Podcast News

The fwd Network Expands With Addition Of Hit True Crime Podcast – The First Degree

~ jen

AdLarge and the fwd network, the female-first platform dedicated to elevating women’s voices, proudly announce the launch of The First Degree, the hit crime podcast hosted by journalist Alexis Linkletter and entrepreneur, author and cultural influence Jac Vanek.

Now in its 8th year with tens of millions of downloads, The First Degree has cemented itself as a must-listen in the true crime genre. The show takes audiences beyond the headlines and into the lives of people directly impacted by crime, the friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers forever changed. Each week, Alexis and Jan deliver sharp reporting, first-person storytelling, and candid conversations that expose both the shocking details and the lasting ripple effects of violence.

“The First Degree was built to uncover the stories you won’t hear anywhere else,” said Alexis Linkletter. “The most important voices are often the ones closet to the crime and bringing those perspectives forward is what sets our show apart. Partnering with the fwd network allows us to continue that mission on a bigger stage.”

“For me, The First Degree has always been about connection,” said Jac Vanek. “It’s where curiosity meets culture, and where listeners feel like part of the conversation. Joining the fwd. network means we’re not just growing the show, we’re growing a community of women who are hungry for stories that are raw, real, and relatable.”

With more than 500 episodes to date, the podcast pairs Vanek’s pop culture edge and lifelong fascination with true crime with Linkletter’s investigative expertise and acclaimed work on Unraveled: Long Island Serial Killer. Together, they bring a rare combination of rigor, authenticity, and accessibility that resonates with millions of listeners.

“The First Degree is the perfect fit for the fwd. network,” said Cathy Csukas, CEO of AdLarge and the fwd. network. “Jac and Alexis have built a powerhouse show that delivers smart, compelling storytelling and an audience of deeply engaged women. It’s a strong opportunity for the advertising marketplace and reflects our vision to make the fwd. network the destination for premium, women-led content.”

With The First Degree, the fwd. network continues to expand its slate of bold, premium shows created and led by women. It’s a platform built by women who know what listeners want and are shaping the future of podcasting with fearless storytelling, cultural impact, and highly engaged communities.

The First Degree is available wherever you listen to podcasts.

Melvyn Bragg Decides To Step Down From Presenting In Our Time

~ jen

Having presented well over 1,000 episodes from the much-live BBC Radio 4 series, Melvyn Bragg has made the decision to step down from In Our Time – following the series which aired earlier this year. Melyvn has presented every episode of In Our Time since the series first launched in 1998.

In Our Time is regularly one of the BBC’s most listened to on-demand programmes around the world, its appeal spanning generations. It is one of BBC Sounds’ most popular broadcasts amongst under 35s.

Over the last quarter of a century, Melvyn has skillfully led conversations about everything from the age of the Universe to ‘Zenobia’, Queen of the Palmyrene Empire. He has welcomed the company of the brightest and best academics in their fields, sharing their passion and knowledge with a fascinated audiences right around the globe.

While he will be much missed on In Our Time, Melvyn will continue to be a friend of Radio 4 with more to come to celebrate his extraordinary career, and a new series in 2026 (details to be announced soon).

Melvyn Brag says “For a programme with a wholly misleading title which started from scratch as a six-month contract, it’s been quite a ride! I have worked with many extremely talented and helpful people inside the BBC as well as some of the greatest academics around the world. It’s been a great privilege and pleasure. I look forward to continuing to work for the BBC on Radio 4. Thank you for listening.”

Melyvn first joined the BBC in 1961 as a general trainee. His BBC career has spanned the World Service, a ten-year stint presenting Radio 4’s  Start of the Week from 1988 – 1998 as well as numerous arts and culture programmes. He is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society and of The British Academy and was given a Peerage in 1998 and a Companion of Honour in 2017. Melvyn will continue to work with the BBC on future projects which are yet to be announced.

Tim Davie, BBC Director General, says “Melvyn’s passion for the arts, his intellectual curiosity, and his unwavering commitment to public service broadcasting over the last 60-plus years have enriched the lives of millions. Through In Our Time on Radio 4 has brought depth, insight, and humanity to our airwaves every single week for more than a quarter of a century. He leaves behind not just an extraordinary body of work, but a gold standard of broadcasting and interviewing excellence that will inspire generations to come.”

Mohit Bakaya, Director of Speech and Controller of BBC Radio 4 says “Melvyn has been part of the heartbeat of Radio 4 for over three decades. His fierce intellect, coupled with a wonderful curiosity and extraordinary passion for knowledge marks him out as one of the broadcasting greats. Through we will miss him on In Our Time, he leaves behind a unique legacy: the treasure trove of over 1,000 archive episodes, which are a wonderful resource for all those with a love of learning. I look forward to working with him on new projects for Radio 4.”

To mark the end of an era, later this year Radio 4 will be airing some of Melvyn’s most cherished episodes and there will also be a curated selection on BBC Sounds chosen by some of In Our Time’s most notable fans.

In Our Time will be back on Radio 4 with a new presenter who will be announced in due course.

SOUND. WAVES. Launches In Adare With Early-Bird Passes

~ jen

SOUND. WAVES. a new two-day summit at the intersection of content, creativity, and commerce, will make its debut in Adare on November 12-13, 2025. This premier event is designed to explore how audience-first content is created, monetized, and scaled across podcasting, sports, and music. Early-bird passes are on sale now via www.soundwaves.ie.

At the conclusion of the summit, the inaugural All-Ireland Podcast Awards will also take place on Thursday, 13 November in Adare. The Awards will recognize standout podcasts across 32 counties, with Dylan Haskins — Commissioner, Podcasts at BBC Sounds — serving a Head Judge.

The All-Ireland Podcast Awards has been established with the primary aim of celebrating the vibrant Irish podcasting industry and spotlighting the nation’s most talented creators. The awards will honour the best podcasts across eight broad categories.

Judging will be independent with published criteria for each category and a transparent process designed to be robust and fair. The All-Ireland Podcast Awards have no affiliation to any previous podcast awards in Ireland.

Entries for the All-Ireland Podcast Awards are now open and to make the inaugural awards as inclusive as possible, entry is free. The submission period closes on Tuesday, 16th September 2025, at 5p.m. Eligible shows with a clear connection to Ireland can submit up to 15 minutes of audio, accompanied by a short synopsis, via the Awards page; Irish-language entries are also welcome. Full rules and the submission form are on the website.

A spokesperson for the organizers said: “SOUND. WAVES. Is about the craft and the business — how great ideas travel from studio to audience and back again. We’re starting as we mean to go on: smart conversations, practical takeaways, and a celebration that puts creators first.”

The podcast industry has grown rapidly in Ireland over the past 10 years, with a really diverse mix of shows from independent creators, commercial and public service publishers. While awards by their nature involve competition, the All-Ireland Podcast Awards are really about bringing the industry together each year to celebrate and recognize the excellent work happening nationally and internationally from Irish-associated producers and hosts,” said Dylan Haskins, Head Judge.

Podscribe Releases Q3 2025 Performance Benchmark Report

~ jen

Podscribe, the leading attribution and analytics platform for audio advertising, has released its Q3 2025 Podscribe Performance Benchmark (PPB) Report, a comprehensive look at how podcast and streaming audio ads are performing across audiences, formats, and devices.

This quarter’s report draws down on data from 66,000+ campaigns, 500+ advertiser, and over 17 billion impressions across 200+ publishers, offering the industry clear benchmarks for planning, optimization, and measurement.

Highlights From the Q3 2025 PPB Report:

Buy Type: Audience buys (e.g. Run of Network (RON)) and programmatic) grew nearly 2.5x in 10 months, now making up almost one-third of impressions.

Digital audio scale: Podcasts and streaming audio combined can reach 85% of U.S. listeners, with only ~20% audience overlap between the two channels.

Device + app performance: iPhone users convert 30% better than Android users, with Apple Podcasts on iPhone leading both visitor and conversion rates.

Frequency benchmarks: Advertisers see the strongest performance at up to 5 exposures per month.

Advertiser industries: Retail advertisers achieved the highest purchase rate (0.067%), with the lowest CPA at $65 and CPV at just $0.50.

The full Q3 2025 PPB report, along with the webinar recording, is now available for download.

Built on real attribution data from thousands of campaigns, the PBB is industry’s go-to source for audio ad performance benchmarks. With new international insights and solutions for measurement blind spots, the Q3 2025 PPB report is a must-read for marketers looking to scale advertising smartly.

About Podscribe

Podscribe is the leader in pixel-based attribution, incrementally, and verification for podcast, streaming, CTV, and other hard-to-measure media channels. We help advertisers, agencies and publishers measure true campaign impact, optimize performance, and scale with confidence — backed by real-time, household-level data.

New LiSTNR Podcast Uncovers How One Of Australia’s Most Wanted Hid In Plain Site For Years

~ jen

Launching on LiSTNER today, Jailbreak is a rollercoaster six-part investigative documentary series that tells the incredibly story of Darko (aka ‘Dougie’) Desic, a widely successful weed grower who staged a bold prison escape and remained on the run for decades.

When a neatly dressed man in his 60s walked into Dee Why Police Station in NSW to hand himself in, police were dumbfounded.

Darko Desic: a prison escapee who was featured on Australia’s Most Wanted, and had been on the run from police since busting out from Grafton Prison, using a hacksaw and bolt cutters three decades earlier. Surviving on little more than his wits, charm and guile, Darko dodged numerous hair-raising close calls over the years.

In a six-part podcast documentary series, award winning journalist and author Tim Eliiott takes listeners inside the extraordinary true story of Darko Desic, told in the fugutive’s own words. Darko takes listeners back to his arrival to Australia from Yugoslavia, his arrest for growing marijuana, his daring escape from prion, and how he evaded capture.

Darko worked for some of the wealthiest and most powerful executives in the Harbour City. HE was a beloved local in Avalon, yet police couldn’t find him. Once detained, the Northern Beaches community rallied for his release.

Fascinated by Darko’s story of survival and secrecy (including how he turned to DIY dentistry with pliers) Elliot tracks Darko down for an in-depth interview to find out the truth about the man behind the myth.

Tim Elliot said: “I love escape stories, and when I heard about this fugitive who’d led a double-life, near where I live, I had to know more. And I soon realized the backstory to this mysterious intellectual recluse went so much further than had been reported.”

LiSTNR Head of Factual, Clair Weaver, adds: “Secrets We Keep: Jailbreak is a wild, rollicking story about an eccentric but lovable anti-hero whose early attempts to fast-track his big Australian dreams land him in jail, until dire circumstances in his homeland drive him to escape. Tim Elliott and the LiSTNR Factual team have done an excellent job bringing Darko’s story to life in audio for the first time. This is a podcast you’re going to want to tell your friends about.”

Darko’s now vanished again, leaving Jailbreak as the only, and perhaps final, firsthand account of his extraordinary tale.

Talks.co Launches Free Digital Speaker Pages

~ jen

Talks.co, the free platform that connects podcasters and guests, has launched digital speaker pages, a modern replacement for outdated PDF one-sheets. Described by users as the “LinkedIn for podcast guests,” the new pages are powered by AI to surface the details hosts care about most, so they can quickly decide if a guest is a good fit.

Hosts are drowning in cold pitches, while guests rely on clunky PDFs that get lost in inboxes and quickly go out of date. This is happening just as podcasting is booming, with global ad spend projected to surpass $5 billion in 2025 and guest interviews becoming one of the fastest-growing ways for experts to build visibility and authority.

Talks.co speaker pages fix the process. Each profile is free to create and enhanced by AI to highlight the details podcast hosts actually care about: availability, formats, audience size, promotion promise, and recent podcast appearances.

Guests can even embed lead magnets to turn profile traffic into subscribers and clients. Every page comes with a unique short URL (e.g, talks.co/liam) that’s easy to share across emails, websites and social media.

Key differentiators:

Free access – anyone can create a page, no paywalls

AI-enhanced – auto generated, optimized, and kept current with past appearances.

Lead capture – embed a lead magnet, turn profile traffic into subscribers

Instant + editable – live in seconds, fully customizable, AI-updated

Unique short URL – memorable link like talks.co/yourname, replacing static PDFs

“Podcast outreach is broken. Hosts drown in spam, and guests waste hours making PDFs no one reads,” said Liam Austin, co-founder of Talks.co. “Our speaker pages fix that: they’re free, AI-powered, always current, and built to make booking interviews simple. This is created to replace PDFs as the new stander for speaker one-sheets.”

The redesign also introduces pre-packaged episodes angles (such as “Can AI Fix Podcast Guest Booking” and “How Can Virtual Summits Drive 100K Leads?), clear call-to-action buttons (“Request Interview,” “Email Me”), and structured sections like “Why Book Me” and “Recent Appearances.” 

Power To The Podcasters – Libsyn Surges Past $100M In Creator Podcasts

~ jen

Liberated Syndication Inc. (“Libsyn”), the leading podcasting platform for creators and advertisers, is turning up the volume on what it means to support podcasters at every stage. From bigger payouts to powerful new tools and high-profile partnerships, Libsyn is making it easier than ever for every voice to be heard, seen, and monetized.

Record Creator Earnings, New Tools & Exclusive Deals Power Libsyn’s Creator-First Model

Between January and July 2025, Libsyn has paid out 40% more to creators compared to the same period in 2024, pushing total creator earnings to more than $112 million since 2017. And with the removal of its 2,000-download minimum earlier this summer, Libsyn continues to break down barriers — now giving every podcaster on its platform access to Automatic Podcast Ads and the ability to start earning from day one. More monetization features are already in the works. 

Libsyn recently expanded Multi-user Managements to all creators, a podcast hosting feature previously exclusive to Pro and Enterprise customers. Allowing up to five users per account, this highly requested update gives teams greater control and flexibility. Ideal for shows with multiple hosts and collaborators, it enables teams to streamline production workflows from start to finish.

“At Libsyn, we believe every creator deserves more than just a platform — they deserve real support to build their audience, own their work, and create a sustainable media business on their own terms. Whether your just launching your first show or reaching millions of listeners, we’re here to fuel your growth and give you the tools to build something lasting. That’s what the creator empowerment program means to us — and it’s why we’re continuing to evolve our platform to meet the needs of the next generation of podcasters,” said Brendan Monaghan, CEO of Libsyn.

Adding to the momentum Libsyn has expanded its roster of exclusive shows in the first half of 2025 with podcasts like 10% Happier with Dan Harris, The Jamie 0 and Mason Ho Show, and Stay True with Madison Prewitt Troutt, alongside renewed deals with The Vial Files and the Newsworthy, with an existing pipeline of new addition coming soon. These podcast creators are tapping into Libsyn Ads’ full suite of ad solutions, including Host-Read and programmatic Automatic Podcast Ads, to deliver targeted campaigns that connect with audiences and deliver real results for brands.

Live From Dallas On The Ground At Podcast Movement 2025

All this and more will be on display at Podcast Movement 2025, where Libsyn returns as a presenting sponsor. Attendies can visit booth #302 at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Dallas to explore Libysn’s powerful solutions for hosting, distributing, monetizing, and measuring both audio and video content.

Plus, Libsyn leaders — Stephen Pickens, EVP of Sales; Anthony Savelli, EVP of Sales; Stephen Perlstien, SVP of Business Development; Christopher Avello, VP of Marketing; Elise Escobar, Director of Community and Content; Rob Walch, VP of Podcaster Relations; and more – will take the stage for keynotes and panels exploring how to decode audience behavior with podcast data, win big programatic ads, tap into the power of AI and video, and unlock advanced strategies to grow and evolve your show.

Whether you’re launching your first podcast or scaling a media empire, Libsyn is here to help you grow, earn, and own your voice — your way.

Rhapsody Voices Relaunches As Boutique Creator Agency With Evergreen As Lead Investor

~ jen

Rhapsody Voices has announced its spin-out from Evergreen Podcast, relaunching as a boutique agency focused on the podcast and creator community. Evergreen is leading a new round of investment to support the company’s next chapter.

Led by CEO and founder Mike Jensen, alongside Partner Harris Lane, Rhapsody Voices will expand beyond traditional ad sales to offer strategic service across advertising, subscription strategy, live events, merchandise, and emerging monetization models for creators and media brands.

“Rhapsody Voices is elevating our services to deliver even greater results for creators and sponsor partners. We’re thrilled to welcome Harris Lane as an executive leader, bringing a proven record of success in our growth areas and a passion for helping our creators’ shows reach their highest potential.” Mike Jensen, Founder and CEO.

With an existing slate of top-200 podcasts, Rhapsody Voices has announced several new and expanded partnerships for strategic services. These include a partnership with VOX, Inc. a 23-year Hollywood legacy talent agency specializing in voice-overs and celebrity endorsements, to bring a 360 approach to new and expanded media. 

This partnership brought the signing if Wil Wheaton’s newest Fiction podcast, It’s Storytime with Will Wheaton. Launched earlier this year, the podcast sat in the top-10 of the Fiction charts for the duration of its first season, and has built a core community on Patreon, which Rhapsody Voices oversaw and will be continuing to grow alongside the show’s sponsorship monetization, merch, and live event arm.

A big win for sponsorship sales, Rhapsody Voices is now exclusively representing Inside True Crime, a top-100 audio true crime podcast with a substantial YouTube following of over 700k subscribers.

The team will also be representing HerMoney for all of their audio subscription, distribution and growth, live event expansion and sales into alternative revenue streams like its 100,000+ newsletter and private coaching services.

Dipping into IP expansion, they have been representing the derivative conversations of a top-100 true crime podcast with award-winning journalist Carol Costello as host. Many talks, led by the Rhapsody team, on multiple derivatives have been set up based on the season 2 of her hit podcast, God Hook.

The investment reflects a shared belief in the evolving needs of the creator space and signals, strength on both sides: a strategic pivot for Rhapsody Voices and a forward-looking commitment from Evergreen to back innovate models and beyond. DWNLOAD Media served as an exclusive advisor on the transition.

About Rhapsody Voices

Rhapsody Voices network represents a curated list of shows with a “boutique at scale” approach, representing top content creator across audio and video podcasts. Rhapsody combines leadership in sponsorship representation with tailored content creation, marketing, and revenue growth strategies.

They also represent shows beyond traditional ad-sales, to offer strategic services across advertising, subscription strategy, live events, merchandise, and emerging monetization models for creators and media bands. For more information, visit RhapsodyVoices.com.

Audiencelift To Launch Proprietary YouTube Growth Technology At Podcast Movement

~ jen

Amaze Media Labs, the company behind the latest audience growth platform AudienceLift.com, announced the official launch of its newest innovation: YouTube Promotion Campaigns. A proprietary growth solution built to drive real video views, engagement, and subscriber growth on YouTube through hyper-targeted video ad placements overlaid with AudienceLift exclusive technology.

The new feature will debut at Podcast Movement 2025, taking place next week in Dallas, TX. Attendees can experience live demos of the YouTube Channel Growth technology at Booth #507, or book a private demo in advance.

“With YouTube now central to podcast discovery, creators need more than just visibility. They need real engagement,” said Brett Sklar, Co-Founder of Amaze Media Labs. “This new solution gives creator a powerful, turnkey way to grow authentic audiences on the platform that matters the most.”

Built on Audiencelift’s proprietary technology, YouTube Promotion Campaigns use a multi-stage growth funnel to drive high-quality results: first targeting high-intent viewers through precision ad placements, then re-engaging them to convert casual views into long-term subscribers. Campaigns are customized by audience profile, geo-location, and behavior, using multi-level retargeting to maximize ROI.

“Our clients want real growth, not vanity metrics,” added Robert Tuchman, Co-founder of Amaze Media Labs. “That’s why we engineered Audiencelift for YouTube to attract viewers who actually watch, engage, and subscribe.”

With this launch, Audiencelift users can now run fully managed YouTube campaigns alongside podcast trailer promotions that run across top premium networks like The Wall Street Journal, Fox Sports, and many more from a single dashboard. Every camping includes Cloudflare bot protection, IAB-certified data, and full transparency on subscribers, views, and listens.

About Audience Lift

AudienceLift.com is the proprietary growth engine from Amaze Media Labs, designed to grow podcast and video audiences through targeted paid media and retargeting strategies. The platform delivers measurable results for creators, brands, and publishers looking to scale reach and engagement across audio and video platforms.

Business Insider Co-Founder And Former CEO Henry Blodget Launches New Podcast In Partnership With Vox Media

~ jen

Vox Media announced a new podcast in partnership with acclaimed journalist and Business Insider co-founded Henry Blodget. Each week on Solutions with Henry Blodget, he and his guests will tackle some of the most pressing challenges of modern life — from AI risk and climate change to burnout and the loneliness epidemic — with an emphasis on practical, achievable solutions. Vox Media will lead sales, marketing, and distribution for the show, which launches on August 18th.

“We’re in a moment where every day, it feels like we’re facing a deluge of insurmountable challenges. What often gets lost in the conversation is just how many smart, enterprising people there are to there working to solve every one of them.” Says Blodget. “With Solutions, I hope to bring audiences a show that centers some of these experts and offers a thoughtful and pragmatic path forward. And it’s been a thrill working with Vox Media’s amazing podcast team to get this off the ground.”

Blodget brings a rare blend of journalistic rigor and business savvy to the podcast space. He is the founder and editor of Regenerator, a publication focused on building a better future, and the co-founder and former CEO and editor-in-chief of Business Insider, which under his leadership grew into one of the most influential news organizations in the world and was acquired by Axel Springer. He is also a former to—ranked Wall Street analysts, frequent media commentator, and the author of The Wall Street Self-Defense. Manual: A Consumer’s Guide to Intelligent Investing. He will soon publish his first novel.

“Vox Media has the leading slate of shows covering business, tech, leadership and current affairs.,” says Ray Chao, Vox Media’s SVP & general manager of audio and video. “We’re excited for Henry to bring his unparalleled experience and unique perspective as a top analyst, journalist, and entrepreneur to the podcast space.”

At Vox Media, Solutions with Henry Blogdet will join one of the the largest U.S. podcast publishers, according to a leading industry tracker, Podtrac, home to a slate of top-tier interview and current affairs shows, including Pivot (hosted by journalist Kara Swisher and entrepreneur Scott Galloway), Decoder (hosted by the Verge’s editor-in-chief Nilay Patel), Stay tuned with Preet (hosted by former Manhattan U.S. attorney Preet Bharara), Channels (hosted by journalist Peter Kafka), and more.

The trailer for Solutions with Henry Blodget is out today, with new episodes out weekly on Mondays.