Welcome to This Week in Podcasting, where we recap some of the latest updates and news from the world of podcasting – from Apple Podcasts dropping new features, to up-and-coming podcasters being nominated for RØDE’s Spotlight Awards – let’s get into it!
1. Apple Podcasts Rolls Out New Features
Apple Podcasts is launching automatic chapter markers and timed-links for English-language shows as part of their iOS 26.2 update. Creators who don’t provide chapter breaks will have them auto-generated, meanwhile, the timed links feature allows clickable references within episodes that pop up during playback. Read about all the new features here.
2. TV & Film-Based Podcasts Are a Hidden Growth Engine
New research from Sounds Profitable (in partnership with Owl & Co) finds that podcasts tied to TV and film content are especially powerful — 44% of listeners to those shows said they talk to friends about the original show, and 16% say they went on to purchase a streaming subscription after hearing about the show in a podcast. You can find the full report here.
3. RØDE Creator Awards Finalists Revealed
RØDE has announced the finalists for its 2025 Creator of the Year Awards, spotlighting top talent across YouTube, podcasting, and social media. The Spotlight Awards celebrate visionary creators, and this year boasts the following nominees in the Podcasting category:
- Soundtracking Extra with Edith Bowman
- Horror Sauce
- The Most Haunted City on Earth Podcast
- Howl
- Sumo Mainichi
And that’s it for this week in podcasting! While you’re here, don’t forget to download all our past issues of The Podcast Sessions Magazine – happy reading!
