games at once: the RSS subscription game and the algorithm discovery game especially for video, and why the definition debates did not matter as much as audience behavior.

Rob and Dave also get practical about what breaks and what endures, including growing frustration with heavy ad loads and pre-roll stacking, the realities of programmatic monetization, and why the first thing a listener should hear is you.

We cover where video delivery and monetization are heading (including HLS and video ad insertion), why “watch something” still defaults to YouTube for most people, and what Apple Podcasts would need to change if it ever wanted to truly reprioritize RSS-based video podcasting again.

Plus, a look at what live content signals in an AI-accelerated era, including the idea of live as proof of life and real-time audience feedback.

Rob also shares reminders about Podfest Expo (Jan 14–18 in Orlando) and the upcoming 2026 Podcast Hall of Fame activity on Jan 16th, 2026 (PodcastHall.com).

Topics Covered:

– Video becoming default across platforms
– AI accelerating the creator loop and increasing pressure to optimize for algorithms
– RSS portability, ownership, and the growing discovery gap
– Programmatic ads, pre-roll backlash, and audience ad tolerance
– HLS, video ad insertion, and why the ad infrastructure is pushing streaming delivery
– Apple Podcasts video discoverability problems and what would need to change
– Netflix exclusivity lessons after the Spotify era of exclusives
– Live as proof of life in a world flooding with synthetic content

Hosts Links

New Media Show: https://newmediashow.com/
Rob Greenlee: https://robgreenlee.com/
Rob on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RobGreenlee
Rob on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robgreenlee
Rob on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robwgreenlee/
Podcast Hall of Fame: https://podcasthall.com/
Podfest Expo: https://podfestexpo.com/

Dave Jackson, School of Podcasting: https://schoolofpodcasting.com/
Ask the Podcast Coach (Live Saturdays): https://askthepodcastcoach.com/

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In this episode, we relaunch the New Media Show #643 with special guest Rob Walsh, VP of Libsyn.

After a difficult last few months following the passing of longtime friend and co-host Todd Cochrane, The New Media Show officially returns with a fresh format and a familiar voice. In this reboot episode, we again talk candidly about the process of bringing the show back, honoring Todd’s legacy, and where the podcasting industry is really headed in 2025 and beyond.

Rob Greenlee and Rob Walch dig into the renewed 2026 Podcast Hall of Fame, why hosting it at Podfest Expo matters, and how this year’s inductee class reflects both the early pioneers and today’s global voices.

They unpack what advertisers are actually buying right now, why mid sized loyal shows often outperform the “big names,” and how the shift from demographic targeting to psychographic and genre based buying is changing deals for creators at every level.

The conversation also explores the rise of private communities and paid video ecosystems on platforms like Substack and Uscreen, plus the relaunch of NewMediaShow.com with a fully restored archive of nearly 600 past episodes.

From YouTube and Spotify’s “top podcast” charts to Apple’s long running audio ecosystem, the two Robs wrestle with a core question: what truly counts as a podcast in an era where many YouTube only shows get labeled as such.

They contrast audio first and video first strategies, debate download versus HLS streaming, and talk through how measurement, attribution, and IAB revenue reports reveal a still under valued ad market relative to radio and other media.

Finally, they tackle the current wave of AI generated ads and shows, including legal requirements around disclosure and why so much AI content still feels soulless, even as tools get faster and more powerful.

Whether you are an indie creator, a network executive, or someone who has followed The New Media Show for years, this reboot episode sets the tone for a new chapter that stays true to the show’s roots while leaning hard into the realities of today’s business of podcasting.