Blubrry’s Next Chapter | Barry Kantz, CEO/CFO #678

In Episode 678 of the New Media Show, host and Podcast Hall of Famer Rob Greenlee welcomes Barry Kantz, CEO and CFO of Blubrry Podcasting, for a candid conversation about Blubrry’s leadership transition, the legacy of (RIP) former CEO Todd Cochrane, independent podcasting, video, artificial intelligence, monetization, measurement, human support, and the changing podcast-hosting market. For more than 20 years, Blubrry and its parent company, RawVoice, have helped build and support the open podcast ecosystem. The sudden passing of Blubrry founder and longtime New Media Show co-host Todd Cochrane forced the company, its team, and Todd’s family to navigate an unexpected personal and business transition. Barry explains how Blubrry responded, how leadership responsibilities shifted, and how his management approach differs from Todd’s hard-charging entrepreneurial style. Barry is bringing a more data-driven and systems-focused approach while trusting Blubrry’s experienced remote team to carry the company forward. The conversation also examines how podcasting itself is changing. Audio remains central to the medium, but video has become part of how audiences define and experience podcasts. Rob and Barry discuss YouTube discovery, the overlap between watching and listening, short-form clips, RSS distribution, Apple’s HLS video support, alternative enclosures, Podcasting 2.0, and Blubrry’s Vid2Pod tool for turning YouTube videos into audio podcast episodes. Barry also shares an update on Blubrry’s HLS video development and discusses the company’s new lower-priced starter plan introduced around the time of the recording. Artificial intelligence is another major part of Blubrry’s next chapter. Barry explains how he uses Claude as a daily assistant for analytics, automation, research, and company operations. Barry sees AI as a way to make podcast creation and management easier, especially for creators who may not have extensive technical experience. At the same time, Blubrry’s larger goal is to use technology to support human expression rather than replace the human connection that gives podcasting its value. Rob and Barry discuss low-effort AI-generated content, synthetic media, voice cloning, the limitations of automated clipping tools, and the growing need to distinguish human-hosted shows from fully automated productions. The discussion then moves into monetization and the opportunities still available to independent creators. Barry argues that smaller shows can create meaningful business value when they serve a clearly defined audience and develop strong relationships with listeners. Creators do not necessarily need millions of downloads. A focused show with several hundred deeply engaged listeners can provide valuable access to a professional, geographic, or consumer community. Barry also reflects on Blubrry’s early work with host-read advertising and Todd Cochrane’s long-running sponsorship relationship with GoDaddy as examples of how trust, consistency, niche relevance, and audience connection can create durable advertiser value. Rob and Barry also examine the challenge of measuring audio and video under a common standard. HLS video, progressive audio downloads, platform-controlled playback, and various delivery methods complicate the determination of what should count as a verified play. The discussion explores why common measurement matters to advertisers and why the industry may need different technical approaches for audio and video consumption. The episode closes with a broader look at the increasingly competitive podcast-hosting market. Hosting, storage, and delivery have become commodities. The competitive difference now comes from the tools, services, support, analytics, workflows, distribution options, and human expertise built around the infrastructure. For Blubrry, that includes PowerPress, WordPress integration, video support, Vid2Pod, Podcasting 2.0 features, AI-assisted workflows, monetization options, analytics, and access to experienced human support. Both reflect on the legacy Todd Cochrane helped create and provide a detailed look at how Blubrry plans to move forward in a media environment shaped by audio, video, AI, open distribution, creator ownership, and changing audience expectations. Key Discussion Topics: – Blubrry’s transition following Todd Cochrane’s passing – Barry Kantz’s leadership and management approach – How the Blubrry team responded to sudden change – Todd’s influence on podcasting and the open ecosystem – The evolving definition of a podcast – Audience movement between watching and listening – YouTube discovery and short-form video – Blubrry’s Vid2Pod technology – Apple HLS video support – RSS, alternative enclosures, and Podcasting 2.0 – Blubrry’s lower-priced starter plan – AI-assisted podcast production and operations – Human-hosted media versus automated content – Voice cloning, authenticity, and audience trust – Monetization for independent and niche creators – Host-read advertising and direct sponsorships – Measuring audio and video consumption – Podcast hosting as a commodity – PowerPress and the continuing role of WordPress – Human customer support as a competitive advantage – The future of independent podcasting Chapter Time Stamps: 00:00 Welcome to The New Media Show Episode 678 00:44 Blubrry’s role in the open podcast ecosystem 02:03 Introducing Barry Kantz, CEO and CFO of Blubrry Podcasting 03:31 The sudden loss of former co-founder/CEO of Blubrry, Todd Cochrane 05:22 How the Blubrry team responded 06:29 Barry’s leadership style compared with Todd’s 08:17 Bringing data and operational systems into the company 09:57 How Todd might view today’s podcast market 11:11 Video becomes part of podcasting 13:20 Blubrry’s Vid2Pod product 14:46 Barry’s transition from CFO to CEO 18:14 The opportunity for independent creators 20:00 Who now defines what a podcast is? 21:07 Audiences move between watching and listening 23:24 YouTube discovery and the importance of Shorts 24:55 The limitations of AI-generated clips 26:20 Blubrry’s Apple HLS video rollout 28:12 Blubrry introduces a lower-priced starter plan 29:08 Alternative enclosures and Podcasting 2.0 30:34 Barry’s use of Claude as an AI assistant 32:02 Supporting human creators while limiting AI slop 33:20 Voice cloning and the challenge of replicating humanity 36:18 Blubrry’s philosophy on podcast monetization 37:30 How niche shows can attract direct sponsors 39:27 Managing expectations for new podcasters 43:16 Measuring HLS video and audio downloads 46:45 New competition in podcast hosting 47:36 Why hosting has become a commodity 50:45 Product focus, acquisitions, and platform complexity 52:01 WordPress, PowerPress, and AI-assisted websites 55:00 Blubrry’s commitment to human customer support 57:31 Closing thoughts on Blubrry’s future About the Guest: Barry Kantz is CEO and CFO of Blubrry Podcasting and one of the original founders of its parent company, RawVoice. Barry has produced podcasts since 2005 and has worked with Blubrry throughout its more than 20-year history. His responsibilities have included company finance, legal affairs, human resources, analytics, operations, and business leadership. Following the passing of Blubrry founder Todd Cochrane, Barry stepped into the company’s primary leadership role. He is now guiding Blubrry through its next chapter as podcasting expands across audio, video, artificial intelligence, open RSS distribution, WordPress, and creator-led media. Blubrry Podcasting https://blubrry.com Blubrry Leadership and Company Information https://blubrry.com/about Barry Kantz on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kantzb Blubrry Podcast Insider https://blubrry.com/podcast-insider About the Host: Rob Greenlee is a 2017 Podcast Hall of Fame inductee, Chair of the Podcast Hall of Fame, and a longtime new-media executive, creator, strategist, and industry leader. He is the co-founder and current host of The New Media Show and the founder of Trust Factor Lab. Rob has worked across podcasting, radio, digital media, audio, video, creator platforms, partnerships, distribution, monetization, and emerging AI-assisted media for more than 26 years. His previous leadership roles include Microsoft, PodcastOne, Spreaker, and Libsyn, where he helped shape the growth of podcasting, distribution platforms, creator partnerships, and digital audio. Through The New Media Show, Rob explores how podcasting fits inside the larger new-media ecosystem, including video, livestreaming, artificial intelligence, platforms, audience ownership, intellectual property, advertising, trust, and sustainable creator businesses. New Media Show https://newmediashow.com The New Media Show on YouTube https://youtube.com/@TheNewMediaShow New Media Show Audio on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-media-show-audio/id392545649 Rob Greenlee https://robgreenlee.com Rob Greenlee on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/robgreenlee Rob Greenlee on YouTube https://youtube.com/@RobGreenlee Podcast Hall of Fame https://podcasthall.com AI Disclosure: AI tools were used to help organize and edit this episode description and create chapter markers from the completed episode transcript. The editorial direction, final review, industry perspective, and responsibility for the published content remain with Rob Greenlee. This description reflects the substance of the recorded conversation between Barry Kantz and Rob Greenlee.The post Blubrry’s Next Chapter | Barry Kantz, CEO/CFO #678 first appeared on New Media Show.