Podcasting By The Numbers
The Fastest 4 Minutes in Podcasting. This is Podcasting By The Numbers, The Daily Hit of Podcasting Intel You Didn't Know You Needed. Fast Facts, Fresh Trends, and The Metrics That Actually Matter, With Just Enough Fun To Keep It Moving.
Choose your favorite podcast player
Apple Podcasts 
Spotify 
iHeartRadio 
Podchaser 
Castbox 
PlayerFM Podcasting By The Numbers
The Fastest 4 Minutes in Podcasting. This is Podcasting By The Numbers, The Daily Hit of Podcasting Intel You Didn't Know You Needed. Fast Facts, Fresh Trends, and The Metrics That Actually Matter, With Just Enough Fun To Keep It Moving.
New to Podcasting By The Numbers?
Here are some great episodes to start with. Or, check out episodes by topic.
Recent Episodes
Ep. 25 25
Sept. 18, 2026
What Drives Discovery, What Drives Sales, What Drives Viewing
In today's show, we dig into what really drives podcast discovery, why podcast ads outperform every other channel, and how Apple is upgrading the big‑screen experience. Edison Podcast Metrics® shows the top decision drivers: topic (64%) and host (53%). Guests matter less (38%), and trailers, cover art, and kid‑friendly labels barely register. The takeaway: topic and host do the work. Magellan AI and Buzzsprout highlight podcast advertising’s impact: • 69% discover new products through podc
Ep. 24 24
Sept. 17, 2026
Podeo Launches, Podcast Study Drops, Measurement Levels Up
Today’s episode hits three big shifts in podcasting: automation, audience behavior, and measurement. Podeo launches with a clear promise — turn podcasts into video people actually watch. It converts full episodes into long‑form video and auto‑uploads them to YouTube, instantly expanding a show’s reach on the world’s biggest video platform. At Podcast Week in New York, the Podcast Study 2026 dropped fresh insights: • 45% of listeners are open to paying for an ad‑free tier • 64% would join a pod
Ep. 23 23
Sept. 16, 2026
Where Podcasting Scales: AI Clips, Ira Glass, and TYT’s Next Chapter
Headliner is pushing podcast automation forward with its new YouTube Video Clips Automation, turning any YouTube Podcast Playlist into nonstop, styled, captioned, auto‑published clips — freeing creators from the busywork and keeping shows growing on their own. At Podcast Week’s kickoff, Ira Glass reminded the Sounds Profitable crowd of “what podcasts do better,” arguing that deeper storytelling creates deeper listener connections — and stronger ad performance. And TYT is making a major busines
Ep. 22 22
Sept. 15, 2026
Platforms, Performance, and Podcast Week
Substack is making a bigger play in audio with a new podcast tab — a dedicated space that helps creators reach their current listeners while boosting discovery for new ones. It centralizes shows from Substack writers and reflects a fast‑growing ecosystem where podcasters on the platform now earn over $200 million a year. It’s another step in Substack’s push to become a full home for independent media, where writing, audio, and community live together. We also dig into new research showing that
Ep. 21 21
Sept. 14, 2026
Counting Views, Tracking Visits, Targeting Better
This episode breaks down the shifting metrics shaping podcast and platform advertising. Glenn Rubenstein of ADOPTER Media warns that YouTube’s rushed view‑metric changes inflate counts while making each view worth less — and says Spotify’s skip‑ad tests only weaken measurement further. We also dig into Magellan AI’s Q2 2026 report, which shows that judging podcast ads after one week captures less than half their true impact. Most conversions happen over a full month, not in the first few days.
Ep. 20 20
Sept. 11, 2026
Audience Power, Platform Choice, and a Nation Remembered
Today, Audiencelift launches Preferred Apps & Players, giving podcasters real control over where their audiences grow. Listeners discover shows across 50,000 premium publishers and pick exactly where to listen—Apple Podcasts, YouTube Music, Overcast, and more. With Verified Growth™, creators can finally see the full listener journey instead of chasing raw download totals. We also spotlight FOX News Rewind: 9/11, a powerful series revisiting the day the world changed and the resilience that foll
Recent Blog Posts
Sept. 2, 2026
YouTube’s New “Views” vs. “Engaged Views” Metrics: What Podtrac’s Early Data Reveals About Video Podcast Consumption
On August 24, 2026, YouTube quietly rolled out one of its most consequential measurement changes in years — a redefinition of what counts as a view for all videos, including video podcasts. Today, Podtrac released its initial analysis of how this sh…
Aug. 22, 2026
YouTube’s New “Views” System Is Here — And Apparently Hovering Counts as Engagement Now
YouTube has finally explained its new views versus engaged views system, and honestly, it feels like we’re all being gaslit by a hover preview. Yes, really. A hover preview. Hover = View. Keep Hovering = Engaged View. Here’s the new reality: …
Aug. 18, 2026
Basis and Barometer Bring Episode‑Level Brand Suitability to Podcast Advertising
Basis and Barometer Bring Episode‑Level Brand Suitability to Podcast Advertising Podcast advertising has always lived in a strange tension: brands love the intimacy and influence of audio, but they’ve struggled to control where their ads actually l…
About the Host
Gary Spurgeon
Podcaster Host
Meet Gary Spurgeon: a 45-year media veteran, digital operator, and the driving force behind Podcasting by the Numbers. From the early days of terrestrial radio to the cutting edge of modern streaming networks, Gary has dedicated his career to mastering the art and science of audio engagement. Now, he’s turning his lens toward the massive world of digital audio. On Podcasting by the Numbers, Gary pulls back the curtain to break down the fascinating trends, metrics, and human behaviors behind the global podcasting phenomenon. If you’ve ever wondered why certain stories stick with us, how your favorite shows are built, or where the industry is heading next, Gary has the answers. It’s a compelling, data-backed look at the audio landscape—making it a must-listen for anyone who loves a great podcast.