From Pineapple Street Shutting Down to Gen Z Influencing Podcasts

I’m joined by Don The Idea Guy for a candid chat exploring some of the latest news and trends impacting the podcasting world. We kick things off by discussing the recent shutdown of Pineapple Street Studios by Audacy, reflecting on how a company with such creative and award-winning shows could be shuttered due to mismanagement.

Don and I share our frustrations about legacy radio companies stepping into podcasting without understanding the medium, questioning decisions like Audacy's acquisitions and its repercussions for the creative podcast ecosystem.

We also break down the always-buzzy topic of recommendation algorithms. Drawing insights from a recent VidCon session, we talk about how platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok prioritize feeding content to users. While these algorithms can surface hidden gems, as creators, it can be frustrating knowing alerts don’t always reach your audience. We emphasize why building email lists is still the most reliable way to alert your listeners to new episodes.

Shifting to public broadcasting, we talk through NPR and PBS losing federal funding. As fans of public media, Don and I see this as both a challenge and an opportunity—especially for NPR to amp up its value-for-value model, tap into loyal listener bases, and innovate with merch and events.

We also tackle new stats from eMarketer showing that nearly 80% of US agencies are advertising on podcasts, but only a fraction of podcasters are monetizing. That gap represents a huge opportunity for niche shows. Gen Z’s strong influence by podcast ads is another exciting trend we discuss, along with examples of sponsored content that truly resonates.

Moments

00:00 Audacy Shuts Down Pineapple Studios

06:05 Algorithmic Advertising Overload

07:29 YouTube Alerts vs. Algorithmic Discovery

12:29 NPR's Opportunity: Embrace Value Model

15:28 NPR, PBS, and Accessibility Concerns

16:36 "Supporting Content Amid Funding Cuts"

20:27 Boosting Funds Through Merchandise

24:29 Podcast Advertising Trends Shift Opportunities

28:07 "Podcasting Heavy Logistics Insight"

32:14 "Gen Z Influenced by Podcast Ads"

33:27 Loyalty to Advertisers

36:38 Advertising Influences Younger Generations

Key Topics

• Podcast Industry News: Audacy & Pineapple Street Studios
• YouTube Algorithms and Platform Challenges
• Distribution and Communication Strategies for Podcasters
• Funding Cuts to NPR and PBS: Challenges and Opportunities
• Podcast Advertising Landscape
• The Power of Niche Podcasting
• Gen Z Media Consumption and Podcast Influence

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/vince-mcgill/lemon-slice

License code: 2NRNUIV5VG7FU3K5

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/

You are invited to explore additional innovative possibilities by choosing one of your favorite ideas from this (or any) Five Buck Brainstorms and purchasing a more in-depth custom idea generation session from Don The Idea Guy on that (or any other) subject. Visit the Brainstorm page on the Don The Idea Guy website for more details.

Each week, one of The Circle of Experts talks about critical aspects of growing your podcast. We focus on marketing, social media, monetization, website design, and implementation of all of these to help you make the best podcast possible.

Have a question or an idea for one of our episodes? Send us an email at [email protected].

The Circle of Experts are:

Yasmine Robles from Rebel Marketing

Tonnisha English-Amamoo of TJE Communications

Don The Idea Guy

Brett Johnson, My Podcast Guy®, from Circle 270 Media® Podcast Consultants

Copyright 2025 Brett Johnson, My Podcast Guy™