Dec. 11, 2025

How Podcasts Will Really Grow in 2026, Community, YouTube, and AI Explained

How Podcasts Will Really Grow in 2026, Community, YouTube, and AI Explained
Apple Podcasts podcast player icon Spotify podcast player icon RSS Feed podcast player icon
Apple Podcasts podcast player icon Spotify podcast player icon RSS Feed podcast player icon

Podcast growth in 2026 will not be driven by hacks, viral clips, or chasing charts. It will be built through community, discoverability on YouTube, intentional use of AI, and sustainable creator ecosystems.

In this forward-looking episode of As It Relates to Podcasting, Simona Costantini sits down with Kendall from Riverside.FM to unpack what is actually changing inside the podcasting industry and what creators must adapt to now in order to grow next year and beyond.

They explore the rise of YouTube as the dominant podcast discovery engine, the shift toward mid-form video, the truth about podcast analytics, and how community-led growth is now outperforming algorithm-only strategies. You will also hear how Riverside’s all-in-one platform is changing podcast workflows by combining recording, editing, and now hosting into a single system.

If you want to reduce burnout, grow with intention, and build a podcast that compounds in audience and authority, this episode gives you the roadmap for what is coming next.

Inside this episode:

  • Why community is becoming the most powerful driver of podcast growth
  • How YouTube has replaced traditional apps as the top discovery platform
  • The real limitations of podcast analytics and what creators must track manually
  • How mid-form video is overtaking short-form clips for audience conversion
  • Where AI truly helps podcasters and where it requires human oversight
  • Why all-in-one platforms are reducing creator burnout
  • The future of monetization through memberships, communities, and owned platforms
  • Why sponsorships are no longer the fastest path to sustainable income
  • The psychology behind listener loyalty and long-term audience retention
  • How creators should structure content ecosystems for 2026
  • Audio-only versus video-first podcasting and how to choose
  • Why consistency and connection now outperform production polish

🎧 Join the Podcast Success Vault: A low-ticket mastermind-style membership designed to help podcasters grow with strategy, support, and real community.

https://www.voltproductions.co/podcast-success-vault-membership 

🎙️ Try Riverside for Recording, Editing, and Hosting: Explore Riverside’s all-in-one podcast production and hosting platform.

https://riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_1&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=simona 

Learn about:

  • 00:00 Why podcast growth is shifting toward community
  • 02:00 Riverside’s new hosting update and what it means for creators
  • 05:00 The true problem with modern podcast workflows
  • 08:00 Why YouTube now dominates podcast discovery
  • 11:00 The reality of podcast analytics and tracking growth
  • 14:00 How to intentionally build engaged podcast communities
  • 18:00 AI in podcasting and preventing creator burnout
  • 22:00 Why mid-form video is outperforming short clips
  • 26:00 Audio-first versus video-first podcast strategies
  • 30:00 Monetizing through ownership instead of sponsorship
  • 34:00 What sustainable podcast growth will require in 2026
  • 38:00 Final advice for creators building for the long game

MORE RESOURCES:


Connect with Kendall:


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