How Podcasts Will Really Grow in 2026, Community, YouTube, and AI Explained with Kendall of Riverside.FM

Podcast growth in 2026 will not be driven by hacks, viral clips, or chasing charts. It will be built through community, discoverability on YouTube, intentional use of AI, and sustainable creator ecosystems.

In this forward-looking episode of As It Relates to Podcasting, Simona Costantini sits down with Kendall from Riverside.FM to unpack what is actually changing inside the podcasting industry and what creators must adapt to now in order to grow next year and beyond.

They explore the rise of YouTube as the dominant podcast discovery engine, the shift toward mid-form video, the truth about podcast analytics, and how community-led growth is now outperforming algorithm-only strategies. You will also hear how Riverside’s all-in-one platform is changing podcast workflows by combining recording, editing, and now hosting into a single system.

If you want to reduce burnout, grow with intention, and build a podcast that compounds in audience and authority, this episode gives you the roadmap for what is coming next.

Inside this episode:

Why community is becoming the most powerful driver of podcast growthHow YouTube has replaced traditional apps as the top discovery platformThe real limitations of podcast analytics and what creators must track manuallyHow mid-form video is overtaking short-form clips for audience conversionWhere AI truly helps podcasters and where it requires human oversightWhy all-in-one platforms are reducing creator burnoutThe future of monetization through memberships, communities, and owned platformsWhy sponsorships are no longer the fastest path to sustainable incomeThe psychology behind listener loyalty and long-term audience retentionHow creators should structure content ecosystems for 2026Audio-only versus video-first podcasting and how to chooseWhy consistency and connection now outperform production polish

🎧 Join the Podcast Success Vault: A low-ticket mastermind-style membership designed to help podcasters grow with strategy, support, and real community.

https://www.voltproductions.co/podcast-success-vault-membership 

🎙️ Try Riverside for Recording, Editing, and Hosting: Explore Riverside’s all-in-one podcast production and hosting platform.

https://riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_1&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=simona 

Learn about:

00:00 Why podcast growth is shifting toward community02:00 Riverside’s new hosting update and what it means for creators05:00 The true problem with modern podcast workflows08:00 Why YouTube now dominates podcast discovery11:00 The reality of podcast analytics and tracking growth14:00 How to intentionally build engaged podcast communities18:00 AI in podcasting and preventing creator burnout22:00 Why mid-form video is outperforming short clips26:00 Audio-first versus video-first podcast strategies30:00 Monetizing through ownership instead of sponsorship34:00 What sustainable podcast growth will require in 202638:00 Final advice for creators building for the long game

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