RS354: The State Of Podcasting Heading Into 2026
Wed Nov 26 2025
Craig is back! Today, he welcomes fellow podcaster Colin Gray back to the podcast. They dive into the ever-evolving world of podcasting, reflecting on how much the landscape has shifted over the last decade and what people are craving now more than ever: genuine human connection. From the tug-of-war between YouTube and podcast growth, to what it really means to build an AI-first product, they explore the trends shaping creators, customers, and the platforms that connect them.
Highlights from Craig and Colin’s conversation:
How podcasting has changed over the last 10 years
The more we’re pulled toward AI, the more we crave genuine connection
Is it easier to grow a YouTube channel or a podcast?
Content integration and becoming a centralized hub
Spotify’s role in the evolution of podcasting
Monetization: ads, donations, subscriptions, and more
Balancing and prioritizing feature requests
How AI is shaping customer expectations
How to make your product AI-first
Resources and Links from This Episode:
The Podcast Host: https://www.thepodcasthost.com/
Colin on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/colinmcgray?originalSubdomain=uk
beehiiv: https://www.beehiiv.com/
Kit: https://kit.com/
Creator Hooks: https://creatorhooks.com/
Castos Free Tools: castos.com/tools
Email me: podcast@roguestartups.com
Find me on Twitter: @TheCraigHewitt
If you feel like Rogue Startups has benefited you, and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give Rogue Startups a review on iTunes.
Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Feel free to reach out to me:
Twitter: @TheCraigHewitt
LinkedIn: Craig Hewitt
Email: podcast@roguestartups.com
Chapters
(00:00:00) - Rogue Startups: 100 Days of AI(00:00:48) - How Podcasting Is Affecting AI(00:05:14) - How To Integrate Podcasts into Your Business(00:09:18) - Is Podcasting The Most Popular Media Format?(00:14:18) - Steve Bartlett on Spotify and Video(00:18:11) - Podcaster on Separation of Podcasting and Editing(00:22:19) - Podcasts: How Do They Monetize?(00:23:20) - Has Alitud added advertising to our Episode Builder?(00:25:24) - How to Make a Living on Podcast(00:27:45) - How is AI Affecting Your Company's Business?(00:32:24) - How To Make a Chatbot Like a Human Being(00:34:08) - 100 Days of YouTube(00:37:43) - How to Grow a Podcast on YouTube(00:40:53) - PODCAST: A Chat With Craig
More
Craig is back! Today, he welcomes fellow podcaster Colin Gray back to the podcast. They dive into the ever-evolving world of podcasting, reflecting on how much the landscape has shifted over the last decade and what people are craving now more than ever: genuine human connection. From the tug-of-war between YouTube and podcast growth, to what it really means to build an AI-first product, they explore the trends shaping creators, customers, and the platforms that connect them. Highlights from Craig and Colin’s conversation: How podcasting has changed over the last 10 years The more we’re pulled toward AI, the more we crave genuine connection Is it easier to grow a YouTube channel or a podcast? Content integration and becoming a centralized hub Spotify’s role in the evolution of podcasting Monetization: ads, donations, subscriptions, and more Balancing and prioritizing feature requests How AI is shaping customer expectations How to make your product AI-first Resources and Links from This Episode: The Podcast Host: https://www.thepodcasthost.com/ Colin on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/colinmcgray?originalSubdomain=uk beehiiv: https://www.beehiiv.com/ Kit: https://kit.com/ Creator Hooks: https://creatorhooks.com/ Castos Free Tools: castos.com/tools Email me: podcast@roguestartups.com Find me on Twitter: @TheCraigHewitt If you feel like Rogue Startups has benefited you, and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give Rogue Startups a review on iTunes. Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Feel free to reach out to me: Twitter: @TheCraigHewitt LinkedIn: Craig Hewitt Email: podcast@roguestartups.com Chapters (00:00:00) - Rogue Startups: 100 Days of AI(00:00:48) - How Podcasting Is Affecting AI(00:05:14) - How To Integrate Podcasts into Your Business(00:09:18) - Is Podcasting The Most Popular Media Format?(00:14:18) - Steve Bartlett on Spotify and Video(00:18:11) - Podcaster on Separation of Podcasting and Editing(00:22:19) - Podcasts: How Do They Monetize?(00:23:20) - Has Alitud added advertising to our Episode Builder?(00:25:24) - How to Make a Living on Podcast(00:27:45) - How is AI Affecting Your Company's Business?(00:32:24) - How To Make a Chatbot Like a Human Being(00:34:08) - 100 Days of YouTube(00:37:43) - How to Grow a Podcast on YouTube(00:40:53) - PODCAST: A Chat With Craig