This Week's Influencer: Ad Infinitum’s Historic Audio Tale; La NFL Crea un Plan Estratégico en Español; Hulu Enters the Podcast Wars; and More

History has seen the rise of countless monarchies, but very few have the grit and determination to stand the test of time. No, we’re not talking about the newest Game of Thrones spin-off; this is a historical dive into the rise of audio, from the early days of radio to the explosion of podcasts and beyond.

The world’s only podcast solely dedicated to audio ads is back with a one-of-a-kind episode that aims to change your understanding of the medium forever. Presenting the Ad Infinitum Season 3 finale, Episode 16: “The Royal and The Regent: The Audio Monarchy.”

Hosted by Stew Redwine (Executive Creative Director, Oxford Road) and guided by the “esteemed bard” and guest producer Jeanna Isham (Owner, Dreamr Productions), this episode takes you on a journey back in time to explore the meteoric rise of the “Audio Monarchy.”

Throw out your history books and put on your headphones. This unusual episode explores how audio has become so dominant and how the kingdom can thrive going forward. The narrative spans from early TV jingles to YouTube CTAs, anchoring itself in the Six Sonic Laws of Audio Advertising, established by His Royal Highness, “King Radio”: #1 Attention, #2 Trust, #3 Memory, #4 Proximity, #5 Monetization, and #6 The Covenant (the promise not to abuse the listener’s time and to respect their loyalty).

To discuss the above, the “council” includes:

• Chancellor of the Airwaves: Kraig T. Kitchin (Senior Strategic Advisor, Oxford Road)

• Royal Historian: Cynthia Meyers (Professor Emerita, College of Mount Saint Vincent)

• Noble Scribes: Tom Webster (Partner, Sounds Profitable) and Paul Riismandel (President, Signal Hill Insights)

• Brave Troubadours: Arielle Nissenblatt (Founder, Earbuds Podcast Collective), Dallas Taylor (host, Twenty Thousand Hertz), and Shaun Michael Colón (Director, The Age of Audio)

Hear ye, hear ye: This is a must-listen for anyone interested in the business of sound. Join the Royal Council of Audio and step into the context of the monarchy.

“Prince Podcasting was born on the principles of abundance, not scarcity, and focused on purposeful communication, not time sold to brands.” – Jeanna Isham (Owner, Dreamr Productions)

Obey Thy Covenant – Six sonic laws have powered the rise of audio, but marketers would do well to heed #6: The promise not to abuse the listeners’ time and to respect their loyalty. Radio lost share as ad loads increased, and podcasts risk the same future if they’re not careful. Marketers, you can help in two ways: 1. Don’t make hosts read boring ads. Instead, let them innovate. 2. Support networks with low ad loads. Do these, and you’ll preserve the audio kingdom for generations (and improve performance too).

Who Owns Audio? – Early radio should be both a blueprint and a warning. Because the power of ownership isn’t static, early advertisers controlled content by sponsoring shows (think Kraft Music Hall). Power shifted to the broadcasters in the 50s, but as media choices expanded, it became clear: the true power is in the hands, and ears, of the audience. They can always leave. Podcasting, just like its hosts, must continually give its audience a reason to stay.

The Grateful Pod – The birth of podcasts was fan-led, not corporate. The first RSS-published audio file was a Grateful Dead song circulated as a protest against George W. Bush’s inauguration. It was an intimate desire to connect, piggybacked by an unforeseen technological possibility. Podcasts thrive when they monetize sustainably while preserving their original, authentic human spirit.

The Classifieds

When the Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going

Network: Young and Profiting Media / Monthly Downloads: 15k

After Trent Shelton left the world of professional football in 2011, he pivoted his focus to helping others, centered around self-improvement and personal betterment. Shelton has written several books and founded the Christian-based nonprofit RehabTime, which prioritizes mental health. In his weekly podcast on Young and Profiting Media, Shelton delves deeper into complex, emotionally charged topics such as motivational tools, facing hard truths, and confidence building.
There are many opportunities to work with the show, whether on the podcast itself or through Facebook or Instagram Reels, which have an impressive reach totaling in the millions. Recommended advertisers include those with a sizable female consumer base or those seeking self-improvement podcasts that target both spiritual and personal growth. Be the change you want to see in the world, and click the link below for additional details.

Get The Deal

Ballin’ Out With Two Legendary Women

Network: AMP Sports / Monthly Downloads: 200k

The term “360” is used frequently, but for advertisers unfamiliar with the market’s potential, it can be unclear where to start. That’s where we come in: two opportunities with the potential to be tested across social, video, or audio. Our first Classified this week comes from the WNBA, which returns in May to celebrate the league’s 30th anniversary. Two of the sport’s legendary players, Candace Parker and current Indiana Fever star Aliyah Boston sit down every week to discuss what’s on their minds.
Whether they’re detailing their perspective on in-game strategy or discussing their day-to-day lives, this twosome radiates positivity and assured confidence. Both brand and performance advertisers have found success by testing this opportunity and have also benefited from leveraging the show’s video production and social handles. Don’t wait ‘til the clock runs out to test this champion of a show. Take your shot at the link below.

Get The Deal

In Case You Missed It

Bad Bunny Isn’t Just a Halftime Show Choice. He’s a Strategy

Bad Bunny headlining the Super Bowl halftime show wasn’t a random decision; it was a part of a strategic and carefully calculated campaign led by the NFL. NFL SVP Marissa Solis stated league growth is “mathematically impossible without Latinos,” citing 39M+ US Latino fans currently not being reached by the brand. Spanish-language Super Bowl broadcasts drew 1.9M viewers (+340% vs 2014’s first Spanish broadcast). The league’s “Por La Cultura” campaign positioned Bad Bunny as a strategic growth play. From a marketing perspective, Bad Bunny headlining makes total sense. The Hispanic segment represents roughly 20% of the US population, is growing, and skews younger than the national average. The NFL isn’t a cultural trend setter; it’s following demographics and making a smart growth calculation. Marketers should take note: if Hispanic audiences aren’t a deliberate part of your strategy, you’re limiting future growth potential.

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Sports Podcasts Spike 358% After Games

Spotify data shared with eMarketer shows sports podcast consumption surges 358% in the days following games and 172% above average in the lead-up, revealing a growing window of opportunity for advertisers beyond live viewing. Emarketer frames post-event conversations as potentially more effective than pre-game because fans are emotionally charged, seeking analysis, and primed for messaging tied to outcomes. This research is useful for any marketer with sports audio in their mix. As a complement to live sports, audio sees its highest engagement in the lead-up to games and immediately after. That pattern makes intuitive sense, and this data confirms how fans actually behave—using audio to get ready for the game and to process what just happened.

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The Streaming Wars Continue: Here Comes Hulu

Emarketer reports that Hulu’s licensing of the standalone video podcast “We’re Here to Help” escalates the streamer podcast arms race. Unlike companion pods (Only Murders, etc.), this mirrors YouTube’s video-first strategy. Netflix has already launched a Pete Davidson original and secured deals with iHeartMedia (15+ shows) and Spotify. Emarketer warns that the expansion introduces new fragmentation challenges for marketers. It was only a matter of time before Hulu followed YouTube, Netflix, and Amazon into video podcasts, and more CTV platforms will follow. What’s unclear is how this inventory will actually be sold and what measurements will be available. Marketers should expect short-term uncertainty, with performance measurement likely limited or nonexistent in the interim.

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#SaveTheLiveReads

AG1 for Parents: One Scoop, Zero Chaos

Elise Hu helps parents juggle the chaos of raising kids and managing life with the help of AG1! Her podcast, Raising Us: A Parenting Podcast, delivers this live read to busy parents juggling packed schedules, carpools, and nonstop responsibilities, making AG1 feel like the easiest victory of the day. By boiling nutrition down to one scoop and 20 seconds of your time, Elise turns healthy habits into her quiet morning ritual before the kids wake up, painting AG1 as a calming anchor before the daily chaos begins.
With delicious flavor callouts, smoothie options, and a focus on consistency over perfection, Elise makes AG1 feel like it naturally fits into family life. Add in the strong reviews, money-back guarantee, and generous limited-time offer, and the read lands as motivating, reassuring, and refreshingly doable exactly what makes it such a standout in audio history books!

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