This week on the Podcast Industry Brief, we cover the shut down of the Wondery Podcast App and Wondery+, the expansion of Audacy’s YouTube distribution tools, and Crooked Media’s new television deal with MS NOW. We also dive into TikTok’s launch of its first exclusive full-length podcast, iHeart Media's "State of Podcasting 2026" report showing record-high listener trust, and new software updates from iOS, PodPage, and PocketCasts.

Timestamps

00:00 Here's What You Missed

00:22 Wondery Podcast App and Wondery+ Are Shutting Down

01:13 Audacy Creator Labs is Adding YouTube Distribution

02:22 Pod Save America is Coming to Television

03:09 TikTok has Launched Exclusive Podcast

04:42 Supreme x Shure Microphone Collab

05:18 iHeart Media - State of Podcasting 2026

09:00 iOS 26 has a New Audio Recording Feature

10:01 PodPage Will Migrate Your WordPress Website

10:54 New Features on PocketCast

12:57 Did I Miss Anything?

Links to Articles

• Wondery App and Wondery+ are shutting down: https://variety.com/2026/digital/news/amazon-shutting-down-wondery-app-wondery-plus-1236678387/
• Audible expands subscriptions to include Wondery shows: https://podnews.net/press-release/audible-standard-plan
• Audacy adds ability to upload podcast directly to YouTube: https://podnews.net/press-release/audacy-creators-youtube
• Crooked Media is coming to MS NOW: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/ms-now-crooked-media-pod-save-america-tv-1236507197/
• TikTok Launches Exclusive Podcast: https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2026/02/18/tiktok-podcasting-expansion-continues/
• Supreme x Shure Collab: https://supreme.com/previews/springsummer2026/all/36?=supreme-shure-mv7-microphone-22&back=all
• iHeart Media State of Podcasting 2026: https://www.iheartmedia.com/advertise/insights/articles/the-state-of-podcasting
• Magellan AI - Top Podcast Advertisers: https://www.magellan.ai/research/top-podcast-advertisers
• iOS 26 Audio Updates: https://www.macrumors.com/2026/02/17/ios-26-4-beta-tidbits/
• PodPage Will Migrate Your Wordpress Site: https://www.podpage.com/wordpress-migration/

Connect with me

• Threads: https://www.threads.com/@thejacobgooden
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejacobgooden/
• YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@thejacobgooden
• Newsletter: TBD

Tools and Services I Recommend (some of these are affiliate links)

• Descript: https://get.descript.com/kwut2jvywz7o
• Captivate: https://fas.st/t/6SePhFDC
• Uppbeat: https://share.uppbeat.io/luuq8fyfboom
• Castmagic: https://get.castmagic.io/v3lgk8p9ts49
• ElevenLabs: https://try.elevenlabs.io/d4wruowv22n6

The podcast industry is rapidly evolving as major platforms like Apple, Netflix, Hulu, Spotify, and Amazon push deeper into video, streaming distribution, and creator monetization. In this edition of The Podcast Industry Brief, I'm breaking down major announcements shaping the future of podcasting — from Apple’s video podcast rollout to Spotify lowering monetization requirements and new AI editing tools changing how creators produce content.This episode highlights a growing shift toward video-first podcast experiences, new licensing deals bringing podcasts onto streaming platforms, and emerging tools that could dramatically improve podcast production workflows.Resources & Links• Apple Podcasts Video Beta: https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2026/02/apple-introduces-a-new-video-podcast-experience-on-apple-podcasts/• Netflix Exclusive Pete Davidson Podcast: https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/pete-davidson-podcast-news-release-date• Hulu & Headgum Partnership: https://deadline.com/2026/02/were-here-to-help-podcast-streaming-hulu-february-1236707677/• CNN & Lemonada Media Licensing Deal: https://cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/2026/01/14/cnn-and-lemonada-media-forge-streaming-video-podcast-deal/• Podcasts Are Dead - it's all about video now: https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/podcasts-are-dead-its-all-about-video-now-pkh52dnhn• Substack TV App: https://www.theverge.com/news/866054/substack-tv-app-beta-launch-newsletters• Amazon Kelce Clubhouse: https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/DC3A251C-7D33-49D8-9277-EBD9E348247D• Podcast Movement Evolutions at SXSW: https://weekly.podcastmovement.com/p/evolutions-comes-to-sxsw-plus-a-first-look-at-talent• Spotify Partner Program Updates: https://newsroom.spotify.com/2026-01-07/spotify-partner-program-updates/• Riverside Mobile Editor: https://www.instagram.com/p/DTdoAhdDsyJ/?img_index=1&igsh=YjNtanRqdWEydnJr• Descript Underlord V2: https://descript.canny.io/changelog/announcingunderlord-v2• Apple Creator Studio: https://www.apple.com/apple-creator-studio/• Opus Clip iOS App: https://opusclip.canny.io/changelog/opusclip-ios-app-is-here• Opus Clip IOS App Tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2J9es_30E_0• Wondercraft AI: https://www.wondercraft.ai/blog/ai-video-is-finally-good-enough-now-comes-the-hard-part• YouTube Auto-Dubbing: https://www.threads.com/@neal_mohan/post/DUtUCIgj2Xw?xmt=AQF0gXiexURAp4Dbe9jxUhcObsXY3v4W8XAK4hZ_TqSF5JmRsKtdq56xfOWZXht73InJr-Nf&slof=1• Overlap AI: https://overlap.ai• PodGround Grants: https://podground.io/grant

Connect with meThreads: https://www.threads.com/@thejacobgoodenInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejacobgooden/YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@thejacobgoodenNewsletter: TBDChapters00:00 What Happened This Month00:19 Apple Podcast Is Adding Video Support01:10 Netflix Launches Exclusive Pete Davidson Podcast01:57 Hulu Sign Deal with Headgum02:39 CNN Strikes Deal With Lemonada Media03:07 Podcasts Are Dead04:05 Substack Announces TV App04:51 Amazon Launches Kelce Clubhouse05:56 Podcast Movement Is Coming To SXSW06:52 Spotify Is Making It Easier To Get Monetized08:11 Riverside Mobile Editing Updates08:28 Descript Underlord V209:56 Apple Creator Studio Launch10:35 Opus Clip Mobile Editor11:09 Wondercraft AI13:44 Tool of the Month: Overlap AI15:02 Service of the Month: PodGround15:46 Is There Anything I Missed?

In this December 2025 brief, we're breaking down the biggest podcasting and creator economy news heading into 2026. From Netflix making aggressive moves into video podcasting to YouTube cementing itself as the new television, this episode explores how the lines between podcasts, TV, and streaming continue to blur. We also cover major updates from Apple Podcasts, Patreon, iHeartMedia, Descript, YouTube, and emerging tools shaping the future of podcast discovery and analytics.

News Links

• Netflix x Spotify: https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/netflix-spotify-video-podcasts
• Netflix x iHeart: https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/16/netflix-doubles-down-on-video-podcasts-with-iheartmedia-deal/
• YouTube is the New TV: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/23/business/media/youtube-has-a-firm-grip-on-daytime-tv.html#
• YouTube's Big Bets of 2025: https://blog.youtube/inside-youtube/our-big-bets-for-2025/
• Instagram Reels for TV launches on FireTV: https://variety.com/2025/digital/news/instagram-for-tv-reels-videos-1236609143/
• iHeart Radio will support rss feed video content: https://www.iheartmedia.com/press/iheartmedia-offers-creators-and-publishers-unique-new-video-podcast-platform
• Fountain wants to change how we host our podcasts: https://blog.fountain.fm/p/video-podcasts
• Patreon adds public RSS Feeds: https://www.patreon.com/posts/icymi-gifting-144331198
• Apple Podcasts Adds Chapters: https://podcasters.apple.com/support/5482-using-chapters-on-apple-podcasts
• Apple’s Show of the Year: The Rest Is History: https://podnews.net/press-release/apple-podcasts-the-rest-is-history
• Listener.com Launches Listener AI: https://news.listener.com/p/introducing-listener-ai-inventory-management-and-our-new-site
• Descripts Change Log: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZHysHUrtDU
• YouTube Launches A/B Testing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKRiib3Xzoo

Tool of the Month: https://thepodradar.comShoutout to Arielle Nissenblatt for posting about this: https://www.threads.com/@ariellethisandthat

Connect with me

• Threads:https://www.threads.com/@thejacobgooden
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejacobgooden/
• YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@thejacobgooden
• Newsletter: TBD

Chapters

00:00 Huge Podcast News In December

00:24 Netflix Is Making Podcasting Moves

01:42 Is Everything Just TV Now?

03:42 Podcast Players Get On Board with Video Podcasts

05:19 Patreon Announces Public RSS Feeds

05:58 Apple Podcasts Adds Chapters

06:33 Listener.com Updates

07:17 Descript Updates

07:45 YouTube A/B Testing Is Here

07:58 Tool of the Month - Pod Radar