Podcast Advertising Playbook

This week, host Heather Osgood sits down with Steve Rock, a leader in the influencer and creator marketing space, for a conversation that bridges two worlds advertisers often treat as separate: podcasting and influencer marketing. With deep experience across both industries, Steve brings a grounded, strategic perspective on how brands can think more holistically about creator-led media. In this episode, Heather and Steve explore why podcast advertising is still misunderstood, how brands can unlock more value from host-read creative, and what it really looks like to pair brand-building and direct response within a single campaign. Steve also shares his thoughts on the future of creator marketing, and how intelligent automation is reshaping the way teams plan, measure, and optimize spend. They discuss: Why podcasts aren’t categorized as influencer marketing—even though many of the same dynamics apply How brands can guide creative without stifling authenticity The role of creativity and strategy in generating true brand advocacy When direct response vs. brand marketing makes the most sense How today’s tools and emerging IA capabilities could streamline campaign planning and measurement Whether you’re evaluating where podcasts fit within your 2026 media mix or looking to better integrate creator strategies across channels, this episode offers clear, practical insight into how to make your campaigns more effective. Steve’s experience helps demystify the overlap between podcasting and influencer marketing, giving advertisers the clarity they need to plan smarter and grow faster.

In this episode of The Podcast Advertising Playbook, host Heather Osgood sits down with Matt Drengler, Head of Partnerships at Podscribe, to explore one of the hottest questions in the industry today: how video is changing podcast advertising. Together, they unpack what the data says about video ad performance versus traditional audio-only campaigns, how engagement and attribution differ between the two formats, and what advertisers need to know about tracking conversions when pixels aren’t available. Matt also shares insights on how video can expand reach across platforms like YouTube and social media, and whether audiences truly prefer seeing their favorite hosts, or still favor an audio-first experience. If you’re curious about where podcast advertising is headed and how to make sense of video’s growing role in the space, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

In this episode of The Podcast Advertising Playbook, host Heather Osgood sits down with Greg Glenday, CEO of Acast, the world's largest independent podcast company. These two industry experts talk about growth, monetization and expansion, and how podcasts are leading the charge in innovative advertising. Tune in to hear: How Acast supports creators and advertisers from start to finish How global expansion is helping advertisers and creators reach larger audiences The nuances in podcast advertising compared to other broadcast channels such as radio Greg's predictions for the next wave of innovation in the podcast industry If you are interested in finding out how you can capitalize on the engagement of podcasts with podcast advertising, this episode is one you won't want to miss.

In this episode of The Podcast Advertising Playbook, host Heather Osgood shares why choosing shows by category isn't the best advertising strategy, and what to do instead. In this episode, you will hear: Why choosing shows by category often falls short How shows within the same category can yield vastly different results What to look for instead: demographics, psychographics and more Tools to help you target your audience with more precision and influence Learn how to avoid this common advertising pitfall and use actionable strategies to boost your next audio-based ad campaign.

In this episode of The Podcast Advertising Playbook, David "DK" Krulewich joins host Heather Osgood to talk about the value of programmatic ads, and how AI powered ad tech can help maximize both reach and revenue. David Krulewich is the CEO of Mission Media, a company dedicated to driving influence through independent voices. Leveraging the power of audio, CTV, podcasting, and social media, Mission Media connects brands with consumers in the most impactful ways - reaching audiences at meaningful touchpoints through a marketplace of over 100 independent influencers. By harnessing AI-driven contextual targeting, Mission Media enables advertisers to align their messaging with the right content, ensuring powerful brand storytelling and measurable marketing success. In this episode, you will hear: Key differences in host-read ads and programmatic ads Why creators and advertisers should include programmatic in their campaigns How to leverage your back catalog to increase inventory and monetization potential How to drive impact and influence using the latest in programmatic technology Factors that impact overall yield and CPMs through targeting If you're a creator looking for new ways to monetize, or an advertiser looking to add programmatic ad reads to your strategy, this one is for you.

In this episode of the Podcast Advertising Playbook, host Heather Osgood sits down with Lauren Passell, Founder and CEO of Tink Media, a podcast growth and discovery company.  Lauren shares how creators can grow their audience and increase discoverability with cross-promotion, interactive audience engagement, and creating the perfect pitch.  You’ll hear: Insights from Lauren’s success in marketing and PR for audio Strategies to make your show more marketable Ideas for interacting with listeners to make them feel like a part of the show How you can use cross-promotion to grow your audience and increase discoverability If you’re curious about what works (and what doesn’t) in successful podcast marketing, this one is a must-hear! 🔗 Resources & Links: Tink Media: https://tinkmedia.co/ Lauren’s newsletter, Podcast The Newsletter: https://podcastthenewsletter.substack.com/

On this episode of The Podcast Advertising Playbook, Heather Osgood sits down with Lynn Kestin Sessler, Executive Producer behind children’s podcasts and video content for Nickelodeon, PBS, and FableVision. With deep experience in both traditional media and digital storytelling, Lynn shares her perspective on creating engaging, age-appropriate content for younger audiences—especially on video-forward platforms like YouTube. She breaks down the unique challenges and opportunities of reaching kids through podcasting, and why an integrated video strategy is essential in today’s landscape. In this episode, we cover: Why YouTube is key to discovery for kid-focused podcasts How to create content that’s both fun and safe for young audiences Strategies for YouTube optimization and audience targeting The balance between audio integrity and visual engagement Ethical considerations when producing for children Whether you’re a brand or creator working in the family and kids space—or simply curious about what it takes to succeed in youth-oriented podcasting—Lynn’s insight offers a smart, strategic lens into a fast-growing segment of the industry.

In this episode of The Podcast Advertising Playbook, host Heather Osgood is joined by Jeff Stormer, Talent Development Manager at True Native Media. With nearly a decade of experience in podcasting, Jeff brings a creator-first perspective to talent recruitment, onboarding, and show development. Jeff shares how his passion for meaningful conversations and relationship-building led him to podcast advertising—and how that same passion fuels his approach to identifying and supporting podcast creators. From evaluating brand readiness to understanding evolving creator mindsets, Jeff offers a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to thrive on a podcast ad network. You’ll hear Jeff’s insights on: The qualities that make a podcast “brand-ready” What advertisers are looking for in creators today Why excitement and intentionality matter more than perfection How onboarding works at True Native Media and why it's built for long-term success Whether you’re a podcaster looking to monetize or an advertiser curious about what goes into a show’s ad potential, this episode provides a rare look at the human side of talent development in the podcast space.

In this episode of The Podcast Advertising Playbook, host Heather Osgood welcomes Scott Simonelli, Founder and CEO of Veritonic, the leading audio intelligence platform. Scott shares how creative testing empowers brands to produce more effective podcast ads—and why this approach is becoming essential as audio advertising matures. From host-read spots to dynamic creative, Scott explains what really moves the needle and how data can guide smarter decisions without sacrificing authenticity. In this conversation, you’ll learn: How creative testing works in podcasting and why it’s critical for advertisers Whether and how host-read ads can be tested effectively Which elements of creative—messaging, tone, music, voice—have the most impact What surprising insights Veritonic has uncovered through testing How advertisers can use data to optimize live campaigns The right way to balance precise targeting with the trust listeners expect How creative intelligence will shape the future of cross-channel audio advertising If you want to understand how data and creativity intersect to drive podcast performance, this episode is a must-listen.