Podcasting By The Numbers
The Fastest 4 Minutes in Podcasting. This is Podcasting By The Numbers, The Daily Hit of Podcasting Intel You Didn't Know You Needed. Fast Facts, Fresh Trends, and The Metrics That Actually Matter, With Just Enough Fun To Keep It Moving.
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The Fastest 4 Minutes in Podcasting. This is Podcasting By The Numbers, The Daily Hit of Podcasting Intel You Didn't Know You Needed. Fast Facts, Fresh Trends, and The Metrics That Actually Matter, With Just Enough Fun To Keep It Moving.
New to Podcasting By The Numbers?
Here are some great episodes to start with. Or, check out episodes by topic.
Recent Episodes
Ep. 23 23
Sept. 16, 2026
Where Podcasting Scales: AI Clips, Ira Glass, and TYT’s Next Chapter
Headliner is pushing podcast automation forward with its new YouTube Video Clips Automation, turning any YouTube Podcast Playlist into nonstop, styled, captioned, auto‑published clips — freeing creators from the busywork and keeping shows growing on their own. At Podcast Week’s kickoff, Ira Glass reminded the Sounds Profitable crowd of “what podcasts do better,” arguing that deeper storytelling creates deeper listener connections — and stronger ad performance. And TYT is making a major busines
Ep. 22 22
Sept. 15, 2026
Platforms, Performance, and Podcast Week
Substack is making a bigger play in audio with a new podcast tab — a dedicated space that helps creators reach their current listeners while boosting discovery for new ones. It centralizes shows from Substack writers and reflects a fast‑growing ecosystem where podcasters on the platform now earn over $200 million a year. It’s another step in Substack’s push to become a full home for independent media, where writing, audio, and community live together. We also dig into new research showing that
Ep. 21 21
Sept. 14, 2026
Counting Views, Tracking Visits, Targeting Better
This episode breaks down the shifting metrics shaping podcast and platform advertising. Glenn Rubenstein of ADOPTER Media warns that YouTube’s rushed view‑metric changes inflate counts while making each view worth less — and says Spotify’s skip‑ad tests only weaken measurement further. We also dig into Magellan AI’s Q2 2026 report, which shows that judging podcast ads after one week captures less than half their true impact. Most conversions happen over a full month, not in the first few days.
Ep. 20 20
Sept. 11, 2026
Audience Power, Platform Choice, and a Nation Remembered
Today, Audiencelift launches Preferred Apps & Players, giving podcasters real control over where their audiences grow. Listeners discover shows across 50,000 premium publishers and pick exactly where to listen—Apple Podcasts, YouTube Music, Overcast, and more. With Verified Growth™, creators can finally see the full listener journey instead of chasing raw download totals. We also spotlight FOX News Rewind: 9/11, a powerful series revisiting the day the world changed and the resilience that foll
Ep. 19 19
Sept. 10, 2026
AI Studios, Video vs. Audio, and a Big Win for Podcast Ads!
This episode covers three major shifts in podcasting. First, Caloroga Media unveils Linnet, a browser‑based AI studio that handles scripting, recording, editing, mixing, artwork, video, and publishing in one place—built to match real production quality and keep creators fully in control. Then we dig into new survey data showing a growing divide between fast, high‑volume video creators and slower, highly produced audio storytellers, and why protecting audio‑first formats still matters. Finally, F
Ep. 18 18
Sept. 9, 2026
Milestones, Metrics, and the Future of Podcasting
This episode looks at three stories shaping the podcast landscape right now. First, Bobby Bones marks ten years of The BobbyCast, a show that’s grown from a passion project into a multi‑platform force — now pulling in 92 million monthly social impressions, reaching 5.4 million followers, launching the Nashville Podcast Network, and expanding all the way to Netflix. Then we break down new publishing trends: nearly one‑third of podcast episodes drop every 3–7 days, one in four release every 8–14
Recent Blog Posts
Sept. 2, 2026
YouTube’s New “Views” vs. “Engaged Views” Metrics: What Podtrac’s Early Data Reveals About Video Podcast Consumption
On August 24, 2026, YouTube quietly rolled out one of its most consequential measurement changes in years — a redefinition of what counts as a view for all videos, including video podcasts. Today, Podtrac released its initial analysis of how this sh…
Aug. 22, 2026
YouTube’s New “Views” System Is Here — And Apparently Hovering Counts as Engagement Now
YouTube has finally explained its new views versus engaged views system, and honestly, it feels like we’re all being gaslit by a hover preview. Yes, really. A hover preview. Hover = View. Keep Hovering = Engaged View. Here’s the new reality: …
Aug. 18, 2026
Basis and Barometer Bring Episode‑Level Brand Suitability to Podcast Advertising
Basis and Barometer Bring Episode‑Level Brand Suitability to Podcast Advertising Podcast advertising has always lived in a strange tension: brands love the intimacy and influence of audio, but they’ve struggled to control where their ads actually l…
About the Host
Gary Spurgeon
Podcaster Host
Meet Gary Spurgeon: a 45-year media veteran, digital operator, and the driving force behind Podcasting by the Numbers. From the early days of terrestrial radio to the cutting edge of modern streaming networks, Gary has dedicated his career to mastering the art and science of audio engagement. Now, he’s turning his lens toward the massive world of digital audio. On Podcasting by the Numbers, Gary pulls back the curtain to break down the fascinating trends, metrics, and human behaviors behind the global podcasting phenomenon. If you’ve ever wondered why certain stories stick with us, how your favorite shows are built, or where the industry is heading next, Gary has the answers. It’s a compelling, data-backed look at the audio landscape—making it a must-listen for anyone who loves a great podcast.