School of Podcasting: "Who is Peeing in the Podcast Pool?"

Host: Dave Jackson
Date: December 22, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Dave Jackson offers a year-end wrap-up on the state of podcasting, examining the trends, threats, and frustrations that have defined the space in 2025. Through engaging stories, rants, and industry analysis, Dave passionately pushes back against the dilution of the podcast definition—especially the trend of calling everything (YouTube shows, TikToks, newsletters) a "podcast." He urges podcasters to defend the medium's core principles and highlights the dangers posed by spammy AI content, exclusivity deals, and industry confusion.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening Story: The Cridland Boys Choir Analogy

[00:00–03:38]

• Dave tells a humorous parable about a school superintendent who waters down the definition of a "boys choir" until it includes dogs and mops, resulting in a disastrous performance.
• Point: As definitions are stretched to meet arbitrary benchmarks, quality and purpose are lost—directly paralleling what's happening in podcasting today.

Quote:
"The night came and the choir assembled with a bunch of creepy dudes with mops standing in the back row, dogs howling over a few talented boys who you really couldn't even hear over all the ruckus. But Ms. Broombaugh had achieved her boys choir. ... It was awful. The end."
—Dave Jackson ([03:10])

2. Rant: The Changing Definition of Podcasting

[03:44–07:46]

• Dave targets industry leaders (notably Steve Goldstein and Jay Natchless) for promoting the idea that the definition of a podcast is changing to include YouTube videos and more.
• Argues that only RSS-delivered audio/video/PDFs are podcasts; everything else is a misuse of the term.
• Criticizes lack of industry pushback on these redefinitions.

Quotes:
"I cannot disagree more...we're taking podcast Advice from guys that sound like that...I would tell them, figure out how to work a microphone."
—Dave Jackson ([07:57])

"Why do we care what the consumer says? Because we are also the first to say the consumer doesn't care how we define it."
—Dave Jackson ([07:08])

3. The Consequences of Definition Creep

[07:46–15:34]

• Diluting the term "podcast" lets platforms like YouTube and TikTok hijack podcasting’s reputation for engagement and effectiveness.
• Raises concerns over misclassifying marketing spend and undermining the clarity that helps advertisers invest in real podcasts.
• Warns this confusion is already driving away potential new audio-only podcasters by convincing them video is mandatory.

Quotes:
"YouTube is a wolf in podcast clothing that drives me nuts. And now it's filtered over. TikTok now is calling itself a podcast. Why not? If YouTube can do it and nobody's gonna push back, we're a podcast, too."
—Dave Jackson ([08:30])

"A podcast can be a YouTube show, no, it can't. Not without an RSS feed...A newsletter is not a podcast."
—Dave Jackson ([09:50])

Memorable Moment:
Dave uses sarcasm to drive the point home:
"This kitchen timer sitting right here on my desk is. It's a podcast. I'll tell you more about that in a second..."
([08:54])

4. Industry Reports and Their Problems

[15:34–21:06]

• Challenges industry research for muddying the waters and not always asking relevant or clear questions.
• Argues that these trends waste time and create confusion, rather than helping the industry move forward.

Quote:
"The more we water down the definition of a podcast, now it's a newsletter. That is such crap. That is such absolute nonsense. It's idiotic. A podcast is not a newsletter, and we need to start pushing back..."
—Dave Jackson ([16:48])

5. Listener Testimonial: The Power of Coaching

[20:27–21:06]

Mark Lawley (Practical Prepping podcast) shares stats and thanks Dave for guidance:

• Over 1,000 downloads in the first week on several episodes, 2,000 in under 30 days for a few.
• Started their show on a "$30 Olympus single track digital recorder"—proof quality and coaching trump flashy tech.

Quote:
"Just thought we'd let you see how your coaching is helping a middle aged couple with a little old podcast in North Alabama..."
—Mark Lawley ([20:31])

6. Exclusivity Deals & Platform Control: Spotify and Netflix

[21:06–27:22]

• Warns against exclusivity deals (e.g., with Spotify, now Netflix) that separate creators from their audience in favor of platform control.
• Points to historical examples (Joe Rogan, Call Her Daddy) moving away from exclusivity and toward broader distribution.
• Shares skepticism that big companies care more about profits than podcasters or listeners.

Quotes:
"If you are like, hey, I got to get on Netflix, that would be cool. A exclusive deals are crap. Unless...you're getting paid millions of dollars..."
—Dave Jackson ([23:30])

7. Key Stats: Platform Comparison and Video Myths

[27:29–27:50]

• James Cridlin (podnews.net) notes how some podcasts outsize Netflix shows despite "modest" download numbers.
• Debunks the myth that video is required for success—many top podcasts aren't on video.

Quotes:
"Pod News Weekly Review is bigger than 1 in 5 of all the shows on Netflix, despite only getting 26,500 downloads a month."
—James Cridlin ([27:40])

"For all those people going, can you even be successful without having video? Yeah, apparently you can."
—Dave Jackson ([27:22])

8. AI Content Flood: The Real Podcast 'Polluters'

[29:16–35:57]

• Highlights Inception Point and other companies flooding podcast directories with thousands of AI-generated, unvetted episodes weekly.
• Argues this "AI slop" harms discoverability, directory infrastructure, and advertising rates by diluting overall podcast quality.
• Advocates for apps to market themselves as "slop free" and for collective pushback against content spam.

Quotes:
"If podcasting is a pool and we're all swimming in it, companies like this...That space is us. That's our living room. That's our swimming pool, and we're in it, and the water's turning bright yellow and starting to stink..."
—Dave Jackson ([34:11])

"Every single app that uses the index should market itself as slop free. If you want to listen to AI Slop, go use Spotify."
—Adam Curry (paraphrased by Dave) ([34:32])

9. Education Gap: Duplicated Listings and Naming Woes

[35:57–39:55]

• Many podcasters accidentally submit duplicate listings to directories after moving hosts, damaging discoverability and rankings.
• The importance of researching your show's name to avoid confusion and crowding.

Quote:
"In the same way you wouldn't ask me a JavaScript question, I don't work in that. I'm a podcast guy..."
—Dave Jackson ([36:02])

10. Predictions for 2026

[40:32–48:43]

• More creators will turn to premium/supporter models to escape low ad CPMs.
• Pushback against low-value, AI-generated "slop" content will intensify.
• Expect to see company mergers as businesses slim down to attract buyouts.
• Significant percentage of new YouTube podcasters will abandon the platform when realized audio is simpler and more effective for deep engagement.
• Calls for a resurgence of creativity and innovation in podcasting, beyond endlessly copying popular formats and genres.

Quotes:
"If you gave me $5, and right now, $5 won't even buy you a Happy Meal...that would be the same if I was really, really good of getting a thousand downloads. So the question is, what's easier: getting a thousand downloads or getting one person to give you $5 a month?"
—Dave Jackson ([41:30])

"I want to see a resurgence in creativity...I want to see people break the format a bit..."
—Dave Jackson ([45:22])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "YouTube is a wolf in podcast clothing." —Dave Jackson ([08:30])
• "A podcast can be a YouTube show, no it can't. Not without an RSS feed." —Dave Jackson ([09:50])
• "If podcasting is a pool and we're all swimming in it...the water's turning bright yellow and starting to stink." —Dave Jackson ([34:11])
• “Every book doesn’t need to be a movie.” —Adam Curry, cited by Dave ([14:10])
• "If you gave me $5...that would be the same if I was really, really good of getting a thousand downloads." —Dave Jackson ([41:30])

Important Timestamps

• [00:00–03:38] — The Cridland Boys Choir analogy
• [05:03–07:57] — Rant on industry's changing definitions and YouTube as a platform
• [09:50] — On newsletters not being podcasts
• [20:27] — Listener success story (Mark Lawley, Practical Prepping)
• [27:29–27:50] — Netflix/platform size comparison by James Cridlin
• [29:16–35:57] — AI content flooding the podcast space ("who is peeing in the pool")
• [35:57–39:55] — Duplicate listings in Apple Podcasts/directories, naming errors
• [40:32–48:43] — Predictions for 2026, plea for creativity

Tone and Style

Dave Jackson mixes humor, sarcasm, and a direct, passionate delivery. He uses analogies, personal anecdotes, and industry quotes to clarify his arguments. The episode maintains a conversational, slightly ranty, but always educational and encouraging tone.

Summary Takeaways

• The dilution of the podcast definition to include everything from YouTube shows to newsletters is both pervasive and dangerous—weakening podcasting’s core identity and confusing creators and advertisers.
• The industry must push back: demand clear definitions, call out "AI slop," and educate newcomers on the fundamentals.
• True podcast health comes from innovation, relationship-building, and maintaining clarity—not from chasing platforms, trends, or low-value mass content.
• Alternative monetization (membership/supporter models) and creative risk-taking offer hope for the future.
• Dave Jackson stands as both protector of the tradition and enthusiastic coach for anyone ready to do podcasting “the right way.”

For aspiring or veteran podcasters, this episode is essential listening—a no-nonsense call to defend your craft and not let the ‘pool’ get polluted.