The week of On Air Fest, winter had other plans. Flights were delayed, trains slowed, and the kind of snowstorm that makes you reconsider leaving the house rolled through the city. For those brave enough to face the storm, On Air Fest was a special kind of gathering. The energy felt like a shared moment among people who care deeply about audio and the craft behind it. And isn’t that what makes the podcasting community so special?
Podcasting is now an established medium—and it’s evolving—giving everyone who gathered in the snow in Brooklyn the opportunity to play a role in its ongoing transformation. Content creators feel a responsibility to curate communities, define cultural moments, and grow their influence with engaged audiences as the podcast space continues to shift. Topics like the impact of AI advancements, the rise in video podcasts, and what it all means to audio-first content creators were woven into each day and nearly every session of the event.
Here’s a few more trends from On Air Fest that every creator should hear.
Content creators are busy. On a daily basis they wear multiple hats, and in the age of the 24/7 newscycle, no one is ever really off the clock. Creators can benefit from AI advancements that streamline the production process, allowing them to focus on what really counts (like the content and their audience). Podcasting’s human connection combined with the power of storytelling is where AI should take a back seat. Balancing AI and authenticity means fewer tasks and more talking into the microphone.
Video-first or audio-first? Where and how you approach video podcasting depends on your capabilities and your audience. Start with an understanding of how your audience consumes media and the type of storytelling that is likely to resonate with them. As Tom Webster, Partner, Sounds Profitable, shared in his keynote, it matters more that your audience is listening, not how they do it and on what device. Video can enhance certain segments of your current show or even create opportunities for special episodes and gated content.
Don Lemon, host of The Don Lemon Show, shared the ease and efficiency of grabbing his phone, going to Central Park, and filming his “man on the street” style interviews with his producers in his ear buds. As the former CNN host shared, these types of efficient, cost-effective ways to capture content and engage directly with your audience are unheard of in the traditional newsroom where production trucks, mic booms, and full teams are required for live hits.
Whether you lead with audio, video, or blend the two, consistency and authenticity should remain your focus. After all, content is king, and that’s what will attract an audience and keep them coming back.
So, you’ve already established your main topic, how can you go deeper? Broad shows compete for attention, but niche shows build loyalty. Finding a micro-niche to home in on (like Hallmark Christmas movies or dating diaries) is what attracts intensely loyal audiences because the content is so unique. When creators double down on a niche, show up consistently, and find joy in the content they create, communities develop and growth opportunities expand.
“If your consistency matches your passion, you have the ability to reach a group of people that might not move a needle on a very wide scale, but collectively, it means something.” - Dan Thompson, Deck the Hallmark
Our advice? Don’t chase mass appeal from the start. Go deep on the niche that excites you and soon, devoted listeners will follow and the relationships you build with them will grow with you.
The art of podcasting is never a straight, uncomplicated road. But it’s predictable when you build it on the right foundations. Stay authentic, show up consistently, and go deep on what you love. Ready for more insights that show you how to grow your podcast? Learn how on Simplecast.