Welcome back.

Today, we're going to do a deep dive into something that's a well, it's pretty revolutionary for the world of podcasts.

We're talking podcasting 2.0.

Hey, everyone.

My casting 2.0.

We've got a ton of sources, articles, interviews, you name it.

Oh, cool.

And yeah, we're going to break down what this whole movement means for creators, listeners, everyone.

You know, when I first heard the term podcasting 2.0, I have to admit I was a little skeptical.

Really?

Yeah.

It sounded kind of.

Well, I don't know, like just a bunch of tech jargon, you know?

Right, Right.

But the more I dug into it, the more I realized that it's actually a really big deal.

It's not just about fancy new features.

Okay, So if it's not about the tech, what is it about?

It's about well, it's about power shifting the power dynamics in the podcasting world.

Hmm.

Interesting.

In what way?

Well, it's about giving creators more control over their work, more ways to monetize, more ways to connect with their audience.

And I imagine it's got to have some perks for listeners, too, right?

Oh, absolutely.

You know, think of it like this.

Remember back in the day when we all had those clunky flip phones?

Oh, yeah.

I had that indestructible Nokia.

Right.

And then, bam, smartphones hit the scene, changed everything.

Exactly.

Podcasting 2.0 is kind of like that.

It's like taking podcasting from those old flip phones to the smartphone era.

So we're talking like, way more possible.

A whole universe of them.

Mm hmm.

And just like smartphones gave us tons of cool new features.

Podcasting 2.0 has a bunch of its own.

Give me some examples.

What kind of features are we talking?

Okay, I'm hooked.

All right, well, let's say you're listening to a podcast, and there's this one specific part you absolutely love.

You know that one golden nugget of wisdom that you want to go back to later?

Oh, yeah, I know that feeling.

And then you spend like 10 minutes trying to scrub through the episode to find it again.

Oh, it's the worst.

Well, with podcasting 2.0, we have chapters now.

Chapters like in a book.

Exactly.

You can jump straight to different sections of an episode.

No more endless scrubbing.

Okay.

That alone is worth the price of admission.

What else?

All right.

How about this?

Have you ever wished you could find podcasts on, like, super specific topics, like, so niche that you thought, No way.

There's a podcast about this.

I'm always on the hunt for those hidden gems.

Oh, all the time.

Well, with podcasting 2.0, we have something called tags.

These are like super detailed keywords that help listeners find the exact content they're looking for.

Wow.

So it's like a search engine, but just for podcasts?

Pretty much.

Yeah.

But let's talk about the elephant in the room.

Money creators deserve to get paid for their hard work.

How does podcasting 2.0 handle that?

This is amazing.

That is a fantastic question, and it leads us to one of the coolest things about this whole movement.

Value for value.

Value for value.

That sounds intriguing.

It's basically a way for listeners to directly support the creators they love.

Like, imagine being able to send a small tip to a podcaster whose work really resonates with you.

Wait, so you can actually pay podcasters directly, like right from your podcast?

You got it.

It's called micropayments.

Mm hmm.

Usually using bitcoin, but it could be any crypto.

No way.

So it's not just about relying on ads or sponsors anymore?

Not necessarily with value for value.

Creators have a whole new revenue stream and it can really make a difference, especially for independent creators who are just starting out.

Wow.

That could be game changing.

But what's in it for the listeners?

Besides the warm, fuzzy feeling of supporting their faves?

Well, think about it.

If creators aren't relying solely on ad revenue, they have more freedom to create the content they're truly passionate about, even if it's niche or experimental, which means more diverse and interesting podcasts for everyone.

Okay, so we're talking more variety, more creativity.

Exactly.

It's a win win for both creators and listeners.

We even found a source who said they were able to pay for a coffee with earnings from their podcast app.

Whoa.

That's a powerful image.

Now, we've been talking a lot about this open ecosystem and empowering creators.

But what about the big players?

You know, the Spotify of the world?

Where do they fit into all of this?

That's where things get, well, a little complicated.

So the podcasting 2.0 is all about open standards.

It's about creating a level playing field where anyone can participate.

Right.

A bit like the early days of the Internet, right before the big corporations took over.

You got it.

But these big platforms, they have their own way of doing things, their own interest, their own business models.

So it's kind of like podcasting.

2.0 is pushing for this open and decentralized world, and the big guys are maybe a little more hesitant to embrace that fully.

Right.

And this tension, this clash of philosophies, it's going to have a huge impact on the future of podcasting.

That makes sense.

So what are we looking at here?

Is it going to be like David versus Goliath situation?

It very well could be.

One of our sources said, look, I'm all for the open advocacy of podcasting 2.0.

But I also understand that from a corporate point of view, a company like Spotify couldn't just jump ahead of the curve while waiting for the community to come up with the tags and standards.

So it sounds like there's this kind of push and pull happening like everyone sees the potential of podcasting 2.0, but figuring out how to actually make it work, especially with the big players involved.

That's the tricky.

And as listeners, it's important for us to understand these dynamics because ultimately they're going to shape what kind of podcasts we get to listen to in the future.

Part.

Absolutely.

Totally.

So the stakes are pretty high here.

But even with all this talk about the open versus closed debate and the big companies, I'm still feeling really optimistic about the potential of podcasting to point out.

There's a real sense of excitement and possibility in the air.

And the more we understand about it, the more we can all contribute to shaping its future.

Me too.

Me too.

Absolutely.

And that's what we're all about here, right?

Exploring new ideas.

Diving deep into the stuff that matters and hopefully helping to create a better future for podcasting.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

It's really cool to see how this whole podcasting 2.0 thing is shaking things up, you know?

Yeah, it's definitely challenging the status quo.

Like it's really pushing for a more, I don't know, a more democratic way of doing things.

Exactly.

It's about giving power back to the creators.

Yeah, and to the listeners, too.

And that's something I think a lot of people can get behind, right?

Absolutely.

But there are definitely some hurdles, some challenges that this movement is going to have to overcome.

Oh, yeah, for sure.

Like what?

Well, I think one of the biggest challenges is simply awareness.

Awareness?

Yeah.

A lot of people just don't even know about podcasting 2.0 yet.

It's still kind of under the radar, isn't it?

That's true.

It is.

And even for those who have heard about it, there's often this like, hesitation.

Hesitation?

Like, what do you mean?

Well, you know, some people might think, okay, this all sounds great, but is it complicated?

Right.

Right.

Like, do I need to be some kind of tech wizard to figure this out?

I think that's a valid concern.

I mean, not everyone's comfortable with all the technical stuff.

Exactly.

And that's something the podcasting 2.0 community is really aware of.

So what are they doing about it?

Well, they're working hard to make it as user friendly as possible.

That's good to hear.

Yeah.

One of our sources actually said we need to make podcasting 2.0 understandable and easy on the front end, just like YouTube.

Hide the wallets, don't make it front and center.

That's the only way to win.

Mm hmm.

Hide the wallets.

I like that.

It's like, make it so simple that anyone can use it without having to understand all the complicated stuff behind the scenes.

Exactly.

But making it user friendly, that's just one piece of the puzzle.

All right, what else?

Another big challenge is getting buy in from those big platforms we were talking about earlier, the.

Spotify, the Apple Podcasts, all those guys.

Right.

And, well, convincing them to embrace the whole open ecosystem thing.

It's not always.

Easy because they have their own priorities, their own way of doing things.

Exactly.

It's like you know, trying to turn a giant ship around.

It takes time and a lot of effort.

And sometimes those big ships, they don't want to change course.

That's true.

But I'm still hopeful.

Hopeful.

But what makes you optimistic?

Well, we are seeing some progress.

More and more podcasting apps and hosting platforms are starting to incorporate those podcasting 2.0 features.

Oh, really?

Like what?

Well, there's a bunch of cool apps out there like Fountain Pod Verse, Cast, Illmatic.

They're all built around this idea of an open podcasting ecosystem.

Hmm.

I've heard of some of those.

So just by switching to a different app, listeners can actually experience those podcasting 2.0 features.

Yep.

That's one way to do it.

Like what kind of features are we talking about here?

Well, a.

Lot of these apps have something called Boost two grams.

Boost two grams.

Okay, that's a new one.

Yeah, it's really cool.

It's basically a way to send a little tip like a micropayment to a podcast episode that you really enjoyed.

Oh, I see.

So it's kind of like giving a virtual high five.

Exactly.

It's a way to show your appreciation and support directly to the creator.

Okay.

I can definitely see the appeal of that.

And a lot of these apps also have better chapter support and transcripts.

So all those things we were talking about earlier.

Yup.

All designed to make the listening experience better and more interactive.

This is really cool.

Now for creators who want to get on board with this whole podcasting 2.0 thing.

What do they need to do?

Well, the first step is to check their hosting.

Platform to see if it supports those new features.

Exactly.

A lot of platforms are starting to integrate stuff like chapter markers and support for booster grabs.

So creators don't necessarily have to like, completely overhaul their setup to start using those features.

And the cool thing about podcasting 2.0 is that it's constantly evolving.

Not necessarily.

So it's getting easier and easier for people to jump on board.

Exactly.

More creators, more platforms, more listeners.

It's all growing together.

This is so exciting.

But, you know, whenever there's new technology, there's always a risk of, I don't know, unintended consequences.

Oh, for.

Sure.

It's important to be aware of those potential downsides, too.

Like, what kind of things should we be thinking about?

Well, one concern that often comes up is the complexity issue.

Right.

We talked about that earlier.

Not everyone's a tech wiz.

Exactly.

And there's a risk that podcasting 2.0 could end up excluding those who aren't as tech savvy.

Yeah, we don't want to create this digital divide where some people have access to all the cool new stuff and others get left behind.

Absolutely.

And that's something that the podcasting 2.0 community needs to be really mindful of.

You know, make sure things are accessible to everyone, regardless of their technical skills.

It's like we need to make sure that this whole movement doesn't become this exclusive club.

It should be open and welcoming to everyone.

Are there any other potential downsides that we should be aware of?

Well, another concern is that this whole emphasis on micropayments and direct monetization, it could lead to a more fragmented podcasting landscape.

Fragmented?

What do you.

Mean?

Well, imagine a scenario where listeners have to subscribe to like a dozen different micropayment channels just to support all their favorite shows.

Oh, I see what you mean.

You could get really confusing an overwhelming.

Yeah.

And who wants to juggle like a million different apps and services just to listen to podcasts?

Exactly.

And it could also disadvantage those smaller independent podcasts because.

They might get lost in the shuffle.

Right.

So it's like a double edged sword.

On the one hand, you have this potential for creators to earn more money directly from their listeners.

But on the other hand, you have this risk of creating a more complex and maybe less accessible listening experience.

It's a balancing act, for sure.

It is, and it highlights the need for careful consideration as this whole podcasting 2.0 thing continues to develop.

Yeah, it's like we need to find that sweet spot where everyone benefits both creators and listeners.

Absolutely.

And that's going to require open communication and collaboration from everyone involved.

Yeah, it's not just about the technology.

It's about building a better future for podcasting as a whole.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

Man, it's wild to think how much the podcasting world could change.

You know, it really is.

I mean, we've covered a lot of ground here.

Yeah, like we talked about the philosophy behind it, the tech, even some of the potential problems, right?

Exactly.

But I think it's important to remember, you know, like why this whole podcasting 2.0 thing is even happening, right?

Like, what's driving this movement?

Yeah, It's easy to get caught up in all the detail, the.

Tech stuff, the debates.

Exactly.

But at the end of the day, podcasting 2.0 is about something bigger.

Okay, so what is it about?

At its core.

It's about creating a better future for podcasting, for both creators and listeners.

Hmm.

Yeah, I can get behind that.

So as we're wrapping up this deep dive, what are some of the key takeaways?

Well, first of all, I think it's important to remember that podcasting 2.0 is not like a finished product.

You know, it's still evolving.

Exactly.

It's a movement.

Yeah.

And what it looks like today might be totally different from what it looks like in a few years.

So it's like we're all kind of figuring it out as we go, right?

And we all have a role to play in shaping its future.

Oh, yeah, for sure.

Like, what can listeners do?

Well, for.

Starters, just be aware of it.

You know, explore those new podcasting apps, support creators who are embracing podcasting to point out.

Yeah, vote with your ears.

And don't be afraid to, like, dive in and experiment.

Right, Exactly.

Yeah.

Try new things, see what works.

Totally.

It's like a big experiment, and we're all part of it.

Cool.

But before we get too carried away with all the exciting stuff, let's talk about those concerns we brought up earlier.

Oh, yeah.

Those are important, too.

Like what are some things we need to be mindful of as this whole thing keeps developing?

Well, I think one of the biggest things is making sure it's accessible to everyone, right?

Regardless of their technical skills.

We don't want it to become like this exclusive club, you know?

Yeah, exactly.

No, it should be open to everyone.

And another thing is, you know, finding that balance between direct monetization and keeping the listening experience simple.

Right.

Because we don't want it to become too fragmented where you have to jump between a million different apps.

It's all about finding that sweet spot.

Right, Exactly.

Yeah.

Where creators can get paid fairly, but listeners don't feel overwhelmed.

It's a balancing act, for sure.

It is.

But I think if we all keep those things in mind, you know, those potential challenges, we can really make this whole podcasting 2.0 thing work.

I agree.

And I think the key is communication.

Like, we need to keep talking about it, sharing ideas, figuring out solutions together.

Yeah, it's a collaborative effort.

Absolutely.

So as we wrap up, is there like one main thing you want to leave our listeners with?

Yeah, Good question.

Hmm.

I guess it would be to, you know, just keep an open mind.

Don't be afraid to explore the possibilities of podcasting 2.0.

I like that.

Embrace the change, you know?

Exactly.

Because who knows?

This could be the start of something truly amazing.

It could be.

Well, that's about all the time we have for today.

Thanks for joining us on this deep dive into podcasting 2.0.

We hope you learn something new and maybe even got a little inspired.

Until next time, keep exploring, keep listening, and most importantly, keep podcasting.

See ya.