Episode Description
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We talk with Spotify’s first Equal Podcast Ambassador, Morgan Absher, about building Two Hot Takes into a video-first community and what real industry support for women creators should look like. Then we dig into Spotify’s financials and a controversial “Skip Ahead” test that could change how podcast ads are heard, measured, and trusted; and learn more about Buzzsprout's enhanced video offering
• Spotify Equal expands from music into podcasting with a focus on women creators
• Morgan Absher’s accidental start during the pandemic and how Two Hot Takes scales fast
• Why video podcasting drives connection for reaction formats and community-led shows
• The chart gap for women-led podcasts and the role of confidence and imposter syndrome
• Events and awards that increase visibility and help creators get booked and partnered
• Spotify Q2 numbers plus the push toward premium revenue per user
• Spotify’s “Skip Ahead” button and why it feels different from manual skipping
• The download metric problem versus measuring ad plays and completion
• Platform control trends across Spotify, YouTube, and Netflix style walled gardens
• Video distribution updates across Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and Spotify plus hosting pricing shifts
• EU AI Act disclosure rules and why an RSS AI tag alone may not satisfy lawyers
• Transcripts becoming mainstream as the SiriusXM case nears settlement
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