Welcome to This Week in Podcasting, where we bring you the latest highlights from the world of audio. From Taylor Swift breaking podcast records, to new studies, conferences and awards coming up — let’s get into it!
1. Taylor Swift breaks podcasting records
Taylor Swift’s surprise appearance on New Heights hosted by Travis & Jason Kelce became a cultural phenomenon: the episode racked up over 10 million YouTube views in under 24 hours, and sent the show to #1 on Apple Podcasts. Have you listened to it yet?
2. Podcasting enters a new era with AI-powered shows
A recent Bloomberg analysis makes the case that the “Serial era” of audio narrative is evolving—as video-forward formats and AI-driven content take center stage in the next wave of podcasting. You can find the full piece here.
3. New podcast study insights
According to the recent Podcast Study: Growth, most podcast listeners listen to just three shows each week, pointing to the need for podcasters to deliver strong content and actively engage their audiences if they want to make the cut. The study’s full results will be revealed at the Podcast Movement event next week in Dallas, Texas.
4. Empowered Podcasting Conference returns to Charlotte
The Empowered Podcasting Conference is back in Charlotte from September 26–28, 2025. Now in its second year, the event will gather 150–200 independent podcasters, content creators, and entrepreneurs with a focus on on growth, monetization, AI tools, video podcasting, and more – if you’re in the area, you can grab your tickets here!
5. Deadline nears for AudioUK’s APAs
Entries for AudioUK’s Audio Production Awards close on September 17, 2025. The APAs celebrate excellence across the podcast and audio industry, with winners announced at the November 27, 2025 ceremony in London.
And that’s it for this week in podcasting! While you’re here, you can download all our past issues of ‘The Podcast Sessions Magazine’ and binge them at your own pace.
