In this conversation, they explore some of the biggest questions teams are still working to solve like what growth really means, how to think about the shift from audio to video, and the role platforms like YouTube play in discovery and distribution.

Drawing from their past and present experiences with networks, creators, and brands, they share what they’re seeing in the market today, what’s gaining traction, and where there’s still opportunity to learn and refine.

If you’re building, scaling, or investing in podcasting, this is a conversation worth paying attention to.

Thanks for watching, curious to hear your take.

New York, NY – March 5, 2026 - Frequency and Flightpath today announced a strategic partnership that lays the foundation for an industry-wide solution to unsold podcast inventory. The integration allows individual networks to connect Flightpath’s predictive planning and inventory intelligence directly into Frequency’s Premium Publisher Network (PPN) marketplace - a curated marketplace designed to bring greater clarity, scale, and revenue opportunity to premium podcast inventory.

Together, they are moving the industry beyond fragmented tools and reactive selling toward a more modern operating model enabling Frequency to surface and optimize demand opportunities across multiple networks simultaneously, turning intelligence into coordinated, cross-network revenue execution.

The integration connects Frequency’s workflow tools and marketplace with Flightpath’s predictive analytics, forecasting, and inventory management solutions, giving publishers a complete, actionable view of sales opportunities across their podcast portfolios - not just static availability, but real-time opportunity.

Through the Premium Publisher Network, Frequency is creating a more centralized and transparent environment for high-quality podcast supply. With Flightpath serving as the intelligence layer, publishers gain enhanced forecasting, yield optimization, and delivery confidence, unlocking revenue across inventory that might otherwise remain underutilized, without adding operational burden or duplicating workflows across multiple systems.

“Flightpath was built to give publishers a forward-looking view of their inventory, identifying and surfacing opportunities in real time so they can be acted on before revenue is missed,” said Laurie Belleau, Chief Revenue Officer at Flightpath. “By integrating with Frequency, we’re turning insight into action, giving publishers the clarity and control they need to monetize smarter, faster, and with greater predictability.”

“For too long, podcast revenue has been constrained by disconnected systems,” said Pete Jimison, CEO of Frequency. “By connecting inventory intelligence with marketplace execution, we’re not just improving workflows, we’re building the infrastructure that enables smarter monetization across the industry.”

Together, Frequency and Flightpath are setting a new baseline for podcast advertising where understanding your inventory is no longer optional, workflows are streamlined, and monetization decisions are driven by real-time data and predictive intelligence.

About Flightpath
Flightpath helps publishers and networks monetize on-demand media with accurate data instead of intuition. Flightpath uses predictive analytics to boost profitability, uncover sales opportunities, and enhance operational efficiency through accurate forecasts and campaign performance predictions. Learn more at flightpath.fm.

About Frequency
Frequency® is an automated ad management and monetization platform powering the creator-led media economy. The platform connects enterprise workflow automation with targeted delivery and marketplace infrastructure to streamline premium ad placement across audio, video, and emerging formats. Designed for the complexity of network-managed, creator-led media, Frequency enables efficient, brand-suitable advertising campaigns for both publishers and advertisers at scale. Learn more at frequency.media.

As we close out another year of change across the creator and audio ecosystem, one thing is becoming increasingly clear: we’re entering a new era, one led by creators, by audience-first media models, and by technology that’s reshaping how stories are made and shared.

At Flightpath, we’re fortunate to work alongside thousands of creators and publishers navigating this transformation in real time. We see what’s working, what’s no longer serving creators, and where the biggest opportunities for growth are emerging. And as we look toward 2026, I’ve never been more optimistic about the future of creator-led media.

We asked some of our partners and leaders in the industry to share their predictions with us for the coming year. Here’s what they had to say!

Ben Watson, Founder, Impressions.fm

“As brands continue to prove out the impact of creator-led messaging, performance spending will make a big shift from scripted host reads to custom, creator-driven integrations.”

Nadine Robinson, Co-Founder & Operations Director, Podcast Nation

“I think 2026 will be the year when brands fully dive into omni-channel campaigns in a big way, with creator-lead podcasts as a central pillar to this. Brands will approach podcast advertising with an increasingly bespoke and creative approach in order to maximize their messaging across a creator’s community. And with creators building stronger communities than ever, I think we will also see live events make a real comeback.”

Libby Absten, Director of Strategic Growth & Partnerships, Podcast Nation

“In 2026, I think we’ll start to see audiences craving more from their podcasts beyond the RSS feed–with a real return to live events, tours, and other in-person activations. I’d love to see this energy translate across digital as well, with brands leaning into partnerships that engage with creators where their audiences already are–across social media, streaming platforms, or other emerging channels–and networks coming together in defining how we can fully mobilize the creators within our industry to make this happen.”

Jeff Umbro, CEO & Founder, The Podglomerate

“I’m feeling great about 2026. There are a lot of trends I’m paying close attention to – some new and some that we’ve been discussing for years – like the proliferation of video podcasts, consolidation, the rise of true programmatic ad delivery across the industry, the future of narrative vs episodic podcasts, and how the community will respond (or not) to the idea of a verified listener vs a download. As scary as it is to know that there’s likely some massive industry-shaking development just around the corner, it also keeps me on my toes in a way that I don’t think I’d experience in another role. Say what you will about podcasting, but it’s always exciting.”

Christina Mills, Director of Sales, Impact Theory

“I’m seeing a lot of deals beyond a host-read ad - partners are searching for integrated, 360 campaigns over several channels. And although there were disruptions earlier this year from economic pressures, we have found most brands return with greater spend in Q4 and 2026.”

John Goforth, VP/GM Gamut Podcast Network

“Podcasting’s next chapter isn’t bigger, it’s closer. Radio is still a $12–14B local-first business, while podcasting sits closer to $4–8B because it’s largely sold nationally. In 2026, real growth comes from investing in local voices and giving advertisers the same DMA-level confidence they’ve had in radio for decades.”

Ilwira Marciszek, EVP, Revenue Operations, AdLarge & the fwd. network

“Driven by rapidly shifting consumption patterns across video, social, and audio, individual platforms will become less important, creating immense pressure to prove ad performance and impact regardless of the app. AI will be leveraged strategically across business processes, but the industry will draw a hard line creatively—refusing to let ‘AI slop’ dilute the authentic audience engagement that built podcasting in the first place.”

Cathy Csukas, CEO & Founder, AdLarge & the fwd. network

“Podcasting in 2026 will be defined by an omnichannel strategy where creators, brands, and platforms work together to reach audiences everywhere they are. Podcasters will grow beyond the medium itself, building brand ecosystems that open new partnership models and stronger revenue opportunities. With innovation shaping every corner of the industry, room for growth has never been greater.”

Russ More, COO, Fable & Folly Network

“In 2026, the ‘nano-podcaster’ model becomes viable. Shows with 500-2,000 loyal listeners can sustain themselves through diversified revenue streams including programmatic ads, direct listener support, exclusive content, and live events rather than relying solely on advertising. Success requires treating audio fiction as a full media ecosystem with strategic video for promotion while maintaining audio-first storytelling, backed by networks that provide real analytics, ad tech infrastructure, and monetization tools that translate completion rates into premium inventory positioning.”

And finally….My predictions

These are exciting times to be a content creator, but not without their issues. The volume, dynamics, and algorithms on a platform like YouTube have changed drastically from the early days. The approach that a big YouTuber used to build their presence and success will likely not work the same way today, which can leave newer creators feeling a little bereft, lacking a clear roadmap to follow. Not to mention having to be on multiple platforms that are constantly changing the rules.

Being a creator is not easy, but I believe the future is with emerging independent creators. Traditional media and entertainment can no longer deny it is experiencing pervasive and significant market disruption. I was shocked to learn that some executives are now chasing their own tails, drawing wrong conclusions from audience behaviour, such as advising show creators to dumb down their writing so that younger audiences on their phones can still follow the show. Whereas the creators born from online channels are instead fighting to create the shows and platforms that resonate with these audiences.

So I’m excited for the future of independent, creator-based media publishers. I believe 2026 will show even more acquisition and consolidation of emerging shows and companies by traditional media channels, because the alternative is subscriber bleed and revenue loss.

When we look back to 2024 and 2025, there was a frenzy of investments in media and entertainment to deploy streaming TV platforms. Netflix leads with 302 million subscribers and Disney+ (combined with Hulu and ESPN+) is in second place at 183 million. YouTube, meanwhile, has over 2.5 billion active monthly subscribers. And while one could argue about paid vs free, it is clear where the world’s engagement and time is being spent.

I’ll end with talking about AI as 2026 will see a significant increase in the role of AI in podcasts and creator-based content, from AI-generated celebrities to workflow automation. Large language models are already having an impact on how shows are written, researched, edited, and promoted. This will grow significantly with individual creators able to match the production values of fully staffed TV shows. There will also be a lot more “slop” – content fully created by an AI and built to enable monetization across a near-endless volume of low-value content. I don’t look forward to the slop, but I’m excited to see what creators are now able to do and how they will dazzle new audiences in the months to come.

If 2024 and 2025 were about massive shifts in consumption, monetization, and technology, 2026 will be about integration - of platforms, formats, revenue streams, and creative disciplines. It will be a year defined by independent creators, stronger communities, new business models, and a media ecosystem where innovation is constant.

At Flightpath, we’re excited to help creators navigate this next chapter with the tools, insights, and support they need to thrive.

Here’s to a transformative 2026!

Sean

I believe that consumption patterns for traditional entertainment will not return to pre-COVID levels. And while COVID had a drastic impact on the industry, it was not the cause of the ongoing decline. The most positive interpretation of this chart is that the curve may be starting to flatten, but there is no sign of a rebound from a trend that began in 2014.

What we are seeing is instead a massive disruption in how we consume entertainment content — and how publishers distribute the same.

The IAB Brand Disruption Report, highlighting data from 2022, showed that North American consumers spend more time with creator-based media than all traditional entertainment media.

And let’s not forget that digital video ad spend surpassed traditional TV spend in 2024 and is expected to reach 58% of spend this year.

And yet, time and again, I run into the same misbelief that “these creators are just kids in their bedroom” and nothing for traditional media to worry about.

Sure, there are plenty of creators who started with a camera in their bedroom, but a growing number of these “kids” have full-fledged and staffed businesses that are generating significant revenue while building brands that their audiences are willing to pay to watch.

Spotify made a notable move into video recently and has already seen significant growth, with “more than 350 million users” watching a video podcast on Spotify.

YouTube is likely the best known platform for longer-form video, and recently announced that next year they will be launching Digital Ad Insertion tech for YouTube creators to deliver sponsorships: a move that will transform advertising in social video, just as it did in podcast audio.

• Mr. Beast runs an entertainment brand with a net worth of over $1 billion.

• College Humour made a name for itself on YouTube before rebranding as Dropout TV, with a paid subscription app on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Google TV, Android TV, and select smart TVs. CEO Sam Reich went on the record to say that they are within spitting distance of a million monthly paid subscribers, giving them an estimated monthly recurring revenue of over $6 million.

• Rhett and Link met in elementary school and launched a comedy channel on YouTube. Their company, Mythical Entertainment, has a staff of over 100 people, 34 million subscribers, and partial annual earnings of $36 million.

• The list goes on and on with hundreds of thousands of creators generating significant monthly revenue on these platforms.

Many in traditional media continue to wave these away as outliers, but this is dangerously short-sighted. I believe we are now living through the disruption that is forming the future of entertainment and we don’t have to look too deep to see the issues at play in traditional media.

Paramount and Skydance’s $8bn merger is resulting in more than 2,000 layoffs. It’s not alone, with Deadline reporting thousands of job losses in the media business throughout the year.

Disruption is never a clean line in the sand, but rather a series of forces that slowly undermine the ground an industry is built upon, with many false starts and stops, requiring and selecting for more nimble organizations (and in this case, content creators) that can adapt and leverage these changes. But the end result is a seismic transformation of the landscape.

I wanted to end with a trend we are watching in South Asia where broadcasters, production companies, and creators appear to be hedging on, or even bypassing traditional distribution — and launching their shows directly on platforms like YouTube, both ad supported and pay-per-view. Some sources claim that over 90% of all online video consumption in the region happens on YouTube.

YouTube reach in India alone is 491 million people, making it not just a viable distribution platform, but a behemoth. We expect it is only a matter of time before this is copied by producers in North America, with high likelihood this is already in play. YouTube is already the largest TV company in the US, say Nielsen.

Media and entertainment are being disrupted by both platforms and creators.

These creators are not kids in a bedroom, they are business owners building new empires.

They require tools built for this environment from pioneering firms in audience targeting, brand safety, data analysis, order management, and more – new solutions for a new era.

Ontario, CAN - October 9, 2025 - Evergreen Podcasts, a full-service podcast and video production company and network based in Cleveland, has selected Flightpath, the industry’s leading predictive analytics and yield management platform for on-demand media, to power monetization and revenue operations across its portfolio. Flightpath will centralize forecasting, inventory visibility, and campaign performance to help Evergreen identify new opportunities to grow revenue while streamlining operations.

“Flightpath enables us to deliver campaigns with greater efficiency and precision. Advertisers gain confidence through detailed reporting, while our creators benefit from more consistent monetization opportunities,” says Gerardo Orlando, Chief Content Officer for Evergreen.

“Evergreen runs a sophisticated, multi-genre network. With Flightpath, their team gets a single, trusted view of availability and performance that helps them predict, sell and report ad impression performance,” said Laurie Belleau, Chief Revenue Officer, Flightpath.

By adopting Flightpath, Evergreen will benefit from:

• Accurate availability forecasting to visualize inventory and inform packaging and pricing

• Unified data, inventory & delivery views across shows and placements

• Campaign pacing and performance insights to reduce make-goods and improve renewal rates

• Operational efficiencies that free teams to focus on growth and partner service

For inquiries about Flightpath, contact laurie@flightpath.fm.

About Flightpath
Flightpath helps publishers and networks monetize on-demand media with accurate data instead of intuition. Flightpath uses predictive analytics to boost profitability, uncover sales opportunities, and enhance operational efficiency through accurate forecasts and campaign predictions. Learn more at flightpath.fm.

About Evergreen Podcasts
Evergreen Podcasts is a premier podcast network and full-service production partner, empowering creators to turn passion into impact. From concept to distribution, Evergreen provides world-class audio and video production, audience growth strategies, and monetization solutions to support creators, brands, and publishers at every stage. The network features a dynamic range of content delivering high-quality shows that entertain and inspire listeners around the world.

“We look forward to partnering with Flightpath to bring additional precision to our forecasting and campaign management,” said John Jarvis, VP Partnerships & Strategy at Backyard Ventures. “Flightpath’s tools are designed to strengthen our support for creators, improve advertiser engagement, and facilitate scalable growth.”

By using Flightpath’s predictive suite, BV will have increased visibility into inventory, performance, and delivery across its portfolio, which will lead to more precise sales planning and the ability to identify new revenue opportunities for creators and brands. Flightpath’s platform is designed to improve operational efficiencies allowing BV’s team to focus on business development and advertiser relationships.

“We are excited to support BV’s continued growth,” stated Laurie Belleau, Chief Revenue Officer at Flightpath. “Flightpath provides precise forecasting capabilities that will help drive sustainable revenue for the BV team.”

For inquiries about Flightpath, contact laurie@flightpath.fm.

About Flightpath
Flightpath is the predictive analytics platform for on-demand media, delivering breakthrough reliability in availability forecasting and campaign performance prediction. Trusted by leading publishers and networks, Flightpath powers the insights that increase profitability, unlock sales opportunities, and create operational efficiencies. Learn more at flightpath.fm.

About Backyard Ventures
Founded in 2019 in Austin, Texas, Backyard Ventures is a premium media partnerships company representing more than 150 creators across podcasts, YouTube, newsletters, and social media. With a client roster reaching 25M monthly podcast downloads, 600M monthly YouTube views, 8M newsletter subscribers, and 40M social followers, Backyard Ventures delivers 360-degree opportunities and measurable ROI for brands and creators alike.

Flightpath empowers teams with advanced forecasting tools, dynamic campaign management, and real-time inventory insights. The platform has grown rapidly, helping publishers streamline operations, optimize inventory, and uncover new revenue opportunities.

“Flightpath was born from a clear need in the podcasting industry: better intelligence to make better decisions,” said Sean Howard, CEO and Co-Founder of Flightpath. “Four years later, we’ve built a platform and consulting team that not only delivers on that need, but continues to evolve with the market. We’re grateful to our partners and proud of the impact we’ve made together.”

“For four years now we’ve been helping sales teams move from reactive to proactive,” said Laurie Belleau, Chief Revenue Officer at Flightpath. “Our clients are forecasting with confidence, selling with speed, and delivering stronger results for their advertisers. That’s a huge leap forward for the business of creator-based media.”

Over the past four years, Flightpath has introduced a range of innovations that give audio and video sellers more control and clarity, including:

• Predictive inventory forecasting up to 12 months in advance across audio and video platforms

• Campaign performance prediction and customized reporting

• Intelligent inventory alerts and dynamic deal packaging

• Consolidated reporting across distribution channels

• YouTube view prediction and neighborhood guest impact analysis

Flightpath’s growth reflects the increasing demand for transparency and efficiency across the modern media advertising ecosystem. As the industry continues to evolve, Flightpath remains focused on building the infrastructure needed to scale digital monetization intelligently and sustainably.

About Flightpath
Flightpath is the predictive analytics platform for on-demand media that delivers breakthrough reliability in availability forecasting and campaign performance prediction. Trusted by leading publishers and networks, we power the insights needed to increase profitability, unlock sales opportunities, and create operational efficiencies. Learn how publishers are supporting diverse sales strategies across platforms with the visibility and insights they need at flightpath.fm.

ST. PAUL, MN and HAMILTON, ON, August 12, 2025 – Gamut Podcast Network, the dedicated podcast division of Hubbard Broadcasting, has partnered with Flightpath, the predictive analytics platform for on-demand media, to bring real-time inventory forecasting and campaign-performance insights to its more than 250 shows nationwide.

With Flightpath, Gamut’s sales and operations teams can see reliable availability months in advance, allowing them to package impressions by demo or geography at scale while continuing to deliver traditional direct-sold host-read campaigns; without overselling.

“Our advertisers buy us two ways: the classic host-read spots fans love and targeted impression packages built around specific demos or DMAs,” said John Goforth, Vice President & General Manager, Gamut Podcast Network. “Flightpath shows us, instantly, what we can deliver on both fronts, so our sellers move faster and our producers stay focused on great content.”

“Gamut is building a future-proof sales engine, and we’re excited to supply the data analytics foundation that makes it possible,” said Laurie Belleau, Chief Revenue Officer at Flightpath. “Real-time, trusted availability means Gamut can say ‘yes’ more often and grow revenue with confidence.”

About Flightpath

Flightpath is the predictive analytics platform for on-demand media that delivers breakthrough reliability in availability forecasting and campaign performance prediction. Trusted by leading publishers and networks, we power the insights needed to increase profitability, unlock sales opportunities, and create operational efficiencies. Learn how publishers are supporting diverse sales strategies across platforms with the visibility and insights they need at flightpath.fm.

About Hubbard Broadcasting

Hubbard Broadcasting is a family-owned media company headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota. Founded in 1923, Hubbard operates Gamut Podcast Network, along with television and radio stations, digital marketing agency 2060 Digital, and related media properties nationwide.

I’m excited to unveil the first iteration of our predictive video suite - an intelligent forecasting solution designed to give new insights into YouTube content performance. Debuting at The Podcast Show London, this update to our platform introduces a powerful set of tools built for creators and publishers navigating the complex, fast-moving video landscape.

This new release goes beyond traditional view projections. Flightpath identifies and ingests a unique and relevant video ecosystem for each of our clients, providing analysis and projections based on how a client’s audiences consume and behave online. By incorporating real-time virality signals and behavioral data, Flightpath enables publishers to understand not just how much a video will perform, but why - unlocking deeper understanding of the elements that drive engagement, reach, and longevity.

The hybrid future of podcasting is already here; creators are building audiences across both RSS and YouTube, but predicting performance in video has been a moving target. We continue to develop tools that bring order to the chaos, helping publishers make smarter, faster decisions that scale.

Key Features:

• Kindred Neighborhood Mapping
  Visualize your channel’s “tribe” to uncover potential partnerships, performance signals, and emerging talent.

• Youtube View Prediction and Guest Impact
  Instantly quantify how specific guests impact reach and engagement. Spot breakout personalities before the algorithm does.

• New Show Launch Scenario Planner
  Leverage similar shows, projected guests, and the information at-hand to create projected performance scenarios.

With simulcasting and video-first podcasting on the rise, this launch represents a major leap forward in our mission to unify predictive intelligence across formats. From managing inventory to driving smarter programming and ad sales strategies, Flightpath gives publishers the ability to predict with confidence across both audio and video.

“This isn’t just about forecasting views, it’s about revealing opportunities,” added Laurie Belleau, Flightpath’s CRO. “We’re committed to providing creators the insights they need to increase profitability in this ever-changing environment.”

Ontario, CAN (May 13, 2025) – Flightpath, the leading predictive analytics platform for on-demand media, is proud to announce its newest partnership with Impressions.fm, a fast-growing podcast network known for its curated, creator-first approach to monetization. By leveraging Flightpath’s advanced forecasting and campaign performance tools, Impressions.fm is now equipped to scale its operations, improve sales accuracy, and unlock new revenue opportunities through data-driven insights.

Flightpath empowers podcast publishers with unprecedented visibility into future inventory and performance, helping teams plan smarter, reduce waste, and drive profitability across all stages of the sales cycle. This collaboration marks another step forward in Flightpath’s mission to help modern media companies future-proof their businesses in a fragmented and fast-moving landscape.

“Impressions.fm represents the next generation of podcast networks; nimble, talent-focused, and ready to scale,” said Laurie Belleau, Chief Revenue Officer at Flightpath. “We’re excited to support their growth by providing the forecasting and performance tools they need to maximize revenue, minimize friction, and create a more transparent, profitable sales environment. Our approach is never plug-and-play - we tailor every integration to fit the unique needs of each partner.”

By integrating Flightpath’s predictive capabilities, Impressions.fm will be able to offer advertisers smarter forecasting, tighter campaign execution, and greater confidence in delivery, allowing them to focus on what they do best: cultivating great content and delivering results for creators and brands alike.

“We are beyond excited to partner with Flightpath to bring even more clarity, insight, and precision to our inventory forecasting and campaign management,” said Ben Watson, CEO & Founder at Impressions.fm. “This collaboration helps us better serve our creators, be a better partner to advertisers, and build infrastructure that allows us to grow sustainably and intelligently.”

To learn more about Flightpath, please reach out to laurie@flightpath.fm

About Flightpath
Flightpath is the predictive analytics platform for on-demand media that delivers breakthrough reliability in availability forecasting and campaign performance prediction. Trusted by leading publishers and networks, we power the insights needed to increase profitability, unlock sales opportunities, and create operational efficiencies. Learn how publishers are supporting diverse sales strategies across platforms with the visibility and insights they need at flightpath.fm.

About Impressions.fm
Impressions is a creator-friendly hosting and monetization solution for podcasters. Our generous revenue shares, simple terms and transparent reporting have set a new bar for creators in our rapidly evolving industry. In addition to providing ad sales, hosting and operational support, we help creators build sustainable businesses through a mix of content strategy, business development strategy and growth services. Learn more and view our roster at Impressions.fm.

Get ready to see YouTube through a whole new lens. On May 21 at The Podcast Show London, Flightpath will unveil the next evolution of predictive analytics - one that doesn’t just forecast plays, but captures the pulse of virality itself.

Stay tuned for more details here.

We are excited to bring our campaign forecasting power to the world of video. With a growing number of publishers simulcasting across YouTube, Spotify, and other platforms, the need for accurate, unified insights has never been more urgent.

Already, Flightpath supports publishers with forecasting and inventory management tools across YouTube and audio platforms, helping teams price and package their inventory more efficiently. But on May 21st, Flightpath will introduce a new solution built specifically for the hybrid future of podcasting - one that unifies audio and video under a single, intelligent framework.

“Our clients have struggled with the complexity of managing and monetizing simulcast content,” said Sean Howard, CEO of Flightpath. “They’re navigating disconnected systems, unreliable forecasts, and missed revenue opportunities. We built this solution because video should be just as accountable, predictable, and scalable as audio—and now, it finally is.”

Flightpath’s new solution will empower media companies and podcast publishers to accurately predict campaign availability and performance across platforms, reduce overselling/underselling, and simplify the IO process - without sacrificing speed or scale.

📍 Join us at The Podcast Show in London on May 21st for the official unveiling.

For more information on working with Flightpath, please reach out to laurie@flightpath.fm.

We are proud to announce our newest partnership with PodcastOne, one of the largest podcast networks and a subsidiary of LiveOne. Through this collaboration, Flightpath will support PodcastOne’s 2025 growth strategy by delivering real-time inventory forecasting, unified revenue insights, and data transparency across all sales channels.

This partnership builds on PodcastOne’s recent adoption of Amazon’s Art19 for hosting and dynamic ad insertion, enabling the network to expand monetization opportunities while streamlining operations. Flightpath’s predictive analytics platform will enhance that infrastructure, providing PodcastOne’s sales and operations teams with the tools to optimize yield, unlock revenue potential, execute faster, and make more strategic decisions.

“We’re excited to partner with PodcastOne at such a pivotal point in their growth,” said Sean Howard, CEO of Flightpath. “As the audio landscape becomes more complex, having centralized, accurate, and actionable data is essential. Flightpath will help PodcastOne harness that power and scale smarter across all of their sales channels.”

“Flightpath gives us the clarity and efficiency we need as our business scales,” said Michal Ksepko, Director of Podcast Business at PodcastOne. “From forecasting to cross-platform analysis, their tools are helping us operate smarter and drive stronger results for both our creators and brand partners.”

“This partnership is about unlocking smarter growth,” added Laurie Belleau, Chief Revenue Officer at Flightpath. “PodcastOne has an incredible portfolio and a forward-thinking team - we’re thrilled to bring our technology and expertise to the table to help them maximize their full revenue potential.”

Flightpath’s platform is purpose-built to address the challenges of today’s audio and video ecosystem. By integrating log-level data across direct, programmatic, and backfill inventory- including Art19’s TAS (Targeted Ad Solutions)- Flightpath delivers accurate 12-month inventory predictions and customized reporting across all revenue streams.

About Flightpath
Flightpath is the predictive analytics platform for on-demand media that delivers breakthrough reliability in availability forecasting and campaign performance prediction. Trusted by leading publishers and networks, we power the insights needed to increase profitability, unlock sales opportunities, and create operational efficiencies. Learn how publishers are supporting diverse sales strategies across platforms with the visibility and insights they need at flightpath.fm.

About PodcastOne
PodcastOne (NASDAQ: PODC) is a leading podcast platform that provides creators and advertisers with a comprehensive 360-degree solution in sales, marketing, public relations, production, and distribution. PodcastOne has surpassed 3.9 billion total downloads with a community of 200 top podcasters, including Adam Carolla, Kaitlyn Bristowe, Jordan Harbinger, LadyGang, A&E’s Cold Case Files, and Varnamtown. PodcastOne has built a distribution network reaching over 1 billion monthly impressions across all channels, including YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and iHeartRadio. PodcastOne is also the parent company of PodcastOne Pro which offers fully customizable production packages for brands, professionals, or hobbyists. For more information, visit www.podcastone.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and X at @podcastone.

Meet Clio De La Llave and Nadine Robinson, the powerhouse duo behind Booje Media and its sister company Podcast Nation. What started as a boutique digital agency in Vancouver has transformed into one of the most dynamic podcast networks in North America, with shows like The Telepathy Tapes, Dear Shandy, The Mom Room, and Your Favorite Thing with Wells Adams & Brandi Cyrus.

Flightpath CEO, Sean Howard sat down with Clio and Nadine to hear their journey, lessons learned, and what’s next for podcasting.

Sean: Clio, take us back to the beginning - how did Booje Media evolve into Podcast Nation?

Clio: I founded Booje Media about 14 years ago as a digital marketing agency, and over time, we evolved with the industry - moving from blogging to social, to influencer marketing. Through that, we were introduced to podcasting. One of our talents, Kaitlyn Bristowe, launched her own show, and it really opened our eyes to the power of audio. That’s when Podcast Nation was born.

Sean: And Nadine, you’ve been there from the early days, too?

Nadine: Yes! I was there when Clio first started Booje and came back about six years ago to co-found Podcast Nation. I was a huge podcast fan - probably the one who introduced Clio to listening to them! Now I oversee operations across sales, production, and beyond.

Sean: How did you approach building Podcast Nation in its early days?

Nadine: We launched without outside investment, so we had to be incredibly strategic. We only hired when we had the revenue to support it. We also learned some tough lessons - like hiring a seasoned salesperson who didn’t quite get the podcast world. In the end, we promoted one of our producers who understood the space deeply, and she became an incredible salesperson.

Sean: What does your audience look like today?

Nadine: Our core audience is millennial women. That’s kind of our sweet spot. Within that, there’s so much variety - mental health, relationships, pop culture, parenting - so our shows touch on a wide range of interests that reflect our listeners’ lives.

Sean: You've taken a talent-first, cross-platform approach to podcasting. Why?

Nadine: It never made sense to us for a brand to work with a creator on social and not also on their podcast. We believed early on that campaigns should be integrated. Finally, we’re seeing brands come around to that idea - but executing it is still hard. Social and audio are two different worlds. The benefit for us is we’ve lived in both, so we can plug in easily across platforms.

Clio: Yes, and from the talent side, we know how important it is to be authentic. Audiences are savvy. They can tell when something’s not real. We’re always aiming for quality over quantity and making sure our creators stay true to their brand.

Sean: You’re also leaning into YouTube - why is that important?

Nadine: It’s where the industry is going. But it’s a huge investment—it probably quadruples the workload for everyone involved. Still, we encourage shows to think about video. Depending on the content, it can massively increase reach.

Clio: It takes more effort, but it also opens up new ways to monetize and reach audiences. If you’re in it for the long haul and committed to creating good content, the payoff is there.

Q: What advice would you give to someone considering launching a podcast today?

Clio: People worry the space is too saturated - but there’s still so much opportunity. Be niche. Be clear on your audience. Add value. And remember: people are talking about podcasts now more than ever.

Nadine: Yes…and you have to really love it. Podcasting is accessible, but it’s a lot of work. If you’re not passionate, your audience will know. But if you are, they’ll feel it - and that’s what makes a show successful.

About Podcast Nation
Podcast Nation is a boutique podcast network offering a diverse lineup of content across women’s health, mental wellness, pop culture, relationships, and more. Female-founded and female-led, the network connects top creators with engaged audiences through quality content and integrated brand partnerships. With standout shows like Sorry We’re Cyrus, ShrinkChicks, The Bravo Docket, The Mom Room, and The Telepathy Tapes, Podcast Nation is a hub for fresh voices and meaningful stories.

To learn more, visit podcastnation.co and boojemedia.com.

Follow Clio and Nadine:
Clio De La Llave
Nadine Robinson

This collaboration brings our availability forecasting and campaign performance prediction to YEA Media Group's expansive portfolio. We’re excited to provide YMG with cutting-edge tools to increase profitability, unlock sales opportunities, and create operational efficiencies.

With a diverse lineup of top-performing podcasts, YEA Networks is known for delivering high-quality, engaging content to a wide range of audiences. By integrating Flightpath’s predictive analytics, YEA Media Group will gain deeper insights into inventory and campaign performance, helping them scale their business efficiently while providing brands with the most effective and targeted advertising solutions.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Flightpath and bring the power of predictive analytics to our podcast network,” said Shawn Nunn, President of YEA Media Group. “This collaboration not only enhances our ability to serve our clients more effectively but also allows us to work with a company that truly understands the nuances of our business. Flightpath’s tailored solutions will help us navigate our unique challenges and unlock new opportunities for growth.”

Laurie Belleau, Chief Revenue Officer at Flightpath added, “We couldn’t be more excited about this partnership with YEA Networks. We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all solutions – we take a hands-on, collaborative approach, ensuring our technology aligns with each partner’s strategy and goals. Our team is fully committed to supporting YEA Networks in streamlining their operations, maximizing revenue, and laying the groundwork for continued growth and future expansion.”

Flightpath provides podcast networks with unmatched visibility into future inventory and campaign performance. The collaboration empowers sales and operations teams to maximize monetization opportunities and deliver consistent results for advertisers. With advanced predictive analytics, trusted availability forecasts, and campaign performance predictions, Flightpath helps increase profits by unlocking new revenue streams and creating operational efficiencies to drive sustained growth.

To learn more about Flightpath, please reach out to laurie@flightpath.fm

About Flightpath
Flightpath pioneered predictive analytics for on-demand media that deliver breakthrough reliability in availability forecasting and campaign performance. Trusted by leading publishers and networks, we power the insights needed to increase profitability, unlock sales opportunities, and create operational efficiencies. Learn how publishers are supporting diverse sales strategies across platforms with the visibility and insights they need at flightpath.fm.

About YEA Media Group
YEA Media Group is the next-generation of media company with branches dedicated to on-air, online, and on-site. From content creation to audio syndication and marketing solutions for any size business, YMG helps you reach and activate consumers quicker and more efficiently than ever.

At Flightpath, we understand how time-consuming manual reporting can be for your business. That’s why we’ve launched our new report automation feature, designed to streamline your workflows and free up your team’s time.

Here's how it works:

Our report builder automation is a feature your account team can enable for any saved and defined report. Meaning you can apply this automation to any core report or custom report in your Flightpath instance.

Once set up, reports will be automatically triggered based on your desired schedule—whether that’s every Friday, the first Monday of each month, or any other timing that works best for your team.

But that’s not all:

With Flightpath, these automated reports can be seamlessly delivered through a variety of integrations. You can now export your data directly to:

• Amazon S3 buckets for secure storage and easy access

• Airtable databases to keep all your campaign and order data organized

• Email recipients for direct delivery to key stakeholders

• More integrations coming soon

This automation eliminates human error and reduces manual processes, so you can focus on what you do best—growing your podcast business and boosting sales. We're excited to help you streamline your campaign management and billing!

Increase revenue with predictive analytics.

Schedule your a demo today.

Or contact Laurie Belleau to learn more.

Flightpath, the premier provider of predictive analytics and podcast ad inventory management solutions, is excited to announce the launch of YouTube Predictive Analytics at the upcoming Podcast Movement conference in Washington D.C., taking place from August 19-22, 2024. This real-time visibility into future availability across YouTube and podcasting platforms will accelerate and simplify how teams sell and manage their simulcast campaigns, allowing teams to focus on generating revenue and better satisfying buyer requests.

As digital advertising continues to advance, more publishers are engaging in simulcast strategies as they increasingly represent shows across platforms such as YouTube and Megaphone. Many of these publishers have expressed frustration with the challenge of unifying their inventory management tools and a lack of reliable inventory availability. Flightpath addresses this challenge head-on, offering clients not only the top-tier service they have come to expect but also the strategic guidance and insights needed to effectively price, promise, and deliver simulcast inventory and promotions.

Alan Abdine, Head of Ad Revenue for YMH Studios, praised the innovation, stating, “Flightpath has once again demonstrated their ability to identify and solve marketplace challenges with precision. Their new solution will significantly streamline our media planning process, allowing us to focus on maximizing results for our clients and enhancing our bottom line.”

Laurie Belleau, Flightpath’s Chief Revenue Officer, commented, “Introducing YouTube Predictive Analytics is a significant milestone in our mission to support publishers across both YouTube and various podcasting platforms. We are committed to empowering publishers with the tools they need to manage their reach, performance, and analysis across all emerging media channels.”

Flightpath CEO Sean Howard added, “Our clients have been frustrated with issues related to overselling and underselling their YouTube inventory. Our new predictive analytics tool provides the level of accuracy they’ve come to expect from the podcast side of their business. And we’re just getting started; our goal is to offer comprehensive campaign reporting, predictive insights, and performance tools that will help our clients scale their businesses and deliver exceptional results for their buyers, in a single IO.”

For more information on working with Flightpath, please reach out to laurie@flightpath.fm.

We share:

• what drove me to find a better solution for buyers and publishers in the podcasting space

• the single greatest thing holding publishers back from financial success

• what some buyers ask for that cuts your revenue by 80%

• the mistakes we have both made along the way

Jeff and I have known each other for a long time, and this is a fun way to be a fly on the wall during one of our throw-down chats where neither of us holds back about the opportunities and challenges we see for publishers and the podcasting industry.

Available on YouTube or in your favourite podcast app.

I’ve had the privilege of meeting Ad Operations people from one end of our industry to the other. And I can say with conviction that podcasting has the best Ad Ops people I’ve ever met. I would go so far as to say they put all other forms of media to shame, because they have to.

I don’t want to take away from other teams. Every media channel has its pain points, but I think it’s safe to say that in podcasting, Operations has had one (or both) of their hands tied behind their backs. They have been forced to cobble together makeshift solution after makeshift solution in a vain attempt to stop make goods, manage producers, and scramble to maximize delivery and sell-through.

All due to a lack of reliable yield, operations, and forecasting tools in the podcasting industry. Leaving teams with no choice but to turn to an old and flawed friend: pacing on actuals.

Pacing on actuals is a disaster. It always has been and it always will be.

Some have even attempted to break it down into pacing by day, with the idea of identifying the Ideal Spend to Date, with little improvement.

Pacing on actuals is where someone builds an equation, usually in Excel, that takes the impressions delivered to date (actuals) and tries to determine how likely this flight is to deliver what was promised to the buyer.

With pacing on actuals, every order starts in the green. Maybe it’s underperforming slightly in our equation, but we know there is an episode release coming up later in the week. So we pray it will be be fine. And we color it green, letting our team focus on the other problem flights.

At the midway point of the flight, we have to acknowledge we might have a problem. So we flag it as “yellow” and we do what we can: perhaps we increase its priority or extend the run. But we’ve missed the episode release peak, so there is not much we can really do at this point.

In the final days of the flight, there’s nothing left but to flag the flight as “red” and bring it to the top of one of our weekly flight review spreadsheets. It’s too late to do anything, so we draw straws on who has to tell sales they have to ask the buyer (again) to extend the flight, knowing full well that if the buyer agrees, this will throw many of our other campaigns into question.

All of which leads to lacklustre campaign performance, increased make goods, and negative experiences for the buyer.

There is a better way: predicted performance.

Reliable, order-level predictions that free your team from trying to guess at future performance and instead focus on solving problems before flights even start.

Flightpath predicts every order with ummatched reliability and provides future campaign performance, financial projections, order performance alerts, and sellable inventory at the push of a button.

Give your sales and support teams the tools to drive revenue growth and fix problems before they happen.

Stop scrambling and start scaling your business.

Learn more at: flightpath.fm

We are excited to announce our partnership with Barometer, the best in class provider of brand suitability and safety solutions for digital audio. This partnership enhances control and transparency at a management level, providing podcast publishers with powerful advanced ad performance forecasting as well as invaluable audio intelligence around brand suitability and trust.

Sales teams will be able to better package and serve brands with access to Flightpath’s trusted twelve month future view of Available Inventory and Campaign Performance, which features a real-time view of podcast ad inventory across all supported podcasting platforms. But now the availability they pull in real-time is tied to Barometer’s proprietary tool that reviews show content to measure risk in categories compiled by the Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM), such as adult content, profanity, spam, harmful content, and more. Teams can package shows and/or episodes in real-time in Barometer, confirm and package based on availability data using Flightpath, and get IOs out the door that are fully brand safe and contextually relevant to a brand or buyer’s needs.

As advertising in the podcast industry continues to surge, more and more brands are entering the space. However, concerns about brand safety abound. With the Flightpath-Barometer partnership, companies are provided a better view of where and when they can connect their brand to trusted influencers and content, ensuring greater opportunities for building brand awareness and affinity with desired audience – safely and effectively.

“This is an exciting time for the podcast industry, as the number of brands advertising in the space continues to explode,” stated Tamara Zubatiy, CEO of Barometer. “Both Barometer and Flightpath are committed to providing companies with the intel they need to be successful in their podcast advertising efforts, and by combining our groundbreaking audio intelligence with Flightpath’s innovative forecasting tools, we can provide publishers with a more comprehensive solution to help them scale and reach their full potential."

“Barometer’s ability to provide contextual and brand-safety analysis is second to none,” said Sean Howard, Flightpath CEO. “But its how Barometer and Flightpath have enabled real-time usage that breaks new ground in this industry. Sales teams can now package on-the-fly to maximize available inventory for any opportunity while also delivering a better product to the market that allows brands to step into the space with more comfort and less risk. This partnership underscores our dedication to seeking continuous innovative solutions and it was a joy to work with the Barometer team on this breakthrough.”

For more information on this partnership, please reach out to laurie@flightpath.fm.

About Barometer

Barometer is an AI-powered contextualization engine with best in class brand suitability and contextual targeting solution. We help the largest brands in the world responsibly activate at scale in impactful channels like podcasts! Our proprietary, multimodal, contextual (and not keywords-based) technology makes  brand suitability a process of INCLUSION rather than a dreaded block-list generator. Furthermore, through our investment in ensuring diverse voices & news content are not anti-targeted inadvertently, Barometer helps brands ensure their brand standards don’t come at the cost of their brand values. 

http://www.thebarometer.co

About Flightpath
Flightpath is the predictive analytics platform for podcasting, providing the insights and support publishers need to identify opportunities and solve problems for their business.  Teams can spend more time strengthening relationships with buyers and less time wasted on spreadsheets and manual reporting. See what industry-first alerts, campaign prediction, trusted sales availability, ad-ops tools, opportunity cost analysis, and decision-making support can do for your company at flightpath.fm.

Breaking new ground in podcast revenue optimization, Flightpath, the predictive analytics platform for the podcasting industry, proudly unveils its latest partnership with Realm. Flightpath's state-of-the-art inventory and campaign management platform now gives Realm unparalleled forecasting capabilities twelve months into the future, enabling revenue goals to be met consistently and deliver on client expectations. 

Realm is an industry-leading studio and global podcast network who partners with top-tier talent and entertainment companies including Warner Bros/DC, Paramount, and Netflix to develop, produce, distribute, and monetize immersive audio entertainment. The Realm Network encompasses over 10M monthly downloads across entertainment & fiction, kids & family, and lifestyle & culture with ad sales partners including IGN, Adelicious, Black Barrel Media, Story Pirates, and Rebel Girls.

"Coupling Flightpath's cutting-edge campaign management technology with our expert sales team and strategy marks a pivotal moment for Realm," expressed Nicole Kreutter, Head of Network. "This synergy promises not only enhanced revenue streams but also deeper audience engagement. With Flightpath's expertise, we are poised to reinforce Realm's standing as a frontrunner in the podcasting landscape."

"We are delighted to announce our partnership with Realm," said Laurie Belleau, Chief Revenue Officer at Flightpath. "Their team is truly remarkable, and we're eager to equip them with the essential tools needed to fuel their ongoing revenue growth and success in the marketplace."

To learn more about Flightpath, please reach out to laurie@flightpath.fm

To learn more about Realm, please visit realm.fm/w/sponsorship-and-advertising

About Flightpath
Flightpath helps teams spend more time strengthening relationships with buyers and less time wasted on spreadsheets and manual reporting. The predictive analytics platform for podcasting that provides the insights and support publishers need to identify opportunities and solve problems for their business. See what industry-first alerts, campaign prediction, trusted sales availability, ad-ops tools, opportunity cost analysis, and decision-making support can do for your company at flightpath.fm

About Realm
Led by former book publishing executive Molly Barton and team members from CAA, Disney, Warner Brothers, Spotify, NBC Universal, Realm is a leading audio entertainment company with an award-winning studio and global podcast network. They produce immersive stories with top-tier talent and companies from across the entertainment industry including Warner Bros., DC Comics, Marvel, and even the official continuation of your favorite hit TV series – like ORPHAN BLACK, starring Emmy-winner Tatiana Maslany.

The Realm Studio has brought more top-charting fiction shows to audiences than any competitor with eight shows hitting #1 on Apple Podcasts. Notable titles include the #1 Spotify podcast HARLEY QUINN & THE JOKER: SOUND MIND starring Christina Ricci and Billy Magnussen, THE FLASH: ESCAPE THE MIDNIGHT CIRCUS starring Max Greenfield, and fan favorites OUTLIERS voiced by Rory Culkin, IF I GO MISSING THE WITCHES DID IT starring Oscar-nominated actress Gabourey Sidibe; POWER TRIP starring Tatiana Maslany; MARIGOLD BREACH starring Jameela Jamil and Manny Jacinto; and ECHO PARK starring Harry Shum Jr. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram.