Alexandra Forsyth, host of the Take A Chance On You podcast, writes for PodcastingToday on how podcasting is developing beyond traditional audio/video formatting.
The podcast industry is booming, shifting toward experience-led formats, driven by a growing desire for human connection.
Cultural impacts show podcasts are moving beyond traditional audio/video formatting, into hybrid content to bridge the gap between social media and audience interaction.
At the same time, multi-modal ways of storytelling from brand partnerships and live performances are predicted to skyrocket, as the Entertainment and Media industry grows to US$3.5 trillion by 2029.
The days of focusing solely on trending visibility (ad spend, downloads, boosted marketing and sponsorships) feel restricted in comparison to seeing your audience in the flesh, building on a natural gravitational pull towards IRL (“in-real life”) opportunities between host and listeners.
Emerging and established podcasters will continue this year to find alternative ways to increase longevity with their audience. While some brands tap into adopting AI practices for analysing creators’ performance and driving campaign ROI; podcasting provides something a little different, human ROI in-person, a metric that cannot be replicated through data.
The same can be said for the rise in micro-creators who are forming stronger communities, while remaining adaptable and curious. Adaptability is one of the top hiring skills recruiters are on the hunt for in 2026 and if we put this into the context of creative ecosystems, podcasting is no exception, paving the way for addressing potential gaps in careers.
Through platforms like Take A Chance On You, we are seeing how knowledge of media and strategy has been combined with lived experiences; helping guests from emerging talent through to leaders navigate these challenges. This strategy, centered on the H.U.M.A.N. Framework, boosts performance by acknowledging where we are currently and how the landscape is likely to evolve in the future.
For many creators today, there is an overwhelming surge in “quick wins”, but as we are currently witnessing and will continue to, events represent the future of performance by activating live audits, satisfying a new era of listeners though deeper storytelling and brand partnerships.
Alexandra Forsyth is the host of Take A Chance On You and a speaker at The Podcast Show London. Her work focuses on experience-led podcasting, brand partnerships, and human-focused ROI across live and digital environments.
Website – https://www.alexandra-forsyth.com
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandraforsyth
