You're an advertiser. You have a product—let’s say it’s a meal kit delivery service. You want people to buy it. But how do you reach them? Do you shotgun-blast your ad across an entire podcast network, hoping someone, somewhere, might be hungry enough to care? Or do you surgically insert it into one specific podcast, where the audience is already primed to purchase things at 2 AM?

According to the latest PodScribe Q4 2024 Performance Benchmarks report, one of those strategies is objectively more efficient per impression. And the other? Well, it’s basically the advertising equivalent of setting your money on fire and counting on the smoke to spell out your target URL.

Pete Wright and Andy Nelson explain why tiny, niche podcasts are somehow more powerful than the big, flashy ones. They’ll debate whether YouTube’s slow takeover of podcasting is a game-changer or just another doomed experiment (looking at you, Google Podcasts). And they’ll take us deep into the shadowy world of ad tracking pixels—which, if you don’t know, are those little bits of code that follow you around the internet like a puppy.

And here’s the kicker: podcast ads actually work. Really well. So well, in fact, that brands are now scrambling to figure out how to track listener behavior without resorting to outright surveillance. Because—and this is genuinely shocking—sometimes people hear an ad, don’t immediately click a link, but still remember the brand and buy the thing later. Wild concept, right?

So, what does all this mean for the future of podcast advertising? Will brands finally stop panicking about promo codes? Will YouTube actually become a podcasting powerhouse? And most importantly—will Pete and Andy ever get tired of talking about incrementally?

No, they will not.

Links & Notes

• PodScribe Q4 2024 Performance Benchmarks Report
• Submit a Question

Imagine a social media landscape where you own your content, not some tech overlord. A place where links aren't suppressed, and algorithms don't dictate what you see. Sounds like a utopian dream... or is it Bluesky?

Pete Wright and Andy Nelson fly into the wide world of Blue Sky, the decentralized social media platform that's got some creators buzzing. Is it just another flash in the pan, or does it hold the key to unlocking genuine community engagement?

If so, it’s going to be thanks to the platform's unique architecture, thanks to the parallel familiar landscape of email and the less-familiar terrain of Mastodon. What does "decentralized" really mean, and why should you care? They explore the frustrations of content suppression on mainstream platforms like Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), and how Bluesky offers a refreshing alternative.

Along the way, they grapple with practicalities: How does Blue Sky actually work? How can podcasters leverage its features, like starter packs and feeds, to build a loyal audience? And what about the elephant in the room: Can Bluesky truly compete with the reigning giants of social media?

Links Mentioned:

• Why Podcasters and Creators are Moving to Bluesky • Transistor FM
• EchoFeed: A service for cross-posting from RSS feeds to Bluesky and Mastodon from Robb Knight.
• Buffer: A social media scheduling tool with Blue Sky integration.
• PinkSky: An app that mimics the Instagram experience on Bluesky.
• Blue Screen: An app that mimics the TikTok experience on Bluesky.
• TruStory FM Starter Pack: A collection of TruStory FM podcast hosts on Bluesky.
• Directory of Starter Packs: A place to browse starter packs on Blue Sky.
• Show Feedback Form: Share your thoughts and questions for the show.
• SodaCreekFilm.com: Connect with Andy on Bluesky.
• ItsMePete.com: Connect with Pete on Bluesky.
• TruStory.FM: Connect with TruStory on Bluesky.

In 2025, where do podcasts live? In your ears? On your screens? In the untamed wilderness of AI-assisted creativity? Pete Wright and Andy Nelson do their best to untangle the web of modern podcasting—a world where AI tools can both dazzle and baffle, where success is measured in engagement rather than downloads, and where communities spring to life in unexpected places.

The future of podcasting isn’t just about tools and metrics—it’s about people. In a world of endless content and dwindling attention, it's time to experiment, innovate, and create formats born for the medium. What does it mean to be the "human in the middle," balancing the efficiency of AI with the irreplaceable authenticity of human creativity?

Links & Notes

• Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI by Ethan Mollick
• Adobe Podcast Voice Enhance
• TruStory FM Discord Community
• Unapologetically ADHD by Pete Wright and Nikki Kinzer