Todd and Rob discuss the various aspects of the podcasting industry, and its future trajectory is explored. The discussion begins with Todd and Rob addressing the current state and potential future of podcasting, emphasizing challenges such as the absurd proposition of abandoning RSS and the risk of exploitation by large corporations. They stress the importance of creating superior content and adopting a realistic approach to podcasting. Further delving into the industry’s challenges, they consider content distribution, target audience, and the intricacies of starting an online show. They advise focusing on individual show goals and celebrating milestones, regardless of audience size. The discussion extends to investment trends in content creation and the cultural shift towards careers as influencers among younger generations. The “podcast industrial complex” concept is introduced, highlighting its focus on advertising revenue and the need for a balanced approach to providing tools and services. Todd and Rob also discuss the recent decrease in podcast episodes, attributing it to seasonal variations, and speculate on the impact of New Year’s resolutions on podcast creation. The conversation shifts to the need for standardizing podcast metrics, debating the advantages and challenges of such standardization. Financial implications of industry changes, such as renewal processes and guideline development, are also discussed. They emphasize the importance of fraud prevention and the need for investment in this area. The shift in industry terminology from “downloads” to “plays” and the evolution of advertising in the digital space are explored. They discuss the challenges of standardizing and measuring advertising effectiveness, stressing the need for trusted third-party involvement and highlighting the difficulties in measuring audience engagement. In conclusion, they plan to update their session announcement. Todd is creating a private group for podcast discussions and inviting audience feedback. Get a Sticker: Send us your show sticker, and we will send you a New Media Show Sticker. Get on our sticker board for the show. New Media Productions 365 N Willowbrook Rd Suite: C Coldwater, Mi, 49036