This week in episode 649 of the New Media Show, Rob Greenlee is joined by Jordan Harbinger to unpack the question creators ask nonstop in 2026:

What actually grows a podcast or show (and what doesn’t)?

– Jordan’s core answer is refreshingly “boring,” but real: long-term consistency, and realistic expectations about how long monetization can take—even for shows that eventually become huge.

From there, the conversation expands into the bigger shift happening right now:

– Audio podcasts increasingly competing (and collaborating) with video ecosystems especially YouTube where the “rules” and algorithmic expectations are fundamentally different from audio distribution.

They also dig into platform strategy and brand-fit tension like whether “talk show” style content truly belongs on Netflix, and why creators may face tough tradeoffs when platforms want exclusivity that can limit reach elsewhere.

After Jordan wraps and leaves the show, Rob closes with a rapid-fire, ranked set of growth plays emphasizing that none are magic bullets, but together they form a practical menu you can test based on your format and audience:

– Short-form clips (done well) to reach different audiences while recognizing shorts viewers don’t always convert to long-form listeners/viewers.

– Guest/social amplification that’s genuinely value-add (not generic promo spam).

– Niche community, value-first posting built around knowing exactly who your show serves.

– Owned audience via email/newsletter + even a WhatsApp group concept.

– AI clip volume + testing (alternate cuts, tighter versions, experimentation).

– Structured cross-promos / feed drops with comparable shows and fair “impressions”-style thinking.

– Video distribution expansion including Spotify video (if Spotify makes changes) as another potential growth surface—and the emerging “start audio, finish video” behavior across devices.

Guest: Jordan Harbinger
Website: https://www.jordanharbinger.com
Podcast: https://www.jordanharbinger.com/podcast/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JordanHarbinger
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jordanharbinger/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanharbinger
X: https://x.com/jordanharbinger

Host: Rob Greenlee and New Media Show Links
Rob Greenlee Website – https://robgreenlee.com/
New Media Show (Audio & Video) – https://newmediashow.com/
New Media Show Audio (Apple Podcasts) – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-media-show-audio/id392545649
Rob Greenlee on YouTube – https://youtube.com/@RobGreenlee
Podfest Expo – https://podfestexpo.com – https://podcasthall.com

The post What Actually Grows a Podcast or Show Now? | Jordan Harbinger #649 first appeared on New Media Show.

The New Media Show #648 Live On-Stage at Podfest Expo (Jan 16, 2026)

Where Audio, Video, and AI Flow Together Recorded live on stage at Podfest Expo in Orlando, Rob Greenlee is joined by three of the smartest voices shaping where podcasting is headed right now: James Cridland (Podnews), Rox Codes (Flightcast), and Philip Nelson (Nelco Media).

This episode tackles the collision of audio RSS, platform-native video, and AI-powered creator workflows and why the podcast conversation in 2026 is less about labels and more about content that works everywhere.

What we cover:
-Audio podcasting vs video podcasting and what audiences actually want
-Why content first matters more than format wars
-The roots of video in early podcasting and why it feels full circle again
-Fragmented audiences across YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Shorts
-Practical creator strategy packaging, titles, thumbnails, retention, and workflow systems that scale

Guests and Links:

James Cridland
Podnews – https://podnews.net/
Podnews Weekly Review – https://weekly.podnews.net/

Rox Codes
Flightcast – https://flightcast.com/
Rox Codes – https://rox.codes/

Philip Nelson
Nelco Media – https://nelco.media/
Philip Nelson – https://nelco.media/about/

Rob Greenlee and New Media Show Links
Rob Greenlee Website – https://robgreenlee.com/
New Media Show (Audio & Video) – https://newmediashow.com/
New Media Show Audio (Apple Podcasts) – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-media-show-audio/id392545649
Rob Greenlee on YouTube – https://youtube.com/@RobGreenlee
Podfest Expo – https://podfestexpo.com – https://podcasthall.com

The post Where Audio, Video, and AI Flow Together | Podfest Panel #648 first appeared on New Media Show.

The New Media Show Episode 647 Live on Jan 21st, 20026 at 6pm ET.

Show Topic: Digital Creator 2026 Money Playbook

Content Creator’s Business and Financial Strategies are moving faster than ever with video, audio podcasting, AI tools, and nonstop platform changes, but many are still running the business side like a hobby.

The New Media Show with Rob Greenlee is joined live by Ralph Estep Jr, licensed accountant and host of The Content Creators Accountant, to break down the simple money systems creators need to turn creator chaos into calm financial clarity. If you earn from YouTube AdSense, brand deals and UGC, affiliate income, memberships and subscriptions, courses, coaching, digital products, or PayPal and Stripe payouts, this episode is built for you.

Topics we cover:

– How to separate business money from personal without overcomplicating it
– How to track income across multiple platforms without headaches
– How to set aside taxes automatically even in uneven months
– How to make smarter gear decisions without wrecking cash flow
– How to build simple repeatable financial systems that creators can follow
– What to focus on in 2026 to run a real creator business that lasts
– 2026 Podcast Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Jan 16th, 2026

Watch Live and Subscribe:

New Media Show Website – https://newmediashow.com
Rob Greenlee Website – https://robgreenlee.com
Rob Greenlee YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@RobGreenlee
Podcast Hall of Fame – https://podcasthall.com
Adore Creator Network – https://AdoreNetwork.com
Passion Struck Network – https://PassionStruckNetwork.com
Rob Greenlee LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/robgreenlee
Book Rob Greenlee – https://calendly.com/robgreenlee

Ralph Estep Jr Links:
Content Creators Accountant Website and free resources https://contentcreatorsaccountant.com
The Content Creators Accountant Podcast https://contentcreatorsaccountant.com/podcast

The post Digital Creator 2026 Money Playbook | Ralph Estep Jr. #647 first appeared on New Media Show.