Acast’s Milly Botes on Driving Podcast Revenue with Ads & Partnerships

How are leading platforms evolving podcast monetization in 2025 and beyond?

In the premiere episode of PodBiz, NJ speaks with Milly Botes, VP of Product at Acast, about building scalable advertising tools, empowering creators, and rethinking what podcast success actually looks like. Milly shares how her team is building scalable infrastructure for audio and video sponsorships, and why, in her words,

“authenticity is key for creators in monetization.”

We dive into the shift from downloads to engagement, the growth of video podcasting, and what brands really look for in high-performing content partnerships. We'll also get into platform strategy, product design, and why creator monetization is shifting away from traditional metrics like downloads toward more meaningful engagement.

Milly Botes is a seasoned product leader with a passion for building platforms where creativity, technology, and commerce meet. As VP of Product at Acast, she leads the evolution of the podcast monetisation marketplace, creating a more connected, self-serve, and scalable ecosystem that helps creators and advertisers thrive across both audio and video.

Previously, Milly built the Care Navigation platform at Ada Health and began her career at Monitor Deloitte. She has lived and worked in London, Berlin, New York, and Cape Town, bringing a global lens to platform strategy and creator empowerment.

Connect with Milly on LinkedIn

Here are some insightful moments within the episode:

00:00 – The Evolution of Podcast Monetization

01:25 – Defining a Podcast in Today's Landscape

03:59 – Trends in Podcasting: Video and Creator Empowerment

06:20 – Metrics Beyond Downloads: Understanding Engagement

08:47 – Milly’s Journey into Podcasting

11:25 – The Role of Product in Podcasting

12:56 – Empowering Creators: Monetization Strategies

15:30 – The Challenges of Product Management

17:56 – Looking Ahead: The Future of Podcasting

Some Additional PodBiz Buzz..

“We are building accessible products for creators.”

PodBiz is the podcast about the business of podcasting. Hosted by industry veterans Norma Jean Belenky and John Kiernan, the show features conversations with creators, executives, and platform leaders to answer one question: Where’s the money in podcasting?

Each episode dives into monetization strategy, adtech, branded content, IP development, and audience growth. Guests include leaders from Acast, Captivate, Crooked Media, Buzzsprout, True Native Media, Podfest, and more.

Learn more: njbmedia.co | thepodhouseproductions.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.