The Hollywood Reporter and Spotify have launched their first-ever Podcast Roundtable, a new collaboration modelled on THR’s acclaimed Actors Roundtable format.
This significant initiative gathers six of the audio industry’s most influential creators for an in-depth discussion on the evolution, cultural weight, and expanding role of podcasting within the global entertainment landscape.
The first roundtable features a lineup that reflects the medium’s diversity: Keith Morrison (Dateline), Mel Robbins (The Mel Robbins Podcast), Ben Shapiro (The Ben Shapiro Show), Ashley Flowers (Crime Junkie), Dax Shepard (Armchair Expert), and Jon Favreau (Pod Save America).
These creators offer unique insights from their respective corners of the industry, spanning news, wellness, politics, crime, and entertainment.
A central theme of the discussion is podcasting’s transformation from a niche digital format into a powerhouse of cultural definition. The participants explore how they now shape conversations on politics, crime, wellness, and relationships for millions of listeners worldwide.
They examine how audio storytelling has become more ambitious, utilising long-form narratives, high-quality production, and deeply personal perspectives to cultivate unparalleled trust and loyalty with their massive global audiences.
The creators also discuss the increasing influence of podcasts in Hollywood, noting how hit audio series now serve as prime intellectual property, inspiring major television adaptations and documentary projects.
They acknowledge the creative freedom the medium provides, allowing for authentic, less restricted conversations that are highly responsive to shifting listener interests and immediate cultural moments.
The group addresses the rising industry recognition, highlighted by the Golden Globes’ new Best Podcast category. This formal acknowledgment signals the growing acceptance of podcast creators as key contributors to the entertainment sector.
The roundtable also covers evolving business models, the rise of subscription platforms, and the strategic move toward video-first distribution to leverage platforms like YouTube and Spotify’s expanding visual ecosystem.
THR’s decision to extend its franchise into audio underscores that podcasting is now firmly seated alongside film, television, and music as a major creative field.
The full episode, offering a detailed look at the personalities and creative principles defining the future of audio storytelling, is available to watch now on Spotify.
