The Future of Podcasting in 2026

Are you feeling burnt out after a year of "doing more" for the same—or even fewer—results? Many podcasters and business owners spent 2025 chasing social media algorithms and over-repurposing content, only to feel disconnected from their audience. We’re moving past the "Wild West" phase of podcasting and into a strategic "industrial revolution" where building deep trust and owning your platform is the only way to thrive. On this episode of Podcasting Unlocked, join me as I reveal my top five podcast predictions for 2026 and share a concrete action plan to help you reclaim your capacity and grow your impact with intention. This week, episode 252 of Podcasting Unlocked is about the future of podcasting in 2026! 

In this episode of Podcasting Unlocked, I’m sharing the importance of being intentional and strategic with your podcast going into the new year, and actionable steps you can take right now to build ongoing trust with your listeners. 

I also chat about the following: 

• Shifting from AI as a replacement to AI collaboration.
• Prioritizing conversion through networking and community-building.
• Treating vertical video as a standalone asset.
• Ethical podcasting and disclosing AI use to your audience.

2026 is not about doing more; it is about doing things with intention and owning your audience. 

Your 2026 Action Plan: 

1. Audit your "owned land" (like your email list or Substack) to ensure you have a direct line to your audience outside of social media.  

2. Write your AI policy and post it in your show notes or on your website so your listeners know exactly where you stand on human-led content. 

Do you agree or disagree with these predictions? I’d love to hear your thoughts! Send me an email at [email protected] or book a free consultation at helpmypod.com to discuss your podcasting strategy for the year ahead. Don't forget to subscribe to Podcasting Unlocked to stay ahead of the curve

Be sure to tune in to all the episodes to receive tons of practical tips on turning your podcast listeners into leads and to hear even more about the points outlined above. 

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don’t forget to follow, rate and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!

Learn more about Podcasting Unlocked at https://galatimedia.com/podcasting-unlocked/ 

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LINKS MENTIONED:

I'm Quitting Social Media for My Podcast: A Q4 Marketing Experiment

Free Download: 15 Ways to Improve Your Podcast

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