Apple Podcasts Jake Shapiro on HLS Video, Monetization, iOS 27 Updates, and the Future of Podcasting

How can HLS video, dynamic ad insertion, and omnichannel distribution transform podcasting—and creator revenue?

In this episode of PodBiz, Norma Jean Belenky and John Kiernan speak with Jake Shapiro, Head of Creator Partnerships at Apple, about the evolution of video podcasting on Apple Podcasts. Jake shares how Apple is implementing HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) video, opening up new monetization opportunities through dynamic ad insertion, and expanding consumption across Mac OS and tvOS in living rooms worldwide.

As he puts it: “Where creators have cultivated a community, that's really where the attention is focused... and the money follows that by and large.”

Here are some insightful moments within the episode:

• Why loyal audience engagement is the true engine for podcast monetization

• How HLS video seamlessly pairs with RSS while keeping creators in full control

• The big unlock of dynamic ad insertion (DAI) and visual companions for video ads

• Why video expands show reach, boosts completion rates, and supercharges follower growth

• New iOS 27 and tvOS updates, including search within shows and living room playback

• How human editorial curation and personalized discovery cross global borders

Jake Shapiro is the Head of Creator Partnerships at Apple, leading initiatives that support creators and podcast publishers worldwide. A pioneer in open digital media, he previously co-founded PRX (Public Radio Exchange) and RadioPublic, shaping open distribution standards, technology, and listener discovery for the podcasting industry.

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