Episode
Podcast Growth and Discovery in 2026 | Arielle Nissenblatt #655
- Published
- Mar 18, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 3764
- Processing state
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- https://blurt.media/w/vFM2aeLqHW8Hdm8z6cjRB4
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Summary
**Podcast discovery feels harder in 2026, not because creators stopped trying, but because attention is now split across podcast apps, YouTube, short-form video feeds, newsletters, and search-driven recommendations.** On this recorded episode of the **New Media Show, host Rob Greenlee** shares the screen and a microphone with **Arielle Nissenblatt, 2026 Podcast Hall of Famer** and **Founder of [EarBuds Podcast Collective](https://earbuds.audio/)** and **Head of Community and Content at Pinwheel by Audily,** to break down what is actually changing right now and what creators can still do that consistently grows audience and trust. > _**“Arielle brings a listener-first, creator-first perspective that cuts through the noise. Platforms matter, but they are not the whole story. If a show is not clearly positioned, consistently delivered, and genuinely recommendable, the best metadata in the world will not create retention.”**_ **This episode focuses on the practical middle ground: respect the power of platforms, but build your growth strategy around behaviors you can control.** > _**“A big part of that conversation is Apple’s renewed push into video podcasts and what an HLS-based video experience signals for the direction of distribution.”**_ **Rob frames it as part of a broader convergence toward a unified listen-and-watch experience, where measurement and monetization are easier for platforms when content is native.** > _**“Arielle agrees that video is becoming an important top-of-funnel entry point, not because every show should be video-first, but because platforms can more easily optimize what they can see, track, and sell.”**_ **We also talk through Spotify’s monetiz…