Episodes

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...

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 creato...

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 th...

In this episode of The Podcast Advertising Playbook, host Heather Osgood sits down with Ed Fuller, CEO and Founder of Media Bodies, an influencer marketing agency bridging the worlds of social media and podcast advertising. Ed shares his perspective on why podcast ads aren’t just another media buy—they’re an authentic extension of influencer marketing itself. He offers insights into how brands are evolving their strategies, the role video plays in today’s campaigns, and why measurement is getti...

In this milestone 200th episode, host Heather Osgood takes a look back at some of the most defining conversations and insights shared over the years on The Podcast Advertising Playbook. From the early days of educating marketers on podcast ad basics to tackling today’s complex issues around distribution, targeting, and ROI, this episode reflects on how far the industry (and this podcast) has come. Like raising a child, podcasting changes in small, almost imperceptible ways, until you look back ...

In this episode of The Podcast Advertising Playbook, host Heather Osgood sits down with Chris Norton, Founder and Managing Director of Prohibition PR and host of Embracing Marketing Mistakes. With a deep background in public relations and brand strategy, Chris brings a unique perspective on how podcasting fits into a successful marketing mix. Chris shares the journey behind building his award-winning agency and what led him to launch a podcast focused on marketing missteps. He explores the powe...

In this special episode swap, Heather Osgood joins Sam Brake Guia on the Mics to Millions podcast for an insightful conversation about what it really takes to monetize a podcast through advertising. As the founder of True Native Media, Heather brings a wealth of experience to the discussion, breaking down the evolving landscape of podcast monetization—from programmatic ads to host-read endorsements and everything in between. Key topics covered in this episode: The pros and cons of programmati...

In this episode of The Podcast Advertising Playbook, host Heather Osgood is joined by Mark Pafume, Vice President of Sales and Customer Success at Podbean. With years of experience guiding creators and brands through the evolving podcast landscape, Mark brings a fresh perspective on why combining video and audio is no longer just a nice-to-have, it’s a must for growth-minded podcasters. Mark dives into the current media environment and explains why now is a pivotal moment for creators to expand...

In this episode of The Podcast Advertising Playbook, host Heather Osgood is joined by Angela Hollowell, Podcast Host and Producer of Honey and Hustle. Angela shares how her podcast centers stories of creative entrepreneurs and changemakers, and why building a vibrant, engaged community around that content has been key to its growth. Fresh off her session at Podcast Movement Evolutions, Angela dives into why community-building isn't just a nice-to-have in today's podcast landscape—it's essential...

Join Heather Osgood as she sits down with Joe Cilio, CEO and Co-Founder of Forever Dog Productions, to explore how the network has evolved over the past decade—most recently with a bold pivot into video podcasting. Joe takes us behind the curtain on the logistical and strategic challenges of adding video to an audio-first operation, the monetization opportunities (and limits) across YouTube and Spotify, and why visual storytelling matters now more than ever. He also dives into Forever Dog’s inn...

On this solo episode of The Podcast Advertising Playbook, Heather Osgood dives into the world of podcast advertising through the lens of reality TV’s favorite matchmaking experiment—Love Is Blind. Spoiler alert: when it comes to ads, love at first listen isn’t always guaranteed. Just like the hopeful couples in the pods, advertisers sometimes enter the podcast space with high hopes but no clear strategy. Heather shares why going in blind can lead to unmet expectations and why partnering with po...

This week on The Podcast Advertising Playbook, host Heather Osgood sits down with Hetal Patel, President of Ad Intelligence at iHeartMedia, to unpack how data, technology, and strategy are shaping the next era of podcast advertising. With deep expertise in media measurement and a front-row seat at one of the industry's biggest players, Hetal shares how iHeartMedia is harnessing ad intelligence to deliver smarter, more effective campaigns—and what that means for brands looking to make an impact....

This week on The Podcast Advertising Playbook, host Heather Osgood sits down with Matt Shapo, Director of Digital Audio and Video at the IAB, to explore the evolving landscape of podcast advertising—from emerging tech to evolving standards. With podcasting in the spotlight and video on the rise, Matt shares how the IAB is helping guide the industry forward while keeping trust, scalability, and innovation at the center of it all. In this episode, Heather and Matt discuss: The limitations and o...

This week on The Podcast Advertising Playbook, host Heather Osgood sits down with Kirk Martin, host of The Calm Parenting Podcast, to pull back the curtain on what it takes to build a successful show while staying true to your mission. With millions of downloads and a dedicated audience, Kirk shares how he’s grown Calm Parenting into a go-to resource for parents—and why he decided to bring advertisers into the mix. In this episode, Heather and Kirk discuss: The inspiration behind The Calm Pare...

This week on The Podcast Advertising Playbook, host Heather Osgood sits down with Shira Atkins, Global SVP of Business Development & Partnerships at Acast and former Co-Founder & Chief Revenue Officer of Wonder Media Network. With Acast’s recent acquisition of WMN, Shira shares insights on the evolution of branded content in podcasting and where the industry is headed next. In this episode, Heather and Shira discuss: The origins of Wonder Media Network and the market gap it aimed to fill. Wha...

This week on The Podcast Advertising Playbook, host Heather Osgood sits down with Eric Smith, President & COO of Incremental Media, to explore the evolution of podcast advertising and what’s next for the industry. With years of experience in media and a front-row seat to podcasting’s growth, Eric shares insights on the biggest shifts shaping the space and how advertisers can navigate the opportunities ahead. In this episode, Heather and Eric discuss: The journey of Incremental Media and how po...

This week on The Podcast Advertising Playbook, host Heather Osgood is joined by Robert Tuchman, Co-founder of Amaze Media Labs, to discuss the evolving landscape of podcast advertising and how technology is shaping audience growth and monetization. With a deep background in media and entrepreneurship, Robert shares his journey into podcasting and the innovative tools his team has developed to help creators and advertisers succeed. In this episode, Heather and Robert dive into: What inspired Ro...

This week on The Podcast Advertising Playbook, host Heather Osgood is joined by Arielle Nissenblatt, founder of EarBuds Podcast Collective, podcast community builder, and passionate advocate for audio storytelling. Arielle has dedicated her career to helping listeners discover new shows and supporting creators in growing their audiences through thoughtful curation and community engagement. In this episode, Heather and Arielle explore: Arielle’s journey into podcasting and what sparked her pass...

This week on The Podcast Advertising Playbook, host Heather Osgood is joined by James Cridland, Editor of Podnews and a renowned radio futurologist, for a deep dive into the evolution of podcasting and what’s next for the industry. With years of experience analyzing trends, technology, and audience behavior, James brings valuable insights into how podcasting has transformed—and where it’s headed. In this episode, Heather and James explore: The origins of Podnews and what inspired James to crea...

This week on The Podcast Advertising Playbook, host Heather Osgood is joined by Gina Garrubbo, President & CEO of National Public Media, and Bryan Moffett, COO of NPM and SVP of Network Growth at NPR, for an insightful conversation about NPM's approach to podcasting and advertising. The three dive into: NPM’s unique position in the podcasting space, leveraging its 50-year legacy in audio journalism to connect with a younger, more diverse audience. How NPM collaborates with brands to create aut...

This week on The Podcast Advertising Playbook, host Heather Osgood is joined by Andrew Giancola, the host of The Personal Finance Podcast and member of True Native Media's roster, for an insightful conversation about podcasting in the personal finance space and how to successfully monetize a podcast. In this episode, the two dive into: The origins of The Personal Finance Podcast and Andrew’s journey to creating a show that resonates with listeners. How Andrew turned his podcast into a business...

This week on The Podcast Advertising Playbook, host Heather Osgood is joined by Bob Hunt, Senior Director of Audio at Hearts & Science, to discuss the evolving landscape of podcast advertising and how brands can effectively leverage the medium to engage their audiences. In this episode, the two dive into: An introduction to Hearts & Science and how the agency helps brands create impactful audio strategies. Expert advice for brands just starting to explore podcast advertising and how to make th...

This week on The Podcast Advertising Playbook, host Heather Osgood sits down with Lex Friedman, Founder of Lex Friedman Consulting, to explore his journey and insights in the podcasting space. In this episode, the two dive into: Lex's background and how his experience led him to build a consulting business focused on podcasting. Shifting trends in podcast advertising and how advertiser approaches have evolved over the years. The balance between content creation and technological innovation in...

This week on The Podcast Advertising Playbook, we dive into the evolving landscape of brand safety in podcasting and explore how it differs from other media like digital ads and social media with Valerie Reimer, VP Ad Tech & Product Partnerships at Acast. From the growing importance of audience trust to the unique challenges brands face when advertising in kids' content, we cover the key factors shaping brand safety today. Plus, we discuss the legal and ethical considerations brands must navigat...