What makes a podcast worth listening to—and what can it become once people care about it? On this episode of Poduty and the News, Jeff Revilla is joined by award-winning podcast producer, consultant, and creator Michael Osborne to break down six stories about the changing world of podcasting. Michael has spent more than 15 years creating and launching spoken-word shows. His independent podcasts have gone on to partner with Smithsonian Magazine, PRX, and Wondery, and today he runs 14th Street Studios, producing shows for independent creators, businesses, nonprofits, and universities. His work centers on storytelling, deep listening, and understanding what makes audio compelling in the first place. Learn more about Michael and 14th Street Studios: https://www.fourteenthstreetstudios.com/ Chapters of this episode: A Deep Dive Into Fandom and Podcasting With The Ringer’s Mallory Rubin Source: Spotify Newsroom https://newsroom.spotify.com/2026-08-26/mallory-rubin-house-of-r-interview/ Mallory Rubin discusses fandom, host chemistry, and the intimate relationship podcasting can create between hosts and listeners. Criminal Turns Narrative Podcasting Into a 13-City Live Show Source: Vox Media https://www.voxmedia.com/2026/09/21/award-winning-true-crime-podcast-criminal-brings-all-new-live-show-dont-worry-to-13-cities-across-north-america/ The award-winning podcast Criminal is taking an original live production on the road, using new stories about host Phoebe Judge and her family rather than simply recording a standard episode onstage. The Athletic Adds Live Programming to Its Podcast, Video Playbook Source: Podcast News Daily https://www.podcastnewsdaily.com/news/the-athletic-adds-live-programming-to-its-podcast-video-playbook/article_cc67d742-badf-41ec-ab0f-1cd449ae323c.html The Athletic is expanding its podcast and video strategy with live programming built around major sporting events and its existing podcast personalities. Apple Opens a 600-Seat Venue With Built-In Broadcast Studios Source: Phandroid https://phandroid.com/2026/09/23/apple-opens-its-own-600-seat-london-venue-with-built-in-studios/ Apple Music Hall combines live performance, recording, video, broadcast control, and podcast production inside one 600-seat venue at London’s Battersea Power Station. Italy's Podcasting Festival Celebrates 10 Years Source: Sounds Profitable https://soundsprofitable.com/press-release/ten-years-of-the-podcasting-festival-from-palermo-to-milan-podcasts-are-taking-italy-by-storm/ Italy’s Podcasting Festival marks its tenth anniversary with programming focused on AI, video, monetization, discoverability, live podcasts, networking, and opportunities for emerging creators. PodFest Naija Draws More Than 3,000 People Around Storytelling Source: Techbuild Africa https://techbuild.africa/podfest-naija-2026-creators-brands-storytellers/ PodFest Naija brought together more than 3,000 attendees and over 50 storytellers for live recordings, creator conversations, masterclasses, and discussions centered on the power of storytelling. Want to livestream and record podcasts like we do?  Check out these links and build your empire! Transistor FM - for podcast hosting https://transistor.fm/?via=poduty Castmagic - to make written content from your audio podcast https://get.castmagic.io/ugp958dba02x Streamyard - for livestreaming and recording podcast episodes https://streamyard.com/pal/c/6282618417446912

What can podcasters learn from stand-up comedy about performing live, building an audience, creating more opportunities to get onstage—and getting paid when they do it? On this episode of Poduty and the News, Jeff Revilla is joined by comedian, producer, entrepreneur, and Plauzzable founder Leanne Linsky. Leanne brings years of experience performing and producing live comedy, along with the perspective of building technology designed to help creators find audiences, host shows, and earn income. Learn more about Leanne and Plauzzable at https://plauzzable.com/. This episode explores the growing overlap between podcasting, live performance, technology, and the creator economy. Together, Jeff and Leanne break down six stories showing how podcasts are becoming theatrical productions, conference programming, festival experiences, and real live-event businesses. Chapters in This Episode: GeekWire Takes Its Technology Conversations to a Live Audience https://luma.com/45xf4ukv GeekWire brings its podcast in front of a live audience for a technology and business discussion, turning its editorial expertise into an in-person community experience. Fear& Learns That Going Live Means Putting on a Show https://www.dailycal.org/arts/local-event/fear-turns-podcast-into-live-spectacle-at-golden-gate-theatre/article_983ee607-1042-4774-8c05-9b77f9dbcc54.html Fear& takes its conversational podcast format out of the studio and onto the stage at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Theatre as part of a West Coast live tour. Chelsea Arts Festival Puts a Podcast Beside Theatre, Music and Literature https://www.countryandtownhouse.com/culture/chelsea-arts-festival-day-guide/ The London Theatre Review joins the Chelsea Arts Festival lineup, placing a ticketed live podcast alongside theater, literature, comedy, music, and other arts programming. An Industry Podcast Becomes Conference Programming at RTO World https://www.rtohq.org/2026/09/rto-show-podcast-live-at-rto-world-2026-culture-change-and-the-future-of-rto/ The RTO Show Podcast records live from the RTO World 2026 conference, showing how a niche industry podcast can become part of a conference’s educational programming. Italy Is Literally Putting Podcasting on the Public Stage https://www.piacenzasera.it/2026/09/italian-podcast-awards-il-23-settembre-a-piacenza-il-podcast-italiano-sale-sul-palco/660507/ The Italian Podcast Awards return to Piacenza with live podcast programming and a new Podcast Academy designed to help train emerging creators. A Sold-Out Show Reminds Us That Live Podcasting Is a Real Event Business https://www.dailymail.com/tvshowbiz/article-16108063/Jameela-Jamil-forced-cancel-sold-live-podcast-struck-ongoing-illness-reveals-shes-taking-time-recover.html Jameela Jamil’s sold-out live podcast performance is canceled because of illness, highlighting the operational realities and responsibilities that come with running a ticketed live show. Want to livestream and record podcasts like we do?  Check out these links and build your empire! Transistor FM - for podcast hosting https://transistor.fm/?via=poduty Castmagic - to make written content from your audio podcast https://get.castmagic.io/ugp958dba02x Streamyard - for livestreaming and recording podcast episodes https://streamyard.com/pal/c/6282618417446912

What does podcast success look like when you stop measuring everything by downloads? On this episode of Poduty and the News, Jeff Revilla is joined by Wendy Brant, Director of Podfest Expo, to break down six stories from across podcasting, creator media, and live events.  The conversation focuses on what happens when podcasters move beyond simply publishing episodes and start building communities that show up, participate, buy tickets, support creators, and create opportunities in the real world. Jeff and Wendy discuss community building, live podcasting, audience growth, creator independence, monetization, event strategy, content repurposing, and long-term sustainability. Across all six stories, one question keeps coming up: are podcasters spending too much time trying to get more listeners when they should be creating more value for the listeners they already have? About Wendy Brant Wendy Brant is the Director of Podfest Expo, one of the largest multimedia creator gatherings in the United States.  She is also an experienced podcaster and creator who built a show that spent four consecutive years in Apple’s Top 150 Relationship & Family charts, generated more than 1.3 million downloads, and achieved rapid YouTube monetization. Through her work with Podfest Expo and her own creator experience, Wendy brings a practical perspective on audience growth, community, monetization, live events, creator burnout, and building a sustainable podcast brand. Chapters In This Episode: 6 Stories Discussed About Live Podcasting 1. Legacy Lounge Takes the Podcast Into the Community A local podcast in Steubenville, Ohio turned its mission into a real-world community event. The inaugural Legacy Lounge Community Cookout brought together more than 300 people for food, music, raffles, swimming, kids’ activities, and connections to local churches and nonprofits. The story opens a larger conversation about whether a podcast can be successful by becoming important to a local community, even without massive download numbers. 2. Goalhanger Turns a Podcast Network Into a Live Festival Goalhanger brought 22 shows together for the first The Rest Is Fest at London’s Southbank Centre and sold 26,000 tickets over three days. Roughly 85% of attendees reportedly came specifically to see one particular podcast. Jeff and Wendy discuss what this says about passionate podcast communities, cross-promotion between shows, and how independent creators could apply the same model on a much smaller scale. 3. True Crime Meets Local History on the Live Podcast Stage Crimes of the Centuries is partnering with the Butler County Historical Society for a live recording built around a late-19th-century local murder case. The event combines true crime, journalism, local history, audience Q&A, and a VIP ticket package. The story creates a discussion about local partnerships, audience expansion, premium experiences, and whether localization could become a smart touring strategy for podcasters. 4. Hayley Williams and Kathleen Hanna Turn a Live Conversation Into Evergreen Content The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame brought Paramore’s Hayley Williams together with Kathleen Hanna for a sold-out live edition of the Music Makes Us podcast. The conversation was later released as full-length video, extending the value of the original live event. Jeff and Wendy discuss how live podcast recordings can become podcasts, video, clips, social content, and evergreen media long after the audience leaves the room. 5. KUNC Turns a Local Life Story Into a Live Podcast Experience KUNC’s In the NoCo brought public radio storytelling onto the stage at the Historic Park Theatre in Estes Park, Colorado. More than 100 people attended as Erin O’Toole interviewed restaurateur and former sponsored climber Melissa Strong about climbing, entrepreneurship, surviving a catastrophic electrical accident, recovery, and deciding to sell the restaurants she built. The story shows how strong interviewing and storytelling alone can create a compelling live podcast experience. 6. Bitch Talk Proves Independence Can Be a Long-Term Strategy San Francisco’s Bitch Talk is approaching 1,000 episodes after 13 years of independent podcasting. Hosts Erin Lim and Angela Tabora have built the show around Bay Area culture, film, activism, and an Asian American perspective while largely self-funding the podcast through an annual fundraiser and occasional sponsorships. Their story leads into a bigger conversation about independence, authenticity, monetization, longevity, and what podcast success should actually mean. The Bigger Conversation These six stories represent very different versions of podcast success, from a local cookout serving more than 300 people to a major podcast festival selling 26,000 tickets. Together, they show how podcasters are turning audiences into communities, partnerships, events, content libraries, and sustainable opportunities. For independent creators, the takeaway may be simple: success is not only about how many people press play. It is also about how deeply people care, whether they show up, and what you build together after they become part of the community. Want to livestream and record podcasts like we do?  Check out these links and build your empire! Transistor FM - for podcast hosting https://transistor.fm/?via=poduty Castmagic - to make written content from your audio podcast https://get.castmagic.io/ugp958dba02x Streamyard - for livestreaming and recording podcast episodes https://streamyard.com/pal/c/6282618417446912

Podcasting is no longer just about publishing episodes. It is becoming a launchpad for live events, community building, professional authority, touring, and new business opportunities. In this episode of Poduty and the News, Jeff Revilla is joined by Brandon "BC Babbles" Cassiano to break down six stories showing how podcasting is expanding beyond the traditional recorded show. About Brandon "BC Babbles" Cassiano https://www.brandoncassiano.com/ Brandon Cassiano is a content strategist, entrepreneur, podcaster, and founder of Cassiano Creative. With more than 20 years in digital media, a background in broadcasting, and a Master of Science in Digital Marketing, Brandon helps creators, professionals, and business owners turn expertise into influence through purposeful content, community, and conversation. As the host of Casual Babble, Brandon explores entrepreneurship, media, workplace culture, professional development, and the creator economy. What We Discuss 1. Knicks Stars Take The Roommates Show to the Next Level Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart are expanding The Roommates Show into a major live event after the Knicks' championship run. The event reportedly sold more than 4,000 tickets in 90 seconds, showing how creators can turn attention and fandom into a large-scale community experience. Source: New York Post 2. Jon Taffer Takes His Podcast Live at Drink Las Vegas The Jon Taffer Podcast will be recorded live as part of the Drink Las Vegas hospitality festival. It is a strong example of a podcast becoming programming inside an existing event rather than requiring the creator to build the entire experience from scratch. Source: Drink Las Vegas 3. What It Really Takes to Produce a Live Podcast in Front of a Sold-Out Theater A live production of The Ezra Klein Show demonstrates how much planning, redundancy, and technical coordination go into a professional live podcast. The bigger lesson is that live podcasting now sits somewhere between stage production, broadcast television, and audio engineering. Source: BBN Times 4. This Is Not a Show About Death Brings a Podcast About Grief to the Live Stage Ryanne Sosha is celebrating the one-year anniversary of How Do I Do This with a live recording focused on grief, resilience, healing, and learning how to live well after loss. It shows how live podcasting can deepen the connection between a show and the community that forms around it. Source: FOX 5 Atlanta 5. SXSW Launches a Dedicated Podcast Festival in 2027 SXSW is launching its first dedicated Podcast Festival in 2027, positioning podcasting alongside Film & TV, Music, Comedy, and Innovation. It is a major sign that podcasting is becoming not just a digital medium, but a live-event and professional industry category of its own. Source: Deadline 6. Philip DeFranco & Alex Pearlman Take Crashing Out on a 12-City Live Tour Philip DeFranco and Alex Pearlman are taking Crashing Out Live to 12 cities. The tour shows how creators can turn digital influence and audience loyalty into a repeatable, ticketed live product. Source: Crashing Out Tour Key Takeaways A podcast can be the engine that creates audience, community, authority, and opportunity. Live podcasting can work as a standalone event, a festival activation, a community gathering, or a touring product. Creators do not always need to build their own event. A podcast can become programming inside someone else's conference or festival. Professional live production depends as much on planning and redundancy as it does on cameras, microphones, and streaming technology. Smaller, deeply connected communities can be just as valuable as large audiences when the goal is trust and participation. Podcasting's growing presence at events like SXSW suggests the medium is maturing into a broader live and professional ecosystem. Chapters About Poduty Poduty is focused on helping podcasters and creators take their shows beyond the feed and into live, hybrid, and in-person experiences. Learn more about Poduty, upcoming live shows, and the Poduty Podcast Theater at https://poduty.com/. Subscribe to Poduty and the News for more conversations about live podcasting, creator events, podcast tours, festivals, community building, and the future of the medium.

You are listening to Poduty and the News, the only live news podcast about podcasting from the stage!  Each week, we dive into the hottest stories and trends shaping podcasting—from new tech tools and audience engagement strategies to the evolving world of live podcast recordings. Hosted by Jeff Revilla, we bring you expert insights, industry updates, and candid conversations with influential voices in the space. In this episode, recorded on Tuesday, August 18th, 2026, Jeff is joined by Daniel J. Lewis—app developer, podcast educator, and host of The Audacity to Podcast. Together, they'll explore: The game-changing impact of podcast chapters and the story behind Podchapters The growth of live podcasting at conferences, theaters, and unique venues worldwide Big moves from Spotify, including their new skip-ahead feature and what it means for podcasters and advertisers How podcasts are evolving from at-home recordings to dynamic, in-person experiences Real-world tips for podcasters looking to expand their reach, grow their audience, and deepen engagement Whether you’re a podcast creator, industry insider, or an avid listener looking for the latest in the podcasting world, you’ll find plenty of news, advice, and inspiration right here. Get ready for another episode packed with stories, strategy, and plenty of audacity! About Our Guest: Daniel J. Lewis https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/ https://podchapters.com/ https://podgagement.com/ Daniel J. Lewis is a veteran podcaster, app developer, and educator in the podcasting world. Host of "The Audacity to Podcast" since 2010, Daniel J. Lewis brings over a decade of expertise, blending his background in public speaking and digital media production to offer unique insights to the industry. He is the creator of innovative podcasting tools like Podchapters and Podgagement, designed to help fellow podcasters save time, deepen audience engagement, and enhance their shows’ accessibility and functionality. Known for his practical advice, passion for helping podcasters grow, and deep knowledge of podcasting trends and technology, Daniel J. Lewis remains a trusted voice and resource in the podcasting community. Chapters in This Episode: Want to livestream and record podcasts like we do?  Check out these links and build your empire! Transistor FM - for podcast hosting https://transistor.fm/?via=poduty Castmagic - to make written content from your audio podcast https://get.castmagic.io/ugp958dba02x Streamyard - for livestreaming and recording podcast episodes https://streamyard.com/pal/c/6282618417446912 The CMO Podcast Takes Creativity Live at Cannes Lions Source: Jim Stengel https://www.jimstengel.com/the-cmo-podcast The CMO Podcast recorded live at the Havas Café during the Cannes Lions Festival for the second installment of its three-part “Creating Desire” series. Host Jim Stengel was joined by marketing leaders Ryan Dullea of Reckitt, Jennie Weber, formerly of Best Buy, and Matthew Bull of AB InBev. Their conversation covered creativity, risk-taking, workplace culture, branding, and the role of AI in supporting human creativity. The podcast is continuing its live strategy with additional recordings planned at BLINK Cincinnati and the ANA Masters of Marketing later this year. Spotify Tests a New Podcast “Skip Ahead” Button Source: Tech Radar https://www.techradar.com/audio/spotify/spotify-quietly-added-a-button-to-skip-ads-in-podcasts-except-for-its-own-promotional-content-and-its-sparked-widespread-concern-for-the-future-of-podcasting Spotify is testing a new “Skip ahead” feature for Premium subscribers that can automatically move listeners past portions of podcasts including baked-in sponsorships, introductions, and promotional content. The feature does not apply to advertising sold directly by Spotify, and Spotify says it is testing the feature as part of efforts to make podcast listening more intuitive. Some publishers and creators have raised concerns that easier ad skipping could affect the value of host-read and embedded podcast advertising. Spotify says it has seen listeners reinvest the time they save into consuming more podcast content and does not expect the feature to negatively affect creator monetization. Podnews has since reported that this was a bug that the skipping feature did not work on their own ads. https://podnews.net/update/youtube-views-change Katie Price Announces Live Podcast Tour Source: Ary News https://arynews.tv/katie-price-announces-live-podcast-tour Katie Price and her younger sister Sophie are taking The Katie Price Show on a live theatre tour across the UK. The stage version will expand on their regular podcast with untold stories, live music, singing, and conversations between the sisters. The February tour is scheduled to begin February 2 in Stockport and conclude February 25 in Harpenden. Tickets went on sale August 14 for the tour, which is being promoted under the “Pricey is Back” theme. A Shipwreck Podcast Conversation Goes Live at TACAW Source: TACAW - The Arts Campus at Willits https://tacaw.org/calendar/first-draft-a-dialogue-on-writing-with-eric-jay-dolin/ Literary podcast First Draft: A Dialogue on Writing is recording a live conversation with author Eric Jay Dolin at The Arts Campus at Willits in Colorado on August 18. Host Mitzi Rapkin will interview Dolin about his New York Times bestselling book The Wreck of the Mentor, which chronicles the 1831 wreck of an American whaleship in Palau and the experiences of its surviving crew. Rapkin has produced more than 600 literary podcast interviews, although this will be her first conversation with Dolin. The live event is free with an RSVP, and copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing. The Pub Crawlers Records Podcasts Inside the Pubs It Covers Source: The Anfield Wrap https://www.theanfieldwrap.com/2026/08/the-pub-crawlers-podcast-whats-the-best-pub-in-liverpool-s1-e12/ The Pub Crawlers Podcast has completed its first season with an episode recorded at Peter Kavanagh’s pub in Liverpool. Hosted by Rob Gutmann, the series travels to pubs across the UK and Ireland and records conversations from inside the establishments it features. Season one focused primarily on Northern England, with stops including Chester, Sheffield, Manchester and Liverpool. The show combines conversations about pub culture with informal discussions among Gutmann and his guests. LicensingCon LATAM Adds Live Podcasts to Conference Programming Source: License Global https://www.licenseglobal.com/licensing-events/licensingcon-latam-2026-expands-with-creative-hub-live-podcasts-in-sao-paulo LicensingCon LATAM returned to São Paulo, Brazil, August 12 and 13 with live podcast recordings added to its conference programming. In partnership with EP Grupo, GKPB and Soap Box, the event hosted interviews with executives, creators and licensing industry professionals. The recordings are being distributed through the EP Grupo and GKPB channels. The conference also introduced a Creative Hub and featured companies including Warner Bros. Discovery, Mattel, Paramount, Netflix, Hasbro and Disney. Thank you for tuning in to this episode of Poduty and the News! We hope you enjoyed our deep dive into the world of live podcasting, the evolution of podcast chapters, and the future of engaging with your audience. If you found these stories insightful, help us reach more podcasters and podcast fans: Subscribe now on your favorite podcast app so you never miss the latest news and expert insights. If you enjoyed the show, leave us a review—it helps other listeners discover Poduty and the News. Join the conversation! Share your favorite moments from this episode and tag us on social media. Stay tuned for upcoming episodes packed with new interviews, tools, and trends shaping the podcasting universe. Thanks for being part of the Poduty community—see you next time!