RS354: The State Of Podcasting Heading Into 2026

RS354: The State Of Podcasting Heading Into 2026

Author: Craig Hewitt November 26, 2025 Duration: 41:22
Craig is back! Today, he welcomes fellow podcaster Colin Gray back to the podcast. They dive into the ever-evolving world of podcasting, reflecting on how much the landscape has shifted over the last decade and what people are craving now more than ever: genuine human connection. From the tug-of-war between YouTube and podcast growth, to what it really means to build an AI-first product, they explore the trends shaping creators, customers, and the platforms that connect them. Highlights from Craig and Colin’s conversation: How podcasting has changed over the last 10 years  The more we’re pulled toward AI, the more we crave genuine connection Is it easier to grow a YouTube channel or a podcast? Content integration and becoming a centralized hub Spotify’s role in the evolution of podcasting Monetization: ads, donations, subscriptions, and more Balancing and prioritizing feature requests How AI is shaping customer expectations How to make your product AI-first Resources and Links from This Episode: The Podcast Host: https://www.thepodcasthost.com/  Colin on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/colinmcgray?originalSubdomain=uk  beehiiv: https://www.beehiiv.com/  Kit: https://kit.com/ Creator Hooks: https://creatorhooks.com/  Castos Free Tools: castos.com/tools Email me: podcast@roguestartups.com Find me on Twitter: @TheCraigHewitt If you feel like Rogue Startups has benefited you, and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give Rogue Startups a review on iTunes.  Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Feel free to reach out to me: Twitter: @TheCraigHewitt LinkedIn: Craig Hewitt Email: podcast@roguestartups.com 

Behind every new company is a story, and Rogue Startups digs into the real ones-the messy, uncertain, and exhilarating paths founders actually walk. This isn't about polished success tales; it's a candid look at the day-to-day grind of building a business from the ground up. You'll hear directly from entrepreneurs in the thick of it, along with seasoned experts who specialize in the crucial engines of growth: sales, marketing, and product development. Conversations focus on practical tactics, particularly around scaling productized services and SaaS offerings, exploring the real "how" behind their growth hacking strategies. The value of this podcast lies in that shared experience-hearing how others navigate the very obstacles you might be staring down, and learning what moves actually led to a win. It’s for anyone who prefers the unvarnished truth of entrepreneurship over theory, offering a sense of camaraderie and a toolbox of ideas drawn from the front lines. Tune in for authentic dialogue that skips the fluff and gets straight to the challenges and victories of building something new.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

Rogue Startups
Podcast Episodes
RS367: How to Hire in the AI Era [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:35
Do you need a team to build a successful company these days? On this episode of Rogue Startups, host Craig Hewitt (Castos) and co-host Colin Gray (Alitu and The Podcast Host) tackle one of the biggest questions facing fo…
RS366: When (and how) To Pick a Co-Founder [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:23
Should you build your next company alone, or find a co-founder? It's a question that has no easy answer, and AI is making it even more complicated. If one person can now build, market, and operate far more of a business…
RS365: Marketing that Actually Works Today [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:45
What happens to marketing when AI can create almost unlimited content, build software in days, and make it easier than ever for anyone to compete? In this episode of Rogue Startups, Craig Hewitt and co-host Colin Gray di…
RS364: Think Less, Do More [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:10
AI has made building software dramatically easier. But if everyone can build a product, what happens to SaaS? In this episode of Rogue Startups, Craig Hewitt is joined by co-host Colin Gray for a wide-ranging conversatio…
RS363: Why Talking to AI About Your Business Is Dangerous [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:53
While we weren’t looking, AI has quietly embedded itself into the coaching world. Today Craig sits down with new cohost Colin Gray, founder of Alitu and The Podcast Host, to unpack the current state of the industry. They…
RS362: Hidden Multipliers with Jason Cohen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:43
What happens when AI changes the rules of building a software company? According to Jason Cohen, the answer isn't to predict the future. It's to build around things that remain valuable no matter how technology changes.…
RS361: Lessons Learned Selling A Business [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:24
Selling a business isn't just about timing the market. It's about knowing yourself. In this episode of Rogue Startups, Craig Hewitt sits down with Colin Gray, founder of Alitu and The Podcast Host, to discuss what it's r…
RS360: Kill the Hippo [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:39
If you're building a SaaS company, one of the hardest questions you'll face isn't how to build a product. It's what to build next. In this episode of Rogue Startups, Craig Hewitt talks with Steve McLeod, founder of Featu…
Huge Work (and life) Updates [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:53
After an almost 5 month break from the podcast, I'm Back! In this episode I talk through updates with me, Castos, my coaching business, and where the podcast is headed into the future. Spoiler alert...i'm getting a new c…
RS358: Your Design Sucks [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:07
In this episode, Craig sits down with Francois Brill, Head of Product at Castos and longtime design collaborator, for an honest and entertaining conversation about what it really takes to build great-looking products in…