The Latest in Podcasting: Trends, Shakeups, and New Voices (April 2025)
Podcasting continues to evolve at lightning speed in 2025, with fresh voices joining the space, platforms redefining the rules, and industry leaders grappling with how to measure success. Whether you're a podcaster, producer, or passionate listener, here's a quick roundup of what’s happening right now.
The Podcast Identity Crisis: What Is a Podcast Now?
The line between podcasts and other digital media continues to blur. A new white paper from Edison Research and Oxford Road explores how Americans are redefining what qualifies as a “podcast.” In fact, 72% of U.S. listeners now consider YouTube videos as podcasts.
This shift raises challenges for measurement, monetization, and even creative strategy. Should creators optimize for audio, video, or both? With platforms like YouTube leaning into podcasting, the very definition of a podcast is changing and the industry is scrambling to keep up.
BBC Walks Back Podcast Ad Plans
The BBC has abandoned its plan to run ads on select podcasts in the UK following strong industry backlash. Critics argued that the move blurred public service broadcasting and commercial media in an unfair way.
It’s a reminder that even legacy institutions are trying to figure out how to monetize in the current podcast economy without losing public trust.
Podnews Report Card: Creators Rate the Platforms
The 2025 Podnews Report Card is in, and creators are speaking up:
YouTube has improved significantly in creator satisfaction, particularly in discoverability and monetization.
Apple Podcasts remains a favorite, praised for stability and user experience.
Pocket Casts made a surprise showing as a top-rated platform among indie podcasters.
One big takeaway: creators are demanding better tools for analytics, monetization, and community-building. Platforms that listen will win.
UK Podcasting Gets a New Power Player
Three major players in the UK—Platform Media, Listen Entertainment, and Goldhawk Productions—have merged to form a new podcasting supergroup. This move is all about scaling production and distribution to stay competitive in a global market.
For listeners, this could mean more high-quality, UK-based content with international reach. For creators, it signals increasing consolidation in the industry.
New Voices on the Mic
Two high-profile podcast launches are making headlines this month:
Meghan Markle’s “Confessions of a Female Founder”
Produced by Lemonada Media, this 8-episode series features Meghan Markle in conversation with successful women entrepreneurs. Expect raw stories about ambition, resilience, and reinvention—told with Markle’s signature transparency.
Gavin Newsom’s “This is Gavin Newsom”
California’s Governor enters the podcasting arena with a new political series aimed at bridging ideological divides. The show promises candid interviews with both progressives and conservatives, exploring what drives modern political movements.
Ambies 2025 and Upcoming Awards
The Ambies, podcasting’s top honors, just wrapped up their fifth annual ceremony in Chicago, hosted by Tig Notaro. A new category—Best Spanish Language Narrative Podcast—was added, reflecting the industry’s growing diversity.
Meanwhile, the Publisher Podcast Awards shortlist is out. Winners will be announced this June in London, following the Publisher Podcast and App Summits.
TL;DR: Podcasting’s April 2025 Headlines
Definitions are shifting: Are we still making “podcasts,” or something new?
Legacy broadcasters like the BBC are backing off ad monetization… for now.
Creators are rating platforms—and demanding better.
Big mergers are shaping the UK’s podcast future.
Celebrity hosts like Meghan Markle and Gavin Newsom are adding fresh perspectives.
Awards season is spotlighting new talent and formats.
The bottom line? Podcasting is still growing, but it’s not standing still. Whether you’re a solo indie creator or part of a larger media brand, the decisions you make now about format, platforms, and audience engagement could shape your show's future in a rapidly evolving ecosystem.