About this episode
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
