Pods Like Us

The Future of Podcasting is Here: Sam Sethi on Podcasting 2.0, Micropayments & Why Downloads Don't MatterEpisode Description - Join host Marv for an in-depth conversation with Sam Sethi, entrepreneur, former tech journalist, and co-creator of True Fans. Discover the evolution of podcasting technology, the future of RSS feeds, and how blockchain-based micropayments could revolutionize creator monetization. Sam shares insights from his 30+ year journey through tech giants like Microsoft, Netscape, and BBC, and explains why podcasting 2.0 might be the industry's biggest shift since iTunes. Key Topics Covered - Podcasting 2.0 & The New Namespace Sam explains the revolutionary metadata tags transforming podcast discovery and functionality, from person tags and chapters to location-based podcast mapping. Learn how open-source collaboration is challenging Big Tech's dominance. The Future of Podcast Monetization Discover programmable money and value-for-value models that could replace traditional advertising. Sam reveals how listeners can earn micropayments for their attention while giving creators direct revenue streams. Streaming vs. Downloads: The Coming Shift Why the podcast industry's obsession with download numbers is outdated, and how first-party listen time data will revolutionize advertising effectiveness and creator insights. AI in Podcasting: Hype vs. Reality Sam's take on "assisted intelligence" - where AI transcripts and automated chapters add value, and where synthetic voices fall short of authentic creator-listener relationships. Timestamps - [00:00] Introduction and Sam's tech journalism background [02:00] From army officer to Microsoft: Sam's unconventional career path [04:00] The early days of blogging and TechCrunch Europe [05:00] COVID pivot: Building a radio station and discovering podcasting [06:00] Launching Pod News Weekly Review with James Cridland [07:00] Getting involved with Podcasting 2.0 and building True Fans [08:00] Apple finally adopts transcripts and chapters - validation for the namespace [10:00] Location tags and the future of podcast discovery [12:00] Why Sam loves technology over advertising metrics [14:00] The Spotify-Netflix deal and protecting niche podcasting [15:00] Advertising as "Emperor's new clothes" - the measurement problem [17:00] Revolutionary concept: Paying listeners to watch ads with programmable money [20:00] Value-for-value and streaming micropayments explained [22:00] Co-listening feature and building podcast communities [26:00] The Pod News Weekly dynamic: British humor and rapport [28:00] Moving from downloads to streaming: The next five years [30:00] Why listen time percentage matters more than raw numbers [33:00] The death of the download model and rise of streaming data [36:00] BBC Sounds international availability debate [40:00] The Panorama editing scandal and BBC's reputation [42:00] What makes a great podcast: Content, chemistry, and audio quality [45:00] Parasocial relationships and podcast magic [46:00] Claire Waite Brown's "Podcasting 2.0 in Practice" - essential listening [47:00] Concerns about declining podcasting 2.0 content creators [51:00] Sam's podcast listening habits: Politics, sports, and intelligent conversation [53:00] AI as "assisted intelligence" not artificial intelligence [54:00] AI voices vs. authentic creator relationships [56:00] Different AI podcast models: Editorial control vs. content farms [58:00] How to connect with Sam and True Fans Key Quotes - "I think micropayments and wallets might take a little longer, but I can see in 2026 that catching on as well... the merit of what the technology provides and why people want it stands out very well." "The joy and the promise of podcasting is about the long tail, about the niche of podcasting... somebody who's got a niche podcast about fishing or knitting or whatever, can still have an audience." "I think advertising is the Emperor's new clothes. I think it's a scam... Who heard my ad? Oh, we can't tell you. How long did they listen to my ad? I don't know." "The download isn't irrelevant, but actual listen time is a real metric. And so I think in 2026, 2027, you'll see more and more people tell you what their listen time is not their download numbers." Resources Mentioned - People & Podcasts ● James Cridland - Pod News Weekly Review co-host ● Adam Curry - Podcasting pioneer, Podcasting 2.0 namespace creator ● Dave Jones - Podcasting 2.0 co-creator ● Claire Waite - "Podcasting 2.0 in Practice" podcast ● Elsie Escobar - Former host of The Feed ● Kara Swisher - Pivot podcast ● Emily Maitlis - The News Agents, The Rest is Politics Platforms & Tools ● True Fans - Sam's podcasting app and hosting platform ● Fountain - Podcasting 2.0 app ● Pod Verse - Podcasting 2.0 app ● Buzzsprout - Podcast hosting with AI features ● Zencaster - Recording platform ● 11 Labs - AI voice generation ● Wonder Craft - AI audio production Companies & Technologies ● Podcasting 2.0 namespace ● Value-for-value model ● Booster Gram Ball ● Lightning Network micropayments ● BBC Sounds Articles & Concepts - ● Kevin Kelly's "1,000 True Fans" essay ● Micro formats and micro data ● Premium RSS feeds ● Value time splits (wallet switching) ● Timed links in transcripts Connect with Sam Sethi - ● Email: sam@truefans.fm ● LinkedIn: Sam Sethi ● Listen: Pod News Weekly Review ● Listen: Creators from True Fans ● Platform: truefans.fm ● Mastodon: Active SEO Keywords - podcasting 2.0, podcast monetization, RSS feeds, micropayments, value for value podcasting, podcast analytics, listen time metrics, streaming podcasts, podcast advertising, AI in podcasting, podcast transcripts, podcast chapters, True Fans app, podcasting namespace, blockchain podcasting, creator economy, independent podcasters, podcast technology, podcast discovery, niche podcasting About the Guest - Sam Sethi is a tech entrepreneur and former journalist with over 30 years of industry experience. He's worked with Microsoft, Netscape, BBC, and TechCrunch, and currently serves as co-creator of True Fans and co-host of Pod News Weekly Review. Sam is deeply involved in the Podcasting 2.0 movement, developing innovative solutions for podcast monetization and listener engagement through blockchain-based micropayments and enhanced RSS metadata. For more episodes of Pods Like Us, visit themarzone.org or find us on your favorite podcast platform. Support the show on Patreon.

275|1T 1M

Inception Point AI & The Future of Podcasting with William CorbinIn this episode of Pods Like Us, Marv sits down with William Corbin, Chief AI Officer and co-founder of Inception Point AI, to discuss the evolution of AI in podcasting, the creation of AI-generated voices, the business model behind Inception Point AI, and the future of content creation. William shares behind-the-scenes stories, ethical considerations, and how AI is making content more accessible and personalized. Timestamps - 00:00 – Introduction & Guest Welcome ● Marv introduces William Corbin and the founding team of Inception Point AI. ● William’s current role as Chief AI Officer. 01:30 – The Founding Story ● How William assembled the founding team using AI. ● The unique process of selecting Janine Wright as CEO via AI analysis. 02:30 – Company Motto & AI-First Culture ● Inception Point AI’s creed: “Always AI, always forward, always fun.” ● How AI is integrated into every aspect of the company. 02:50 – William’s Podcasting Origins ● Early podcasting experiments in 2004 with RSS feeds. ● The journey from hobbyist to professional podcaster. 05:00 – The Coronavirus 411 Podcast ● Launching a daily COVID-19 news podcast. ● Achieving syndication on 1,800 radio stations and becoming the #2 daily news podcast. 06:30 – The Power of Niche Content ● Using AI to create hyper-targeted podcasts (e.g., fishing reports for specific lakes). ● The value of serving small, passionate audiences. 08:00 – AI’s Role in Content Accessibility ● How AI transforms raw data into engaging stories. ● Making content accessible for people with disabilities. 10:00 – The Evolution from Blogging to Podcasting ● The shift from written blogs to audio content. ● Podcasting as the new “blogosphere.” 12:00 – Quality Control & AI-Generated Voices ● Challenges with AI-generated content: glitches, fact-checking, and quality assurance. ● Moving from voice clones to fully AI-generated voices for ethical and legal reasons. 15:00 – Ethical Considerations in AI Voice Creation ● Avoiding unauthorized use of real voices (e.g., Siri’s voice actress story). ● Transparency and consent in AI voice usage. 18:00 – The Origin of “Inception Point” ● How the company name was chosen with the help of AI. 20:00 – AI Voices as Non-Characters ● Creating backstories for AI voices without misleading listeners. ● Ensuring authenticity and transparency. 22:00 – Business Model & Monetization ● Three revenue streams: licensing, ad revenue, and partnerships. ● AI personalities as brand ambassadors. 25:00 – The Future of AI in Content Creation ● AI’s growing intelligence and its impact on media. ● The importance of advocating for AI as a new form of intelligence. 28:00 – Addressing Backlash & Industry Resistance ● Reactions to AI in Hollywood and the podcasting community. ● The importance of starting conversations about AI’s role in media. 32:00 – AI vs. Human-Hosted Podcasts ● Surprising listener growth after switching to AI hosts. ● Where AI excels and where human hosts still shine. 35:00 – Content Longevity & Accessibility ● The value of evergreen podcast content. ● Making content accessible to all, including those with disabilities. 38:00 – The Impact of AI on Jobs ● AI’s role in creating new job opportunities. ● The need for optimism and adaptability in the face of technological change. 41:00 – Reviving Underutilized Content ● Using AI to give new life to old research, university archives, and media catalogs. 44:00 – Serving Underserved Audiences ● Producing “critical content” for niche audiences (e.g., allergy reports, space weather). 47:00 – Embracing Mistakes & Continuous Improvement ● The importance of learning from errors in AI and human content creation. 50:00 – The Diversity of Podcasting ● The wide range of podcast genres and formats. ● The role of smart speakers in podcast discovery. 53:00 – Living Biographies & Real-Time Updates ● AI-powered biographies that update as public figures’ lives evolve. 56:00 – Novelty Podcasts & Audience Insights ● Unique podcast concepts (e.g., “A Moment of Silence,” “Bird Songs for Cats”). ● Data-driven content creation. 59:00 – Final Thoughts & Contact Information ● William’s passion for accessible content and technology. ● How to contact William and Inception Point AI. Contact & Resources - William Corbin: william@inceptionpoint.ai | LinkedIn ● Inception Point AI: info@inceptionpoint.ai ● Pods Like Us: themarvzone.org

272|1T

Episodes

Lyt når som helst, hvor som helst

Andre har også lyttet til ...