Captivate

26/05/2026

Elsie Escobar and Andreea Coscai go global after The Podcast Show in London and dive into the Podnews Report Card, Spotify’s latest moves, and the heart of podcasting community.

What to expect:

🌍 Behind-the-scenes at The Podcast Show: Discover why those in-person connections and international meetups are changing the game for podcasters everywhere.

📊 Podnews Report Card deep dive: Find out what indie creators value most, why owning your RSS feed still matters, and which platforms are really showing up for podcasters in 2026.

🔊 Major Spotify updates: From interactive episode queries to new membership options, hear what the latest feature drops mean for your podcast and your listeners.

Key takeaways:

✨ True industry magic happens in the hallways and between sessions - not just on stage.
✨ Listener data is getting more detailed, but staying connected to your audience on your terms (and platform of choice) is still your superpower.
✨ Video is on the rise, but audio-first podcasters still set the vibe for loyalty and depth.

🎧 Ready for all the insights?

https://inandaroundpodcasting.com/episode/the-podcast-show-london-debrief-walled-gardens-and-the-podnews-report-card

Or search for In & Around Podcasting in your podcast app of choice!

19/05/2026

Could your massive podcast back catalog actually be destroying your search visibility in Apple Podcasts? Elsie & Rob explain why a single-episode show with exact-match keywords could outrank a high-quality feed with 400 episodes, and how you can fix it today!

Here is the actionable breakdown of search ranking, video play behavior & industry changes from this episode!

▸ Apple Podcasts SEO and Feed Dilution

Apple search only prioritizes four places: show title, author tag, episode titles, and episode author fields. If you have a large feed, you *may* be diluting your topical authority. When only 25 out of 400 episodes explicitly use your target keyword, the search engine might read your show as more generalized & rank it lower than a small feed with higher keyword density. If you want to rank for a specific keyword, front-load your titles with actual search terms, research queries in Google Trends & optimize for your preferred keywords.

LISTEN TO THE EPISODE FOR MORE CONTEXT!

▸ According to Podstock data, Spotify Video vs. YouTube Audio Playback Data shows Spotify video episodes get 1.5x more consumption time than the exact same video on YouTube.

This could be due to platform design: Spotify continues playing audio in the background when the user closes their screen, while YouTube pauses. Most "video" consumers are actually passive mobile listeners. Consequently, YouTube is testing audio-first playback and background listening enhancements to chase down those 212 million monthly US audio-mode users.

▸ The Alix vs. Alex drama.

Could the quiet exit of Alix Earle’s "Hot Mess" from Alex Cooper's Unwell Network allegedly be a biz dispute masked as personal betrayal? After Earle skipped the network's Super Bowl party, tension broke with passive-aggressive TikTok reposts comparing Cooper to an ambulance chaser. Cooper shot back, telling Earle to speak directly since she has no NDA. Insiders suspect Earle is playing coy on morning TV because she is filming a Netflix reality show where she has a major financial incentive to air the real dirty laundry.

→ To get the full breakdown, follow In & Around Podcasting & listen to Episode 31 in your podcast app of choice!

14/05/2026

Should we attempt the video of it all? That knot in your stomach when you think about hitting "record" is real. It is uncomfortable to feel like a beginner again when you have been focusing on audio from the beginning.

But for audio-first podcasters, that pressure is a lie. It is what stops us from ever starting or considering experimenting with something new!

Join us for the next session of Growth Labs: The Audio-to-Video Roadmap. Our host Elsie Escobar is talking shop with the legendary Mignon Fogarty—better known as Grammar Girl.

Mignon has reached millions of people over the last twenty years. She is joining us to share how she moved past the physical feeling of "I'm not ready" to build a video strategy that actually fits her life and her schedule.

We’re talking about:

The "Time Tax" of adding video.

The tech that helps get things done.

How to iterate through the fear of being a beginner again.

When: May 15, 6 pm UK | 1 PM ET | 10 am PT
Where: https://youtube.com/live/wLkjk-rUOH4?feature=share

13/05/2026

How do you move from audio-only to video-inclusive without losing the "art" of your show? 🎙️✨

For Greg Willits, creating media is an art form driven by the philosophy of "Learning how to Learn"—using technology as an artist to create things that are "true, good, and beautiful" for a community.

Since 2004, Greg has been experimenting with format. He’s moved from early podcasting to national talk radio on SiriusXM, and back to building his own, streamlined, independent video studio. In this session of The Audio-to-Video Roadmap, we’re digging into the technical "X-factor" that makes his production sustainable.

We’re talking shop about:

→ Why your core audience matters more than viral success.
→ An honest look at how long it actually takes to add video to your workflow.
→ The specific mics, mixers, and software Greg uses to get the job done!

Join the session:

📅 Thursday, May 14 @ 5 pm UK | 12pm ET | 9 am PT
👉 Register: https://luma.com/qiqd3odt

06/05/2026

Captivate now supports Apple Video Podcasts!

You can publish video and audio from a single RSS feed using HLS.

Listeners can watch or listen in the same place, with faster playback and less buffering.

Your show stays in one feed. Your workflow stays the same.

Find out more here!:

Publish Video Podcasts on Apple Podcasts through Captivate Apple Podcasts supports video via HLS. Captivate handles the hosting and delivery so you can focus on growing your podcast. Start Your 30-Day Free Trial Then add the Apple Video Podcasts add-on for $12/month. Video podcasting with Apple Podc...

12/12/2024

Four industry experts. Four impactful talks with real-world, actionable podcast strategies and tips. All 100% free.

We’ve partnered with Adobe Podcast and four industry heavyweights for a free Podcast Growth Summit on January 7th.

Register free at the link in our bio - see you there!

01/10/2024

Join us tomorrow with for a free webinar on how to use Captivate’s Podcasting 2.0 features to make more money from your podcast!

25/01/2024

According to research, Apple Podcasts boasts an impressive 37.4% of all podcast listeners 🤯

To put that in context, Spotify has 26.8% of podcast listeners (which is still impressive)

Thinking about starting a podcast? It's a no brainer that you need to be on Apple!

If you're new to podcasting, you probably have a few questions about Apple Podcasts 👇

1. How do you get your podcast on the platform?

2. What steps are involved in getting verified and is it free to do so?

3. What features does Apple offer that are beneficial to podcasters?

These are all valid questions which we answer (and more) in our most recent article 😎

We explain how Apple Podcasts work for podcasters, what the requirements are to be accepted and explain the other features the platform offers that are worth checking out 🤩

Also included are 8 easy steps to follow with Captivate, to get your podcast on Apple Podcasts, so that listeners can download and listen to your episodes! 👌

So, what are you waiting for? Get your podcast launched on Apple Podcasts today!

👉 Link in our bio 🙌

17/02/2023

10/10/2022

Do you have a comedy podcast?🤩

Submit your podcast to Amazon Music UK by 24 Oct 22 and your show may be featured in a special collection which will be displayed on their platform. 🗓

What a great way to increase the visibility of your show! Getting listed in the collection means 40m plus global listeners can find your show on Amazon Music UK, Audible, Echo & Alexa-enabled devices across iOS, Android & on the web😎

Check out our article which goes into more detail including resources to use to promote your podcast on Amazon 👇https://help.captivate.fm/en/articles/4321966-how-to-get-your-podcast-in-amazon-music-audible