The State of Podcasting: Insights from Industry Veteran Rob Greenlee (MDE573)

Minter Dialogue with Rob Greenlee Rob Greenlee is a veteran of the podcasting industry with a rich history in radio and online content. Rob shares his journey from radio to podcasting, highlighting his roles at Microsoft, PodcastOne, Spreaker, and Libsyn. The conversation delves into the evolution of podcasting, contrasting it with traditional radio, and discussing the impact of platforms like Spotify and Apple. We explore the global podcasting landscape, the role of AI in content creation, and the tension between maintaining podcasting's authenticity and commercial pressures. Rob also touches on the importance of trust in media and the potential for branded podcasts to build deeper connections with audiences. If you've got comments or questions you'd like to see answered, send your email or audio file to [email protected]; or you can find the show notes and comment on minterdial.com. If you liked the podcast, please take a moment to go over to Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast channel, to rate/review the show. Otherwise, you can find me @mdial on Twitter. 00:00:05 Welcome 00:01:35: Introduction of Rob Greenlee 00:05:39: Rob Greenlee's Background and Early Career 05:18: Transition from Radio to Podcasting 06:30: Learning and Unlearning from Radio to Podcasting 08:50: Challenges of Producing Radio Shows 10:63: Differences Between Radio and Podcasting 12:54: Trust and Reality in Radio vs. Podcasting 15:08: Commercial Influences on Podcasting 18:07: Current State of Podcasting 20:24: Global Differences in Podcasting 21:38: Distribution and Data in Podcasting 24:11: Chinese Podcast Market 26:43: Ecosystem Around Podcasting 29:31: Big Tech Companies in Podcasting 31:59: Spotify vs. Apple in Podcasting 33:42: Monetization and Premium Content in Podcasting 35:09: Importance of Voice in Podcasting 37:39: Transition to Video in Podcasting 42:30: YouTube's Role in Podcasting 43:45: Rob's Approach to Speaking to an Audience 48:15: Role of AI in Podcasting 51:66: Free Speech and Content Moderation in Podcasting 54:29: Podcasting for Brand Marketers 58:22: Rob's Show "Trust Factor" 1:07:30: Where to Find Rob Greenlee's Content 1:10:53: Conclusion and Thank You