Was Inception Point AI just a PR stunt?

• Exclusive: Inception Point AI’s thousands of AI-made podcasts could just have been a publicity stunt, according to a new episode of The Lead Balloon podcast, to be released today. CEO Jeanine Wright is interviewed on the show, saying that some publicity was “a PR strategy to get attention”. We learn that the Quiet Please network now only has 300 active shows, which they’re no longer trying to monetise. Wright tells Podnews that “the catalog itself was never a stunt, and we never chased volume for publicity.” Also in Lead Balloon she gives a definition of AI slop: folks “using AI tools to make as much content as they can with as little expense as possible, in order to be able to monetize the delta.” Sounds familiar. The company is now branded as Liquid Studios, which now suggests that it “transforms existing content, not generates from a blank page”.

• The biggest podcast advertiser is going international - BetterHelp has appointed Media Bodies to focus on international podcast advertising. Media Bodies will work alongside BetterHelp to develop, launch and scale campaigns across 10 international markets, combining global strategy and performance data with local market expertise.

• The Apple iPhone might not be giving your headphones the best audio quality - because it doesn’t support the latest Bluetooth audio codecs. A new Bluetooth dongle from Questyle could unlock better audio quality - and also much lower latency, which might be useful for recording podcasts without the delay you get with a normal Bluetooth connection.

• Avid has made its Media Composer video editor free. “Media Composer 2026.8 removes previous limitations on tracks and resolutions in Media Composer First. Media Composer First gives aspiring editors a true no-cost entry point into professional editing, now with a more full-fledged editing experience that graduates more intuitively into additional features or Standard, Ultimate, and Enterprise.”

• Net Influencer has focused on Red Seat Ventures and the strategy behind the company.

• FOX News is to launch the Girls, a “new personality-driven conversation series featuring an array of leading female voices”. The show features, among others, three Fox News Channel hosts.

• Podcast Nation has signed Unwineding from Lisa Gilmore.

• The Podglomerate is running a free webinar tomorrow - “What Audio Producers Really Need to Know About Video Podcasting in 2026: Politics/News Edition”. Presented in partnership with AIR, it’s free to register - 9am PT / 12pm ET / 4pm GMT (5pm London).

People News

• Jemma Brown is back as the General Manager of the Signal Awards, after her maternity leave.
• Nicole Johnson, who was working at Apple Podcasts in the Content Strategy and Programming Team, has wrapped up her time at the company.
• Michael Mignano, the RSS-averse founder of Anchor, is back: this time, launching a thing called Supertake. It “leverages frontier AI and trading agents to transform your unique takes on the world into real, shareable investment portfolios.”

Tips and tricks - with Audiencelift

• As Podnews goes back on the road again (travelling to the UK and then Germany), here is what we use to record on the go.
• Is AI everything it’s cut out to be? Gordon Firemark takes a look at the legal minefield if you use it for your show.

Podcast News - with Airwave

With Airwave: The Young Turks is Home of The Progressives. Cenk Uygur, Ana Kasparian and a host of progressive voices deliver the news and provocative commentary. Whether you are seeking a breakdown of current events, politics and the mainstream media or just a quick laugh, the TYT daily podcast will always keep you informed and entertained.

Launched a few weeks ago, Jersey Made takes an in-depth look at how one of America’s smallest states quietly helped shape the sound of a nation. Hosted by Buzz Knight, the show explores the people, places and moments that transformed the Garden State into one of music’s most influential cultural forces.

Hot Mics with Billy Bush is back with a refreshed look and a new set. The show promises candid, unfiltered interviews, and a four-day-a-week release schedule.

Betwixt the Sheets with Kate Lister - the podcast that roots around in the pants of history and explores the naughty bits - is now on Youtube! Catch Kate and her guests discussing everything from Medieval Europe’s Biggest Sex Scandal, the Debauchery of Roman Orgies, to How To Get Ready With Marie Antoinette.

In The Drama Coach Podcast this week, Series 3 - 'The Performer’s Toolkit’ - launches with a new focus on the practical skills, industry knowledge and mindset performers need to build sustainable careers, featuring conversations with actors, casting directors, agents, directors, coaches and other industry professionals.

The OrganizedPreneur Podcast is turning a book into a series. Host Aldreama Harper, a business & podcast strategist, is working through her forthcoming book, The Widow, the Ant & the Algorithm: How to Start a Business with What’s Already in Your Hands, one chapter at a time. Recent episodes use the Bible story of the widow’s oil as a practical guide to starting with what you already have. Weekly, for female entrepreneurs, podcasters, coaches, consultants and authors.

In Magnify Your Magnificence this week, host Sue Paulson sits down with master life coach and author Daniel Anderson to explore how years of criticism can become an inner voice we mistake for truth. Their conversation looks at self-doubt, self-worth, resilience, and the turning points that can help someone reconnect with purpose.

Podcasts in the wild

In London’s Leicester Square, a large ad for Acast-hosted An Excellent Fit. This billboard is often used to promote shows on Spotify and on Amazon Music. Hey, Apple Podcasts, you okay, hon?