#Podcasters

One year ago today, on September 8, 2025, we lost Todd Cochrane.

Todd was my longtime co-host on the New Media Show, a podcast builder from the medium’s earliest days, and one of its strongest advocates for independent creators, open RSS, ownership, and direct connection with audiences.

Looking back on these conversations, what stands out most is how consistently Todd fought for what he believed mattered. He never forgot why podcasting was different in the first place: it removed barriers, gave creators more control, and made it possible to build real communities without asking gatekeepers for permission.

He also understood that none of it came easy. Todd often talked about “sweat equity,” doing the work, building something from the ground up, and earning an audience’s trust over time. That was who he was.

What makes this video especially difficult to watch is the ending. In what became his final New Media Show appearance, Todd signed off the way he always did, expecting there would be another episode:

“We’ll see you next time.”

I wish there had been a next time.

Todd’s voice, his ideas, and the impact he had on podcasting are still very much part of the conversation.

Remembering my friend and New Media Show co-host Todd Cochrane today.

June 4, 1964 – September 8, 2025

More remembrances of Todd Cochrane:

New Media Show: Remembering Todd Cochrane, Podcast Hall of Famer and Blubrry CEO

A special New Media Show episode with Adam Curry, Mike Dell, Rob Walch, and me remembering Todd’s life, personality, career, advocacy for independent podcasting, and his impact on the medium.

New Media Show remembrance
https://newmediashow.com/2025/09/

Podnews: Obituary: Todd Cochrane

James Cridland and I worked together on this obituary covering Todd’s life, Navy career, Geek News Central, Blubrry, open RSS advocacy, the Podcast Awards, New Media Show, and his wider impact on podcasting.

Read the Podnews obituary:
https://podnews.net/article/todd-cochrane-obituary

Blubrry Podcasting: Blubrry Founder Todd Cochrane: In Memoriam

The company Todd founded remembered him as the heart of the Blubrry community and said it is committed to continuing his mission of supporting podcasters and independent creators.

Read Blubrry’s remembrance
https://blubrry.com/podcast-insider/2025/09/09/blubrry-founder-todd-cochrane-in-memoriam/

Geek News Central: Geek News Central Mourns the Loss of Todd Cochrane

Todd’s longtime show and publication remembered its founder, host, and driving force, as well as his impact on technology, podcasting, and the people around him.

Read the Geek News Central remembrance
https://geeknewscentral.com/2025/09/09/geek-news-central-mourns-the-loss-of-todd-cochrane/

Podcast Movement: In Memory of Todd Cochrane

Dan Franks reflected on Todd’s early support of Podcast Movement, his willingness to challenge the industry, and his commitment to independent podcasters.

Read the Podcast Movement tribute:
https://weekly.podcastmovement.com/p/in-memory-of-todd-cochrane

Sounds Profitable: Remembering Todd Cochrane

Tom Webster shared a personal remembrance of Todd, including how Geek News Central was the first podcast he listened to nearly two decades earlier and how Todd’s belief in creators shaped both his work and his business.

Read Tom Webster’s remembrance:
https://soundsprofitable.com/article/remembering-todd-cochrane/

Podnews Weekly Review: Remembering Todd Cochrane

James Cridland and Sam Sethi looked back on Todd’s career and included material from an earlier conversation with him about how he began podcasting in 2004 and what the medium meant to him.

Listen to the Podnews Weekly Review remembrance:
https://weekly.podnews.net/1538779/episodes/17833228-remembering-todd-cochrane-and-apple-testing-new-chapters

PodBiz: When Independent Voices Shape an Industry: Remembering Todd Cochrane

Recorded before Todd’s passing, this conversation captures him in his own words as he discusses monetization, independent creators, audience trust, and why serving listeners has to come before chasing revenue.

Listen to the PodBiz episode
https://shows.acast.com/podbiz/episodes/remembering-todd-cochrane

podCast411: Todd Cochrane Interview from March 2005 Remastered

Rob Walch remastered his original March 2005 interview with Todd, offering a rare chance to hear Todd near the very beginning of the podcasting era.

Listen to the remastered 2005 interview
https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-podcast411-learn-about-pod-27564388/episode/411-item-0022b-todd-cochrane-294330497/

podCast411: Memorial to Todd Cochrane on New Media Show

Rob Walch also shared the New Media Show memorial conversation with his podCast411 audience.

Listen to the podCast411 memorial feed drop
https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-podcast411-learn-about-pod-27564388/episode/memorial-to-todd-cochrane-on-new-294330496/

Podcaster News: Remembering Site Founder Todd Cochrane

The site Todd founded remembered his drive, fearlessness, generosity, and desire to help other people succeed.

Todd Robert Cochrane obituary

Todd’s family obituary provides the personal record of his life, including his Michigan roots, 22 years of Navy service, family, technology interests, and the people he left behind.

Read Todd’s obituary:
https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/45326462/todd-robert-cochrane

The New Media Show continues today with Todd very much a part of its foundation. The conversations have changed, the industry continues to evolve, and there are still plenty of things I know Todd and I would be debating.

I still miss having him on the other side of that conversation.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Podcast Index | RSS

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.