Podcast Movement NYC Recap, Podcast Video Data, and Giggly Squad’s $140M Deal

Rob Walch returns from Podcast Movement NYC with a recap of the Terminal 5 venue, meetings with industry peers, Captivate’s new partnership with TWiT, and the presentation moment when his screen went black. His talk challenged advice built for podcasting’s top tier and tested the claim that video is now the baseline. Rob shares his comparison of Apple Podcasts downloads for more than 100 shows before and after they added HLS video, along with Acast’s Podcast Pulse findings on audio choice, discovery through social clips, and rising trust in podcasters.

Beyond Podcast Movement, Elsie and Rob discuss Apple Podcasts chapter settings, Spotify’s ad-skipping feature, Apple Podcasts subscription video and new playback features, Threads’ expanded podcast tools, and sponsor reads designed to work for people watching or listening. A reported $140 million SiriusXM deal for Giggly Squad opens a wider conversation about the value Hannah Berner and Paige DeSorbo built across podcasting, video, social media, touring, publishing, and entertainment. Global also announces the upcoming investigative series A Very British Epstein.

The episode also visits Apple Maps’ Hidden Histories guides, the International Women’s Podcast Awards, and a Talks.co giveaway. The Flattering Ram celebrates Tony Doe’s work on the Nigerian Podcast Index, Rob shares Captivate’s July 2026 download benchmarks and Magellan AI’s estimated August podcast ad spending, and the hosts point listeners toward Rob’s Outlier Edge interview and Seth Resler’s community-building Growth Lab.

Interesting things from this episodePeople & ShowsPodcast Movement New York City 2026Giggly SquadTWiT.tv’s partnership with DAX and CaptivateA Very British EpsteinTony Doe and Into the PodverseSupport the Nigerian Podcast IndexRob Walch on The Outlier Edge, episode 1037From Audience to Community with Seth ReslerCaptivate Growth Labs events calendarCaptivate Office Hours: October

Apps & TechnologyApple Podcasts subscription videoNew Apple Podcasts features in iOS 27, tvOS 27, and macOS 27Threads podcast tools for creators and listeners

Articles & EpisodesAcast’s Podcast Pulse 2026How to Create Podcast Ads That Work for Both Video and AudioInside the Giggly Squad Podcast Bidding WarApple Maps and Apple Podcasts launch Hidden HistoriesInternational Women’s Podcast Awards 2026Talks.co 2026 Podcast GiveawayNigeria’s podcasting ecosystem and the Nigerian Podcast IndexMagellan AI’s August 2026 podcast ad spending estimates

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