Paul Weller podcast leads to top-selling book

• A podcast made by a fan of Paul Weller has turned into a top-selling book in the UK. The three-year podcast, which was initially released in 2020, ended with an interview with Paul Weller - but also a suggestion from Weller himself to turn it into a book.

• Greg Glenday, the CEO of Acast, has called for the industry to work closer together. He made the comments in the latest edition of the Podnews Weekly Review.

• NumberEight has partnered with DAX US to allow advertisers to target specific podcast episodes that connect with their core audience. The company has announced specific focused audience opportunities.

• Podscribe has announced a number of new features, including show-level engagement scores and vanity URL tracking. The company is also preparing for SOC 2 compliance.

• Pre-registrations are now open for the 4th edition of charity podcast movement Podcasthon, from March 14 to 20, 2026. For the first time, the event will also welcome Spanish-speaking podcasters, expanding its reach across even more communities and causes. The event last year had more than 1,500 podcasters from 40 countries dedicating one episode to a nonprofit of their choice.

The Tech Stuff - with RSS.com

• After the popular app Pocket Casts added ads for free users in its latest update, the r/pocketcasts subreddit has been full of less than complimentary feedback. The ads (both for Pocket Casts Plys and for other apps) appear in the playback screen and podcast lists. While you can remove the ads by paying for the app, for a similar experience you can also switch to the free Apple Podcasts (on iOS) or AntennaPod (on Android), neither of which contain advertising.

  • Podcast apps don’t earn any money from podcasts - but without them, podcasting doesn’t have a great future. Podcasting 2.0 offered the chance for podcast apps to earn a small percentage of micro-payments made to podcasts - however, that system used Bitcoin, which many listeners find confusing. Podcast supporting systems like Patreon or SupportingCast don’t appear to offer any way for podcast apps to integrate; or to gain affiliate revenue.
  • Question: Nobody wants to work for free - so how can we fix this? Ideally, podcast apps should be rewarded for the amount they are used: so the better the app is, the more money it earns. We’d be curious for your thoughts.

• The story of how RSS beat Microsoft, by Ryan Farley, is worth a read. Who remembers ICE? (Not that ICE).

Podcast News

Who speaks up in meetings? Who pushes themselves with stretch goals? Fixable is sharing a four-part series on confidence in the workplace. Co-hosts executive coach Anne Morris and Harvard Business School professor Frances Frei know that confidence isn’t just another workplace skill — it ultimately means who advances in their careers. Episodes explore the neuroscience of confidence, conquering imposter syndrome, and tackling listener call-in questions.

Season 1 of Kicking the Bucket is complete and binge-ready, with a unique choose-your-own-ending finale. This full-cast immersive fiction podcast blends humor, tenderness, and tough realities to explore aging, caregiving, and autonomy. During World Alzheimer’s Month, it’s a timely listen about love and what it means to live well until the end for anyone facing these conversations in their own families.

New today is Leading Professionals, hosted by Laura Empson, discussing crucial issues businesses and their leaders are currently facing. Google’s Chief Economist Fabien Curto Millet is the first guest; continuing with senior leaders from some of the world’s most successful organisations. Each episode will uncover the business strategies, and personal thoughts and emotions of successful leaders, to offer listeners new ideas and perspectives on leadership.

Last Saturday was World Gynecologic Oncology Day; and a new podcast was launched all about Changing the Ovarian Cancer Story with Hannah Vaughan Jones, shining a light on the most lethal of female cancers, but also exploring progress, hope, and the power of advocacy.

In Season 2 of Crown and Controversy the podcast follows the Royal Family through a transformative year as newlyweds William and Catherine navigate their first year of marriage. Meanwhile, Prince Harry returns from Afghanistan only to spiral into scandal with his infamous Las Vegas billiards incident.