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

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 Values09:38 Intersectional Feminism Goals19:52 Promoting Member Shows20:48 A Unique Podcast Model30:13 Resource Library Overview37:41 Managing a Community43:33 Member Retention51:20 Celebrity Fatigue in Podcasting59:53 Balancing Growth and SustainabilityCONNECT WITH GUEST: BECKY MOLLENKAMP, FEMINIST BUSINESS COACHLinkedIn | Website | Podcast | ThreadsPodcast rec: Off the Grid Book rec: Liberate Your Business by Becky MollenkampCONNECT WITH GREG WASSERMAN, HEAD OF RELATIONSHIPS FOR RSS.COMWebsite | LinkedInGreg’s book rec: Return on Courage by Ryan BermanSystems, Sponsors, and Partners:Hosted with RSS.com Podcast HostingProduced by Stories & StrategiesContent Repurposed with CastmagicPodcast Project Management with Northflow

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 Online7:44 Network for Business Leaders9:53 Using Podcasts to Grow Business14:51 Changes in Audio and Video Tech16:37 Content Timing for Streaming and Broadcast25:48 Importance of Context in Content28:04 Diversifying Content Distribution32:37 Building a Content Creator Community35:05 Serving the Elite Business Community37:45 Monetization in TV Network Deals41:29 Turning Interviews Into Content44:24 Joining the C-Suite Network53:28 The Future of New MediaCONNECT WITH GUEST: JEFFREY HAYZLETT, CHAIRMAN AND FOUNDER OF C-SUITE NETWORKWebsite | LinkedInBook rec: How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie - https://amzn.to/4vZWx81Book rec: The Greatest Salesman in the World by Og Mandino - https://amzn.to/4cYh6bUPodcast rec: This Week in Startups — Host: Jason Calacanis - https://pod.link/315114957CONNECT WITH GREG WASSERMAN, HEAD OF RELATIONSHIPS FOR RSS.COMWebsite | LinkedInGreg’s book rec: Return on Courage by Ryan BermanSystems, Sponsors, and Partners:Hosted with RSS.com Podcast HostingProduced by Stories & StrategiesContent Repurposed with CastmagicPodcast Project Management with Northflow

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 America04:25 From lawyer to podcaster to network founder17:47 The honest case for joining or not joining23:17 Why brands are the client, not podcasters32:57 Why video is now non-negotiable35:21 Spotify premium and the baked-in ad shift42:39 How attribution and conversion actually work in LATAMCONNECT WITH GUEST: DAVID ROEMER GONZALEZ, CO-FOUNDER AND CEO OF GENUINA MEDIALinkedIn | WebsiteDavid's Podcast rec: Relatos NierosDavid's Book recs: The Palace of Dreams - Ismail KadareCONNECT WITH GREG WASSERMAN, HEAD OF RELATIONSHIPS FOR RSS.COMWebsite | LinkedInGreg’s book rec: Return on Courage by Ryan BermanSystems, Sponsors, and Partners:Hosted with RSS.com Podcast HostingProduced by Stories & StrategiesContent Repurposed with CastmagicPodcast Project Management with Northflow

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, 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 host09:40 The matchmaking idea takes shape11:30 Cross-collaboration as the early network seed15:12 Audience fit before everything else18:37 On charging $200+ effective CPMs23:02 Starting over: niche, quality, one lane32:30 The missed opportunity in subscription revenue36:07 What changed after the Skift acquisition43:07 Who acquires a niche network — and why46:48 The three-sided negotiation no one talks about52:45 Where things are heading: Substack and long-form01:00:51 The case for just running a good businessCONNECT WITH GUEST: WIL SLICKERS,DIRECTOR OF VIDEO/AUDIO STRATEGY | SKIFTLinkedIn | Website | Podcast |Wil’s Podcast rec: AcquiredWil’s Book rec: Superfans by Pat FlynnCONNECT WITH GREG WASSERMAN, HEAD OF RELATIONSHIPS FOR RSS.COMWebsite | LinkedInGreg’s book rec: Return on Courage by Ryan BermanSystems, Sponsors, and Partners:Hosted with RSS.com Podcast HostingProduced by Stories & StrategiesContent Repurposed with CastmagicPodcast Project Management with Northflow

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 Platform04:37 How My Take Radio Became a Network07:41 Why the Dual-Feed Model Still Works10:01 Revenue Without the Revenue-First Model13:04 On Downloads, Die-Hards, and Real Numbers16:25 What to Ask Before You Join a Network18:47 Removing the Roadblocks That Kill Podcasts23:53 Audio First, Video Second27:48 What the Onboarding Process Actually Looks Like31:04 The Jockey Runs the Horse36:54 Gary Vee Called His Bluff39:51 The Case for 10 Downloads44:02 Be of Service, Not a GatekeeperCONNECT WITH GUEST: RICHARD BUTLERFOUNDER OF THE RAGE WORKS PODCAST NETWORKLinkedIn | Website | Website 2 | InstagramRich's Podcast Rec: The Jay Ferruggia ShowRich's Book Rec: Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook by Gary Vaynerchuk CONNECT WITH GREG WASSERMAN, HEAD OF RELATIONSHIPS FOR RSS.COMWebsite | LinkedIn Greg’s book rec: Return on Courage by Ryan BermanSystems, Sponsors, and Partners:Hosted with RSS.com Podcast HostingProduced by Stories & StrategiesContent Repurposed with CastmagicPodcast Project Management with Northflow

What does it look like to build a network around a purpose rather than a revenue model?Adam Bird started Heroes Media Group in 2012 as a place for veterans and military voices, and has spent the decade since expanding that mission to cover all community heroes: law enforcement, firefighters, first responders, and other "community heroes," anyone who aligns with the cause. The network grew not from a monetization plan, but from a commitment to positive, purpose-driven content at a time when most media was heading in the opposite direction.What makes Adam's approach distinct is what he actively refuses to optimize for. He's turned down six-figure investment offers and won't touch content that conflicts with the network's values, no matter the dollar amount attached. The business case comes second, and he'll tell you that's exactly why it works.Adam started in terrestrial radio around 2011 and transitioned into podcasting when he realized he wanted to tell stories without editorial constraints. Over the last decade, he has personally worked on more than 28,000 podcast episodes, built a full production and agency arm at HMG, and grown the network to over 50 active shows.Listen For:00:00 Finding Purpose Through Podcasting06:51 Helping Others, Finding Purpose11:22 Building Connections Through Collaboration15:58 Business Model Perspectives19:07 The Power of Networking19:58 Maintaining Network Support Over Time23:03 Unpopular Opinions in Business Trends28:41 Balancing Podcast Goals and Strategy32:01 Podcasting's Future: Big Buyouts35:11 Podcasting: Harder Than It Seems36:31 Lessons on Starting Small45:21 Finding Purpose Through Service46:16 Grinding Toward Life’s PurposeCONNECT WITH GUEST: ADAM BIRDFOUNDER & OPERATOR, HEROES MEDIA GROUPLinkedIn | WebsiteAdam's Book rec: Outwitting the Devil by Napoleon HillAdam's Podcast rec: The Arms RoomCONNECT WITH GREG WASSERMAN, CHIEF RELATIONSHIP OFFICER FOR RSS.COMWebsite | LinkedInGreg’s book rec: Return on Courage by Ryan BermanSystems, Sponsors and Partners:Hosted with RSS.com Podcast HostingProduced by Stories & StrategiesContent Repurposed with CastmagicPodcast Project Management with Northflow

What does it actually look like when someone from Hollywood runs a podcast network?For Aisha Corpas Wynn, an Emmy-nominated producer whose career spans scripted TV, unscripted reality, film, and the NFL Podcast Network, the answer is a masterclass in reverse engineering. She doesn't start with a mic and a guest list. She starts with the market, the mission, and the person, and works backward from there.Aisha breaks down how she thinks about building podcast networks from the ground up, what most podcast creators get completely wrong about joining one, and why her entertainment background gives her a fundamentally different lens than most people working in the space today.Greg and Aisha go deep on how Stoked Bros. Media is being built, athlete by athlete, show by show, with the same framework she'd apply to developing a TV series. They get into what it really takes to bring celebrity talent into podcasting (spoiler: fame is not a guarantee), how to think about rev share splits and network deals, and why the "hip hop model" of building an ecosystem is more relevant to podcasting than most people realize.Listen For:2:23 What "Podcast Network" Means: Cross Promotion First2:58 How Podcasting Became Its Own Sub-Economy11:06 Individual Brand vs. Network Ecosystem13:28 The Hip-Hop Label Model Applied to Podcasting16:07 Why Celebrity Doesn't Guarantee an Audience22:14 Building Stoke Bros: Differentiating Within a Sports Network34:41 The Economics: Funding vs. Rev Share45:15 Questions to Ask Before Joining a Network52:57 Why Your Wins May Not Be One for OneCONNECT WITH GUEST: AISHA CORPAS WYNN, STOKED BROS PODCAST NETWORKLinkedIn | Website | InstagramAisha pod rec: All In and The AI ChicksAisha book rec: Psychology of MoneyCONNECT WITH GREG WASSERMAN, HEAD OF RELATIONSHIPS AT RSS.COMWebsite | LinkedInGreg’s book rec Selling with Love by Jason Marc CampbellSystems, Sponsors, and Partners:Hosted with RSS.com Podcast HostingProduced by Stories & StrategiesContent Repurposed with CastmagicPodcast Project Management with Northflow

What does it look like to build a podcast network with no interest in making it big…and have that actually work?Jason Falls started the Marketing Podcast Network five years ago after being burned by a network that didn’t deliver on its promises. What he built in response is deliberately small, community-first, and structured around a revenue model most operators wouldn’t choose. The result is a network of nearly 90 shows that has grown steadily without a sales team, a growth strategy, or a capitalist bone behind it.Jason is the founder of the Marketing Podcast Network (MPN), a niche network built exclusively for marketing and advertising podcasters. He comes from a broadcast and radio background and now spends the majority of his time producing podcasts for clients, with MPN running alongside as a community he helped build and still stewards.Greg and Jason dig into how MPN’s equal revenue share works… and what it asks of larger shows. They get into the two promises a previous network made that they never kept, how MPN sells advertising without a dedicated sales function, and why Jason would start a video-first network if he were doing it over.If you’re a podcaster wondering whether a community-first network might be a better fit than a revenue-first one, this conversation is worth your time.Listen For:04:19 Evolving in Podcasting Challenges06:45 Collaborative Marketing Podcast Network10:10 Podcasting Profit Challenges Explained15:51 Embracing Podcasts Through Technology19:37 Efficient Network Advertising Solution24:54 Building Collaboration for Podcast Growth32:36 Podcast Analytics: Challenges and Limitations34:35 Podcast Tech and Network Evolution43:05 Building a Video-First Platform45:37 Own It: Closing Gender Gaps50:07 Jason's DIY Marketing NetworkCONNECT WITH GUEST: JASON FALLS, FOUNDER, MARKETING PODCAST NETWORKLinkedIn | Website | Facebook | X | YouTubeJason Book rec: Brand Hijack: Marketing Without Marketing Alex WipperfurthJason's Podcast rec: Cautionary Tales with Tim HarfordCONNECT WITH GREG WASSERMAN, CHIEF RELATIONSHIP OFFICER FOR RSS.COMWebsite | LinkedInSystems, Sponsors and Partners:Hosted with RSS.com Podcast HostingProduced by Stories & StrategiesContent Repurposed with CastmagicPodcast Project Management with Northflow

What would change if every podcast network made its integrity pledge public, and actually used it to decide who gets through the door? Building a network around editorial standards (instead of just downloads or scale) isn't the standard playbook, but that's where Dan Kendall's approach stands out.Dan Kendall brings decades of experience in health innovation and hands-on experience supporting podcasters. After starting in health tech, he became a full-time podcaster, then launched and expanded a health-focused podcast network, Health Podcast Library, developing rigorous selection criteria and testing multiple monetization models along the way. He'll unpack the pressures and choices behind curating science-based health shows with clarity and transparency.Listen for:05:29 Health Podcast Model Evolution16:04 Ethical Advertising and Trusted Referrals20:07 Healthcare Podcasting Innovation Summit22:15 Podcast Network Pricing Shift28:06 Success Requires Effort and Tools32:11 Podcast Growth Starts With Packaging37:16 Engaging Clients Anytime, Anywhere44:51 Rethinking Podcast Networks45:54 10X Over 2X Mindset51:38 Integrity and Dan's Network52:55 Time, Teams, & ConnectionsCONNECT WITH GUEST: DAN KENDALLFOUNDER & OPERATOR, HEALTH PODCAST LIBRARYLinkedIn | WebsiteDan's Book rec: 10x Is Easier Than 2x by: Dan SullivanDan's Podcast rec: Speak Up for Your HealthCONNECT WITH GREG WASSERMAN, HEAD OF RELATIONSHIPS FOR RSS.COMWebsite | LinkedInSystems, Sponsors and Partners:Hosted with RSS.com Podcast HostingProduced by Stories and StrategiesContent Repurposed with CastmagicPodcast Project Management with Northflow

Can a million Instagram followers actually fill a podcast feed? How do you turn influencers into Podcasters?Podcast Nation co-founders Nadine Robinson & Clio De La Llave challenge familiar expectations about what a podcast network delivers, sharing lessons from their years helping creators, especially millennial and Gen Z women, build loyal audiences and sustainable businesses. Their on-the-ground experience shows just how much depends on the right fit, real partnership, and the daily grind.Nadine and Clio have worked together for 18 years, building businesses together, evolving from a digital agency, Booje Media, focused on social and influencer campaigns, to creating Podcast Nation. Their operational experience spans helping podcasters launch successfully, managing network relationships, and navigating the fast-changing demands of content formats. They've seen every side of how creators cross from social to audio and what real support looks like. Their approach is marked by a hands-on, customized model designed for long-term results.Listen for:00:00 Podcast Networks and Influencers10:01 Podcasting Requires Unique Skills11:02 Success: Niche is Key19:53 Show Development and Launch Strategy22:02 Tips for Podcaster Agreements27:36 Choosing Between Boutique and Large Networks34:54 Cross-Platform Branding Challenges41:17 From Social Media to Podcasts49:20 No Magic BulletCONNECT WITH GUESTS:CLIO DE LA LLAVE, FOUNDER OF PODCAST NATIONLinkedIn | Clio's IGNADINE ROBINSON, FOUNDER OF PODCAST NATIONLinkedInPODCAST NATIONPodcast NationNadine's Book rec: Rabbit: The Autobiography of Ms. PatNadine's Podcast rec: Petty CrimesClio's Book rec: Transforming ToddlerhoodClio's Podcast rec: Take Your Shoes OffCONNECT WITH GREG, HEAD OF RELATIONSHIPS FOR RSS.COMWebsite | LinkedInGreg's Book rec: GritSystems, Sponsors, and Partners:Hosted with RSS.com Podcast HostingProduced by Stories and StrategiesContent Repurposed with CastmagicPodcast Project Management with Northflow

What happens when a podcast network starts by experimenting with a “sampler feed," packing dozens of niche music shows into one place? This approach shaped how one podcast network helped new podcasts find listeners and revealed what truly matters for building a network that endures shifts in technology and creator needs.Peter Ferioli has been at the helm of Pantheon Podcast Network for nearly a decade, growing it from a passion project launched with a friend and co-founder, Christian Swain, into a home for more than 100 music-focused shows. In this conversation, he pulls back the curtain on how Pantheon was born out of a scripted rock history show that launched to crickets, why they walked away from ad money early on, and the counterintuitive moves that built one of the most respected independent networks in podcasting today.Greg and Peter go deep on the "magazine feed" strategy Pantheon pioneered before anyone else was talking about it, why Slack is the most valuable thing they've ever built (more than any tool or tech), what "liquid content" means for the future of audio, and the red flags every podcaster should watch for before signing with any network.Listen For:06:28 Early Podcast Growth Challenges13:22 Evolving Podcasts for Diverse Audiences18:50 Building Listener Loyalty Strategy27:11 Streamlining Podcast Tools for Creators37:13 Music, Tech, and AI Insights42:54 Gigaverse: Collaborative Content Platform48:23 Consistency Over Star Power51:48 Empowering Podcasters Through Support59:51 Insights on Podcasting SuccessCONNECT WITH GUEST: PETER FERIOLILinkedIn | Pantheon Podcasts | Instagram | YouTubePeter's Book rec: Notes on Being a Man by Scott GallowayPeter's Podcast rec: Possible with Reid Hoffman and Guy Kawasaki's Remarkable PeopleCONNECT WITH GREG WASSERMAN, CHIEF RELATIONSHIP OFFICER FOR RSS.COMWebsite | LinkedInSystems, Sponsors and Partners:Hosted with RSS.com Podcast HostingProduced by Stories and StrategiesContent Repurposed with CastmagicPodcast Project Management with Northflow

What exactly is a podcast network?Is it a group of shows under one banner?A talent manager?A distribution engine?A collective?Or something entirely different?Podcast networks are among the most talked about yet least understood parts of the podcast industry.Welcome to Podcast Network Insights, a show exploring how podcast networks actually operate.Hosted by Greg Wasserman, a relationship-driven podcast professional who has worked across podcast platforms, creator tools, and media partnerships, the show brings together conversations with the founders and operators behind today’s podcast networks.Because if you talk to podcasters, you’ll hear one set of stories about networks.And if you talk to the networks themselves, you’ll hear another.This podcast brings those perspectives together.In this show, you can expect:Candid conversations with podcast network founders and operatorsInsights into how networks grow shows and support creatorsHonest discussions about monetization, strategy, and industry changeReal examples of how different networks structure and run their businessesWhether you're a podcaster considering joining a network, a production company thinking about starting one, an advertiser looking for your next set of shows to buy, or someone curious about how the podcast industry works behind the scenes, this show is designed to help you understand the evolving role of podcast networks.Episodes are released on Thursdays. Subscribe now and listen to the trailer to learn what to expect from the conversations ahead.Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregwasserman/And follow the show: https://www.linkedin.com/company/podcast-network-insights/about/Systems, Sponsors and Partners:Hosted with RSS.com Podcast HostingProduced by Stories & StrategiesContent Repurposed with CastmagicPodcast Project Management with Northflow