This Week’s Influencer: Podcast Pioneer Guy Raz Tells Us “How He Built That”; Howard Stern Show Cancelled?; Amazon Dismantles Wondery; and more

This week, we’re sharing one of the long-form interviews that helped create the What’s a Podcast? series. This edition of The Extended Interviews features one of the voices that helped build the podcast industry as we know it: Guy Raz.

Dan Granger (CEO and Founder, Oxford Road) sits down with the creator of How I Built This to talk about “How We Built This”—i.e. how podcasting went from media exile to a mainstream power player—and what’s worth protecting as the lines between audio, video, and algorithm blur. This episode is an informative insight into the early phases that shaped the Podcast world as we know it today, straight from one of the faces on Podcast’s Mount Rushmore. The blueprint to greatness is as follows:

“I wanted to make things that inspire people… and I found podcasting was the place to do that.” – Guy Raz (Creator, How I Built This)

The Podcast Intimacy Advantage: here’s nothing else like it: just one voice in your ears, building a world in your mind. Guy explains why podcasting delivers connection and nuance in ways video can’t replicate, and why there will always be room for content that’s audio-first.

Video is the Add-On, Not the Engine: Yes, he´s adapting to video. Yes, he shoots in-studio now. But the core of Guy’s show still works with eyes closed-by design. CAOs: don’t confuse the sizzle for the steak.

From Gatekeepers to Garage Tinkerers: Guy reflects on the early days of podcasting, back when it felt like career exile, and why that scrappy, DIY spirit still matters today. You didn’t need permission to start then-you don’t need permission now-and that freedom is worth defending.

In a moment of rapid evolution for the podcasting industry, Guy Raz offers a rare blend of creative insight and operational clarity on what’s worth preserving — and what’s ready for reinvention. This episode equips CAOs with the perspective they need to navigate shifting platforms, define standards, and protect the long-term value of an audio-first strategy.

For more tips on creating your podcasting empire, click one of the links below to listen to the full episode.

The Classifieds

You’re Going to Need a Bigger Boat

Network: Cloud10 / Monthly Downloads: 50k

It can be hard to find friends willing to listen to you info dump about another pointless bit of internet drama or pop culture nonsense. Luckily, there’s plenty of great podcasts available to pick up that slack. Sophie Ross and Christy Leung are friends and co-hosts who post two episodes a week, chock full of drama, inspo, recaps, and a whole lot more. Though their Thursday episode features the more tawdry news items of the week, the show is an overall good time filled with niche deep dives, trending gossip, and rabbit holes that you’ll enjoy getting lost in. This podcast has been recently acquired by Cloud10 and has already seen an uptick in DR advertisers with a strong female base. This is highly recommended for Gen Z and Millennial-skew clients, or anyone capitalizing on trending reality TV shows. Take the bait, and reel in another core performer at the link below.

Get The Deal

The Best There Is, The Best There Was, And The Best There Ever Will Be

Network: Backyard Ventures / Monthly Downloads: 125k

Wrestling has long been seen as an insular, fringe interest, but no one has told the modern WWE. Fueled by its inclusion on multiple streaming services and a push on social platforms like YouTube and TikTok, each week millions of viewers tune into its marquee shows to see their favorite personalities. This newest podcast opportunity is a simulcast that publishes on the WWE channel, reaching 110M subscribers, serving to update fans on the newest storylines, characters, costumes, and fight choreography. Hosts Sam Roberts and Megan Morant are long-time lovers of all things wrestling, as well as embedded, trusted personalities who have long been a part of the organization. The show is typically male leaning, with a 35-45 average demo. It’s perfect for any plan trying to reach those interested in Sports, Pop Culture, TV & Film, and Leisure. If ya smell what The Rock is cookin’, seek the link below for more information.

Get The Deal

In Case You Missed It

Amazon’s Podcasting Reorg

Amazon announced the dismantling of its Wondery podcast studio on Monday, resulting in approximately 110 layoffs and the exit of Wondery CEO Jen Sargent. In a significant restructuring, Wondery’s award-winning narrative podcasts (like Dr. Death) will be integrated into Audible, while high-profile, creator-hosted podcasts such as Armchair Expert will remain under the Wondery brand but be managed by a new Creator Services team. If you follow Oxford Road on LinkedIn, you’ll know that we covered this news Monday. Our take: Amazon’s split may crystallize a broader trend in podcasting: personality-led podcasts (often in an interview format) prioritize video even if consumed as audio. Narrative-led shows, on the other hand, remain an audio-first craft. For video-led podcasts, advertisers will need to get used to fewer signals for measurement, at least until YouTube and other platforms agree to pixel-based attribution.

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The End is Nigh for Howard Stern? The Sun Says So

The US version of The Sun claims The Howard Stern Show is set to be canceled by the end of 2025, when Stern’s current $100 million/year contract expires. Unnamed sources cited in the piece say SiriusXM is unlikely to offer Stern a new deal that meets his financial expectations. If the show does end, SiriusXM could still acquire rights to Stern’s vast archives and library for future use. This is all very new, and we’ll wait for independent confirmation on this story, since The Sun isn’t widely regarded as a reliable source. If true, this is big news. And, expect high-demand episodes as longtime fans and advertisers rush to participate in Howard Stern’s remaining broadcasts.

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Cumulus is Rumble(ing)

Cumulus Media has announced a strategic partnership with Rumble to expand its reach into digital, video and podcast distribution. The deal will make Westwood One and Cumulus Podcast Network content available on Rumble’s platform. Cumulus executives framed the move as a way to tap into creator-driven media and diversify revenue while leaning on Rumble’s video infrastructure and growing audience base. Partnering with Rumble offers access to a fast‑growing, independent video ecosystem and the potential for new ad dollars. This is welcome news for a legacy radio company that has struggled financially and saw its stock delisted by NASDAQ earlier this year.

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#SaveTheLiveReads

The curiosity department heads—aka Design Better hosts Eli Woolery and Aaron Walter—really outdid themselves in this week’s #STLR with a masterclass (pun intended) on creativity, growth, and excellence. These two aren’t just reading copy—they’ve taken 20 classes on MasterClass and speak from real experience, which makes their excitement totally infectious. By name-dropping legends like David Carson, Joanna Gaines, and Sarah Blakely, they make the platform feel both inspiring and totally within reach. Their smooth shift from thoughtful insights to practical advice feels authentic, giving the ad real heart and substance. And the cherry on top? A special 15% off just for Design Better listeners—making this pitch not just motivating, but a total no-brainer.

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OXFORD In The News

CAO Summit Proved Why Audio Still Reigns Supreme

The 2025 CAO Summit may be behind us, but the buzz hasn’t dulled. This week’s LinkedIn reflections from industry leaders spotlight just how impactful the event was for the audio world—and why it’s quickly becoming a must-attend for brands, creators, and media innovators.

• Flight Story’s Christiana Brenton & Lily Taurau celebrated the summit as a catalyst for elevating industry dialogue—highlighting how moments like CAO create space for bold thought leadership and reinforce the need for open distribution in a fragmented landscape.
• Wondery Founder Hernan Lopez echoed the power of immersive storytelling to break through the noise.
• Branding Consultant Jaclyn Ruelle emphasized how branded audio can become true culture-shaping content when paired with talkability and strategic buzz.

The CAO Summit didn’t just gather the best minds in audio—it inspired a renewed push toward smarter, bolder, and more integrated brand storytelling

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