Podcast Network Insights: Understanding the Business of Podcast "Networks"

Protecting Small Podcasts: Networks for Indie Voices, Not Profit | Feminist Podcast Collective

What happens when a podcast network is built around support instead of scale? Becky Mollenkamp created the Feminist Podcast Collective in 2024 after growing frustrated with how often podcasting rewards visibility, monetization, and industry status over community, accessibility, and overlooked voices. Instead of waiting for traditional networks to create space for different creators, she built a membership-based network centered on collaboration, shared values, and long-term sustainability. From flexible membership dues based on financial circumstances to a values-alignment application process, Becky’s approach challenges many of the assumptions behind how podcast networks traditionally operate. The network has already grown to more than 50 member shows, prioritizing support and equity over aggressive growth or advertising pressure. The conversation explores what it takes to build a mission-driven podcast network, the tension between sustainability and monetization, and why Becky believes independent creators deserve communities designed around mutual support rather than competition. For podcasters questioning whether success must always be measured by downloads, ad revenue, or scale, Becky offers a very different vision for what a network can be. Listen For: 00:00 Membership Pricing and Values 09:38 Intersectional Feminism Goals 19:52 Promoting Member Shows 20:48 A Unique Podcast Model 30:13 Resource Library Overview 37:41 Managing a Community 43:33 Member Retention 51:20 Celebrity Fatigue in Podcasting 59:53 Balancing Growth and Sustainability CONNECT WITH GUEST: BECKY MOLLENKAMP, FEMINIST BUSINESS COACH LinkedIn [http://linkedin.com/in/beckymollenkamp] | Website [https://feministpodcasterscollective.com/] | Podcast [https://messyliberation.com/%20Messy%20Liberation] | Threads [https://www.threads.com/@beckymollenkamp/] Podcast rec: Off the Grid [https://pod.link/1610399726] Book rec: Liberate Your Business [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GMXK8967/] by Becky Mollenkamp CONNECT WITH GREG WASSERMAN, HEAD OF RELATIONSHIPS FOR RSS.COM [http://RSS.COM] Website [https://www.linkedin.com/company/podcast-network-insights/about/] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregwasserman/] Greg’s book rec: Return on Courage [https://amzn.to/4tIyOXZ] by Ryan Berman Systems, Sponsors, and Partners: Hosted with RSS.com [http://RSS.com] Podcast Hosting [https://rss.com/?via=9f060f] Produced by Stories & Strategies [https://storiesandstrategies.ca/] Content Repurposed with Castmagic [https://get.castmagic.io/greg] Podcast Project Management with Northflow [https://app.northflow.io/sign-up?via=greg]

What Makes the C-Suite Network Paid Entry Unique | C Suite Network

What happens when the lines between television, radio, and digital content start to blur? And what does that mean for today’s podcast networks? Jeffrey Hayzlett shares a perspective shaped by decades at the intersection of traditional media and the modern, distributed podcast ecosystem. From how networks think about distribution and format to the business goals that drive long-term success, this discussion explores the real operational challenges and opportunities facing media companies today. Jeffrey’s career spans from corporate marketing leadership, including serving as CMO of Kodak, to launching early podcast initiatives at CBS, producing business television, and now leading C-Suite Network, a podcast network and company with hundreds of shows, with the goal of being in the thousands. His approach blends hands-on production experience with a sharp understanding of how platforms, sponsorships, and communities come together to build scalable, lasting networks. Listen For: 5:36 Starting C-Suite TV Online 7:44 Network for Business Leaders 9:53 Using Podcasts to Grow Business 14:51 Changes in Audio and Video Tech 16:37 Content Timing for Streaming and Broadcast 25:48 Importance of Context in Content 28:04 Diversifying Content Distribution 32:37 Building a Content Creator Community 35:05 Serving the Elite Business Community 37:45 Monetization in TV Network Deals 41:29 Turning Interviews Into Content 44:24 Joining the C-Suite Network 53:28 The Future of New Media CONNECT WITH GUEST: JEFFREY HAYZLETT, CHAIRMAN AND FOUNDER OF C-SUITE NETWORK Website [https://c-suitenetwork.com/] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/hayzlett/%20] Book rec: How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie - https://amzn.to/4vZWx81 [https://amzn.to/4vZWx81] Book rec: The Greatest Salesman in the World by Og Mandino - https://amzn.to/4cYh6bU [https://amzn.to/4cYh6bU] Podcast rec: This Week in Startups — Host: Jason Calacanis - https://pod.link/315114957 [https://pod.link/315114957] CONNECT WITH GREG WASSERMAN, HEAD OF RELATIONSHIPS FOR RSS.COM [http://RSS.COM] Website [https://www.linkedin.com/company/podcast-network-insights/about/] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregwasserman/] Greg’s book rec: Return on Courage [https://amzn.to/4tIyOXZ] by Ryan Berman Systems, Sponsors, and Partners: Hosted with RSS.com [http://RSS.com] Podcast Hosting [https://rss.com/?via=9f060f] Produced by Stories & Strategies [https://storiesandstrategies.ca/] Content Repurposed with Castmagic [https://get.castmagic.io/greg] Podcast Project Management with Northflow [https://app.northflow.io/sign-up?via=greg]

Localizing Podcast Monetization Across LATAM | Genuína Media

What happens when the definition of “podcast network” changes depending on geography, and the rules of the game are nothing like what you expect from US podcasting? That’s the world David Roemer operates in, where running a podcast network in Latin America means being both an aggregator and an ad agency, adapting to a landscape with fewer advertisers, distinct cultural expectations, and major platform differences. This episode examines what it really takes to build, sustain, and grow a podcast network in an emerging market where ad dollars remain scarce, and creators still face an uphill path to monetization. As co-founder of Genuína Media, David Roemer has been at the forefront of Latin America’s podcast network scene for over five years. His background as a corporate lawyer fueled the pivot into podcasting, first with a homegrown show that broke through in Mexico, then evolving into managing a network of over 230 podcasts stretching from Mexico to Brazil and Spain. With deep ties to creators, platforms, and advertisers, David brings a clear-eyed, hands-on perspective to building a podcast network with limited resources and plenty of unknowns. Listen For: 02:47 What "podcast network" means in Latin America 04:25 From lawyer to podcaster to network founder 17:47 The honest case for joining or not joining 23:17 Why brands are the client, not podcasters 32:57 Why video is now non-negotiable 35:21 Spotify premium and the baked-in ad shift 42:39 How attribution and conversion actually work in LATAM CONNECT WITH GUEST: DAVID ROEMER GONZALEZ, CO-FOUNDER AND CEO OF GENUINA MEDIA LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-roemer-gonzalez/] | Website [https://www.genuinamedia.com/] David's Podcast rec: Relatos Nieros [https://pod.link/1633509166] David's Book recs: The Palace of Dreams [https://www.amazon.ca/Palace-Dreams-Ismail-Kadare/dp/0099518279] - Ismail Kadare CONNECT WITH GREG WASSERMAN, HEAD OF RELATIONSHIPS FOR RSS.COM [http://RSS.COM] Website [https://rss.com/] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregwasserman/] Greg’s book rec: Return on Courage [https://amzn.to/4tIyOXZ] by Ryan Berman Systems, Sponsors, and Partners: Hosted with RSS.com [http://RSS.com] Podcast Hosting [https://rss.com/?via=9f060f] Produced by Stories & Strategies [https://storiesandstrategies.ca/] Content Repurposed with Castmagic [https://get.castmagic.io/greg] Podcast Project Management with Northflow [https://app.northflow.io/sign-up?via=greg]

When Matchmaking Fuels a Podcast Network’s Growth | Hospitality.FM/ Skift

What happens when your definition of “podcast network” evolves from a simple matchmaking idea to an intricate ecosystem connecting dozens of creators and advertisers? This episode explores how the real work of building a network often differs from the original vision, especially when operational complexity and changing industry conditions reshape your approach. Hospitality media entrepreneur Wil Slickers reflects candidly on the lessons, pivots, and persistent challenges behind growing and ultimately selling a podcast network. Wil Slickers brings a unique perspective from moving through hotel management into hospitality podcasting, eventually building and selling Hospitality.fm [http://Hospitality.fm], a podcast network that scaled to nearly 50 shows across hotels, food, beverages, and travel. Today, he leads network operations for Skift, where he applies hands-on experience in niche content strategy, monetization, and long-term growth in the B2B audio space. His hands-on perspective covers everything from bootstrapped beginnings and production challenges to acquisitions and strategy within a larger media company. Listen For: 03:58 From hotel manager to podcast host 09:40 The matchmaking idea takes shape 11:30 Cross-collaboration as the early network seed 15:12 Audience fit before everything else 18:37 On charging $200+ effective CPMs 23:02 Starting over: niche, quality, one lane 32:30 The missed opportunity in subscription revenue 36:07 What changed after the Skift acquisition 43:07 Who acquires a niche network — and why 46:48 The three-sided negotiation no one talks about 52:45 Where things are heading: Substack and long-form 01:00:51 The case for just running a good business CONNECT WITH GUEST: WIL SLICKERS, DIRECTOR OF VIDEO/AUDIO STRATEGY | SKIFT LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/wil-slickers/] | Website [https://skift.com/] | Podcast [https://skift.com/skift-travel-podcasts/] | Wil’s Podcast rec: Acquired [https://pod.link/acquired] Wil’s Book rec: Superfans [https://amzn.to/3NtPweh] by Pat Flynn CONNECT WITH GREG WASSERMAN, HEAD OF RELATIONSHIPS FOR RSS.COM [http://RSS.COM] Website [https://www.linkedin.com/company/podcast-network-insights/about/] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregwasserman/] Greg’s book rec: Return on Courage [https://amzn.to/4tIyOXZ] by Ryan Berman Systems, Sponsors, and Partners: Hosted with RSS.com [http://RSS.com] Podcast Hosting [https://rss.com/?via=9f060f] Produced by Stories & Strategies [https://storiesandstrategies.ca/] Content Repurposed with Castmagic [https://get.castmagic.io/greg] Podcast Project Management with Northflow [https://app.northflow.io/sign-up?via=greg]

Building a Network by Removing the Roadblocks | RAGE Works Podcast Network

What does it look like to build a network around removing every obstacle that kills podcasts before they ever find an audience? Rich Butler started RAGE Works Podcast Network in 2014 after his own long-running podcast wound down and the people around him caught the bug. Rather than pointing them elsewhere, he handed them a blueprint and stayed in the room. What followed wasn't a revenue-first strategy. It was a production-and-distribution model built around making it easier for motivated people to create. His reasoning is simple and consistent: content is what grows a network, and the best way to get more content is to get out of the way. What makes Rich's approach distinct is what he refuses to optimize for. He won't take a cut of ad deals he didn't facilitate. He won't chase podcasters for their episodes. He won't guarantee listeners or money in the first conversation. The network exists to water plants and watch the garden grow…and he'll tell you that's exactly why it works. Listen For: 03:08 Network as a Discovery Platform 04:37 How My Take Radio Became a Network 07:41 Why the Dual-Feed Model Still Works 10:01 Revenue Without the Revenue-First Model 13:04 On Downloads, Die-Hards, and Real Numbers 16:25 What to Ask Before You Join a Network 18:47 Removing the Roadblocks That Kill Podcasts 23:53 Audio First, Video Second 27:48 What the Onboarding Process Actually Looks Like 31:04 The Jockey Runs the Horse 36:54 Gary Vee Called His Bluff 39:51 The Case for 10 Downloads 44:02 Be of Service, Not a Gatekeeper CONNECT WITH GUEST: RICHARD BUTLER FOUNDER OF THE RAGE WORKS PODCAST NETWORK LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/richbutler6/] | Website [http://www.rageworksnetwork.com] | Website 2 [http://www.pressrecordstudios.com] | Instagram [http://instagram.com/rageworksrich] Rich's Podcast Rec: The Jay Ferruggia Show [https://pod.link/853941025] Rich's Book Rec: Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook [https://amzn.to/488eJly]by Gary Vaynerchuk CONNECT WITH GREG WASSERMAN, HEAD OF RELATIONSHIPS FOR RSS.COM [http://RSS.COM] Website [https://www.linkedin.com/company/podcast-network-insights/about/] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregwasserman/] Greg’s book rec: Return on Courage [https://amzn.to/4tIyOXZ] by Ryan Berman Systems, Sponsors, and Partners: Hosted with RSS.com [http://RSS.com] Podcast Hosting [https://rss.com/?via=9f060f] Produced by Stories & Strategies [https://storiesandstrategies.ca/] Content Repurposed with Castmagic [https://get.castmagic.io/greg] Podcast Project Management with Northflow [https://app.northflow.io/sign-up?via=greg]