On February 24, 2026, audio executives, podcast creators, and media entrepreneurs gathered at the Wythe Hotel in Brooklyn for On Air Fest Podcast Business Summit. This invite-only event, co-hosted by On Air Presents and Bloomberg with support from Spotify, ART19, and Supporting Cast, brought together voices from across the podcast industry, including Pablo Torre, Megan Lightcap, Adam Friedland, and Maureen Sullivan. From the opening keynote with Kara Swisher to the closing panel with Jack Davenport and Ian Wheeler, the Summit proved that podcasting has entered a maturity phase where the creators who are thriving in this space have learned to treat their podcast like a business without sacrificing their authenticity.
Beyond the main stage discussions, informative breakout sessions dug into the mechanics of podcast growth, covering everything from video strategy to subscription economics to maximizing ad revenue. There were also opportunities for attendees to connect with peers and exchange ideas, including an executive networking lunch and a post-event happy hour at the elegant and sophisticated Bar Blondeau.
The Podglomerate was there for the entire day, and everything we cover below reflects the kind of insights into the podcast industry that speak directly to our award-winning background for growing shows. So whether you’re looking for expert podcast support or you want to be on the pulse of what’s happening in podcasting, check out our services or subscribe to our newsletter.
Now let’s look at the biggest podcast trends, tips, and takeaways from this must-attend event.
TAKEAWAY #1: Podcasting’s most valuable currency is being irreplaceable
Kara Swisher kicked off the Summit with her trademark bravado, declaring that the current time is her “most lucrative era.” It was a bold statement that set the tone for her keynote which centered on ownership, risk, and longevity in the industry. When moderator and Bloomberg journalist Ashley Carman asked Swisher on whether creators should chase equity or a standard salary, she didn’t hold back. “You should own what you make. It’s a risk you have to take on yourself to make money, and I think it’s a great risk.” That philosophy extends to On with Kara Swisher, Kara’s Webby award-winning podcast that’s done through her own production company. “I may add more podcasts to it, and I probably will.”
Swisher was just as direct when it came to talking about the staying power of podcasts. “When reporters say ‘podcasting is over,’ it’s nonsense. Is TV over because there are so many TV shows? No. If you make really good stuff, and if you understand the fan economy, then you’ll find your podcast audience.” That fan obsession runs pretty deep for Swisher – her live podcast tour sold out every venue and grossed $2.5 million in a single week. “What’s interesting is that our podcast fans want to meet each other,” she noted, pointing out that community is one of podcasting’s most underrated assets.
Swisher also talked about AI and the future of the medium, but she isn’t losing sleep on whether it will replace the human element of podcasting. She outlined her framework for building a solid, long-lasting media project: be useful, be interesting, and make something people can’t get anywhere else. “What is your must-have or your moment of difference?” she asked. That principle of irreplaceability, she stated, is what AI can’t replicate, and it’s what every podcaster should be doing.
TAKEAWAY #2: VCs are investing in business-minded founders who can build and grow communities
The panel discussion with Megan Lightcap of Slow Ventures and Maureen Sullivan of The Chernin Group made one thing clear: venture capital has gotten a lot more discerning when it comes to investing in the podcasting space. “We’re in the early innings still, and that’s exciting for this space as an asset class,” said Sullivan. She outlined three qualities that The Chernin Group – which has invested in Audiochuck and Goalhanger – looks for in any investment: quality of product, durability, and ambition. Lightcap agreed, pointing to the creation of Slow Ventures’ creator fund five years ago as proof. “People asked us what we were doing at the time, but you can see the importance of it now with the rise of creators.”
Both investors made clear that they are backing business-minded podcasters. “Follower counts are mattering less and less,” said Lightcap. “There has to be real traction for community growth, and the creator needs to think of themselves as a founder just as much as a creator.” For Lightcap, a prime example of this type of founder is Steven Bartlett, where his media acts as the sales and marketing for his other pursuits. “It’s important that we’re not just investing in media. For us, it needs to be a ‘media plus plus’ idea so that the media fuels a whole bunch of things.” Sullivan shared that framing, pointing to the community-first approach as the real proof of concept for investment. “Our filter has always been how they can build community and make audiences obsessed with it and want to be a part of their identity. And with that comes the ability to monetize in different ways.”
The investors also underscored that the relationship between founder and investor matters just as much as the business itself. Sullivan described spending months getting to know Audiochuck’s Ashley Flowers before any deal was struck. “You can’t skip that step and have great success. You need intentionality to ensure that their work is preserved.” Sullivan also believes the best is yet to come. “The cream is rising to the top with creators with true entrepreneurial strength and breaking away from the pack. I don’t think the creator economy is going anywhere.”
TAKEAWAY #3: Journalism, not just commentary, can thrive outside of legacy media structures
On Pablo Torre Finds Out, journalist and host Pablo Torre combines one-on-one documentary-style interviews with clips, sound design, and original reporting – a format he calls a “talkumentary.” A half-dozen employees and a rotating roster of freelancers power the podcast, stepping in on certain episodes. “We wanted to build a version of a newsroom for this show,” said Torre. “We’re genuinely here to tell people things they didn’t know before.”
That editorial investment has paid off. As Torre began breaking stories through his podcast, sources started taking note and trusting his reporting. “We don’t have any fidelity to the sports leagues or even business partners, so we can call shots that are different [from] The New York Times and The Athletic – but we’re aspiring to provide a level of journalism that people can admire.” For Torre, that admiration is important. “To me, if you can do journalism in a way where it sounds like you’re talking to your friends, it just requires you to love the making and reporting of it.”
Torre’s most provocative insight during the On Air Podcast Business Summit was about format. Noting that ”audio doesn’t go viral,” Torre spoke about leaning into video to make the journalistic process more compelling.
“People love to see journalism happen in front of them, even if they never realized it,” he said. Drawing on the notion of YouTube unboxing videos, he set out to see if audiences “would enjoy the process of opening up a folder of journalism to see what was inside.” Apparently, they do.
Looking ahead, Torre is thinking bigger, citing Bill Simmons and The Ringer as a model worth examining. His long-term ambition is to continue funding journalism through the podcasts’ success. “If we can do that, we’re not only fulfilling a market that is unfulfilled, but also helping do something that I care about.”
TAKEAWAY #4: Video podcasting success is about packaging, strategy, and presence – not just production
During a breakout session on video strategy, moderated by Bloomberg’s Ilana Susnow and Pod People’s Rachael King, one key point stood out among attendees: video is no longer optional, but doing it well requires more intentionality than just pointing a camera at the host. Futuro Media’s success story was the first example of how this strategy can work. They have seen 200% audience growth through video, with particular traction among younger listeners. They are even beginning to incorporate video into their grant applications for funding opportunities.
In terms of production, attendees pushed back on the assumption that polished video always means better video. One person shared how NPR’s podcast team had to unlearn its instinct toward high-end video, discovering that lower fidelity formats can be just as effective. Pod People found that shipping webcams to remote guests was less effective than simply having them record on their smartphones, which provided a more natural, intimate look that audiences responded to better.
The session continued with a closer look at packaging and platform strategy. Georgie Holt of The Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett made the case that her team spends just as much time on packaging as they do on production She mentioned that her team may generate 200 to 300 variations of thumbnails for an episode using an AI-powered tool, optimizing them for each platform’s algorithm and paying close attention to what works. “We’ve found that the algorithm responds more to cartoon-ish facial expressions on thumbnails and when people look shocked or surprised,” Holt noted.
Steve Raizes of Sine Wave Strategies added that platform alignment needs to happen before the recording session even begins. The target platform, whether TikTok, YouTube, or Instagram, should shape how content is captured from the start.
Spotify’s Yih Lee offered perhaps the most straightforward piece of advice for video podcasting: the host should look like they want to be there. Having presence on camera with respect to appearance, energy, and interview engagement matters more than production value. As one attendee framed it, the underlying goal of all this effort is clear: you’re creating wonderful stories, and the world deserves to find them.
For more guidance on successfully navigating video podcasting, check out our webinar panel featuring Lee and other podcast experts.
TAKEAWAY #5: The power of podcasting is in understanding platforms mainstream media underestimates
Adam Friedland was extremely honest about how he made his way into podcasting: “Initially, the show was a joke, and then it accidentally became a real thing.” But accident or not, it hasn’t stopped The Adam Friedland Show from reaching a level of success even he hadn’t anticipated. “I make more money with my podcast than my comedy.”
Friedland’s approach to his podcast is self-taught and deliberate. He mentioned studying Howard Stern and Charlie Rose to learn how to interview, and credited long-form conversation as the format most likely to yield something unexpected.
Friedland also spoke on current events and talked about the 2024 election and podcasting’s role in it, crediting Trump with recognizing the power of platforms that mainstream media tends to dismiss. But he pushed back on the narrative that podcasts cost Kamala Harris the election, arguing that her shortened timeline and broader political factors were more significant. With California governor Gavin Newsom set to appear on his show soon, Friedland seems poised to remain a part of this ongoing political conversation.
That being said, the tension between influence and responsibility recurred throughout Friedman’s talk. He was clear about staying in his lane and limiting himself to topics he feels genuinely qualified to discuss. “I have a responsibility to myself. I don’t want to be one of those guys when I’m not an expert on it.” That level of restraint is rare, especially in a media landscape where audiences increasingly expect podcast hosts to weigh in on everything because they have a microphone and a platform.
TAKEAWAY #6: Making a hit podcast in 2026 comes down to two things – ownership and partnership
Jack Davenport (co-founder of Goalhanger) and Ian Wheeler (president of Talkhouse) closed out the On Air Podcast Business Summit with a panel discussion on what it takes to make a hit podcast in 2026. Davenport spoke on the foundation of Goalhanger’s success: “We own all the IP for all of our shows. From a financial perspective and commercial perspective, we’re getting quite sophisticated with our business.” That has allowed Goalhanger to build long-term commercial value rather than chasing virality or short-term hits.
Wheeler, who comes from the music industry, brought a similar long-game perspective to Talkhouse’s approach to signing shows. “It’s not that if the record doesn’t hit, you move on from the artist,” he said. “It’s the same philosophy with podcasting. We signed this show or creator for a reason, whether they’re relevant now or relevant in the future.” That patience is inseparable from selectivity. Wheeler said that Talkhouse turns down a whopping 98% of the shows it considers, but this is from a genuine sense of responsibility to creators. “We don’t want to take a risk with someone’s career,” he said. “But when we do find something, we pour everything into it.”
Their discussion drove home the point that in a media landscape obsessed with overnight success, people who are willing to wait build the most durable hits.
Conclusion
The On Air Fest Podcast Business Summit proved that podcasting has evolved from a weekend hobby into a fully developed industry that’s shaping the future of media. The conversations that took place all touched on one important tactic: building legacy. The creators and companies that are winning in 2026 are the ones who treat their podcast like a business that has staying power, including owning their IP, investing in editorial infrastructure, mastering platform strategy, and building communities that go beyond downloads.
Balancing business sophistication with genuine authenticity is key. Podcast audiences still want hosts who feel like they’re talking to a friend or colleague, even if it does take a media company to pull that off behind the scenes. The gap between what listeners are experiencing and what it takes as a creator to deliver it is where the real opportunity will be for the next wave of podcast entrepreneurs.
As Ian Wheeler put it in the closing session, those who are willing to wait build the most durable hits. If this year’s On Air Fest Podcast Business Summit was any indication, the creators and investors who internalize that lesson are the ones who will come out on top.
If you’re ready to take that step with your podcast and start building a legacy, The Podglomerate is here to help through expert production, marketing support, and monetization strategy.
