- Podfest Messenger
- Posts
- Headliner Offers Free Video Tools As Creators Face Rising Costs.
Headliner Offers Free Video Tools As Creators Face Rising Costs.
podcast promotional service Headliner says it is making a move that will help the bottom line for independent podcasters and creators trying to grow their shows by making its video tools free for all users.
Headliner has announced that it is making its video tools free for all users in an effort to support creators navigating increasing production costs.
The move comes as podcasting continues to shift toward video, with estimates suggesting that audio and video shows can cost significantly more to produce than audio-only formats. According to CEO Neil Mody, the goal is simple: to reduce the burden on creators and make it easier to grow and share their shows.
With this update, Creators can
Create and export unlimited podcast videos with no watermarks
Access pre-made video templates
Add captions to clips and full episodes
Automatically generate and schedule up to 10 video clips from full episodes for social media or YouTube
What this means for podcasters
Video podcasting tools are becoming more accessible
Short-form clip creation is getting easier and more automated
Cost barriers (at least temporarily) are being lowered for creators
The push toward video in podcasting continues to accelerate
Podtours: New York Stop
Date: April 22, 2026 from 6:00pm-8:00pm EDT
Join us for our NYC Podcasters Meetup, for a fun time of networking, learning, and sharing podcasting tips. Presented by Morgan James Publishing and Podmatch, and brought to you in partnership with Podfest and Gotham Production Studios.
Podtours International Stop: Melbourne, Australia
Date: May 5, 2026 from 5:30pm-7:30pm GMT
Connect with fellow podcast enthusiasts, exchange ideas, and maybe even find your next collaboration partner. Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity to be part of Podfest’s International Podtour stop in Melbourne, Australia. Presented by Morgan James Publishing and Podmatch, and brought to you in partnership with Podfest and Natural Velocity.
Podtours: Tampa Stop
Date: May 6, 2026 from 6:00pm-8:00pm EDT
Connect with other local podcasters and creators to help grow and monetize your show as part of the Podfest Tour in Tampa. Presented by Morgan James Publishing and Podmatch, and brought to you in partnership with Podfest and Elite Podcast Studio.
May Podlab: Talk Back to Me: How to Create Feedback Loops for Increased Podcast Growth and Income presented by Allen C. Paul
Date: May 12, 2026 from 2:00pm-3:00pm EDT
This workshop breaks down how to build intentional feedback loops that turn passive listeners into active participants. Walk away with simple, actionable strategies you can implement immediately to grow a more connected and responsive audience.
Sponsor Spotlight: iSonic.ai
The 10 Things Seasoned Podcasters Are Really Searching For (And What It Says About Where Podcasting Is Headed)
There is a shift happening in podcasting right now, and if you’ve been in the game for a while, you’ve felt it. Podcasting isn’t only about launching and getting started anymore; it is transforming into figuring out if what you’ve built can actually last. Seasoned indie podcasters aren’t looking for tips. They’re looking for clarity, sustainability, and ownership.
Here are the 10 things they’re really searching for and what it reveals about the state of the industry.
1. How do I actually make money from this?
Not hypotheticals. Not “you can monetize someday.” Podcasters want real revenue breakdowns, models that work, and proof that you don’t need millions of downloads to be seen, valued, and respected.
2. How do I grow without relying on platforms?
Podcasters are consistently being reminded that we do not own our audience. We are seeing the platforms we’ve invested in shifting focus and taking audiences with them. To combat this control of reach, visibility, and ultimately growth, podcasters are searching for guidance and tips on growing authentic email lists, utilizing SEO, and building direct audience relationships.
3. How do I turn my podcast into something bigger?
Podcasts are no longer “the product”, but rather a gateway. Podcasters are wanting more. More ecosystems, more connected offers, more communities. Podcasters are realizing content alone doesn’t build a business, strategy and infrastructure does.
4. Do I need video and is it worth it?
Everyone is talking about video, but what podcasters really want to know is will this actually grow my show or just add more work? The jury is still out on this but more and more evidence supports video.
5. How do I stay consistent without burning out?
This is the question behind the majority of podfade. There is a lot going on in the world and podcasters are searching for simpler systems, less pressure, and more intention. The industry has rewarded consistency but is behind in teaching sustainability.
6. How do I stand out in a saturated space?
Simply put: “Good content” is no longer enough. Podcasters are searching for clear positioning, a distinct voice, and something that feels different. Quality is no longer the biggest issue, sustainability and identity is.
7. How do I use AI without losing my voice?
AI can do almost everything now, but the real question is What is still mine? Where is my voice? Podcasters want to utilize AI in an ethical way while still staying human. The tension between efficiency and authenticity continues.
8. What should I actually be focusing on right now?
There’s more advice than ever with information overload becoming the biggest growth blocker. Podcasters are looking for prioritization, direction over noise, and insight on what actually moves the needle.
9. What does success even look like for me now?
Podcast success used to be about downloads, rankings, and securing sponsorship. Now it’s becoming ownership, alignment, and sustainability. Independent creators are gaining power through niche audiences and authenticity. Networks still dominate in scale, distribution, and ad dollars but the industry is maturing, forcing everyone to compete more directly for listeners and revenue. Podcasting is changing and Podcasters are redefining success on their own terms and quietly rejecting the industry’s old metrics.
10. Is this still worth it?
This is the question no one talks enough about but is always felt at some point. The gap between expectation and reality in podcasting is wider than ever. With this in mind, podcasters are searching for honest stories and experiences, long-term perspectives, and a reason to keep going.
Final Thoughts
Podcasting isn’t struggling but podcasters are. There’s more opportunity than ever, and more confusion about how to actually use it. More platforms, less control. More tools, less clarity. More content, less differentiation, and at the center of it all is a simple question:
Am I building something real or just keeping up?
We would love to hear your thoughts. Reply to this email and let us know. We would love to feature your responses in our weekly Messenger!
Naked Nuclear breaks down complex topics like nuclear reactors, fuel types, and emerging technologies into simple, accessible conversations. Whether you're a curious beginner or an energy enthusiast, we make the science behind nuclear power easy to understand so you can launch your career in the clean energy future. Tune in to strip down the fascinating world of nuclear energy—one atom at a time.
Formerly Expat Experts and hosted by Marc Alcobé, the show features thoughtful, long-form conversations with people living abroad around the world. Each episode explores what it really means to start over somewhere new — from culture shock and identity shifts to belonging, community, and the slow process of becoming almost local.
Project Good is a social impact podcast interviewing experts and advocates about the pressing problems that we face globally and hearing how they suggest we move forward in the future.
A thoughtful, compassionate podcast hosted by James Moffitt for parents navigating the challenges of relationships with adult sons and daughters. Through honest conversations and real-life stories, the show explores communication, boundaries, identity, LGBTQ+ acceptance, grief, faith, reconciliation, and emotional healing. Whether your relationship is strong, strained, or broken, this podcast offers insight, hope, and practical wisdom for parenting adult children with empathy and understanding.
Podmatch: Automatically Matching Ideal Podcast Hosts & Guests For Interviews While Streamlining the Process
PodMatch believes that podcasting is the most powerful content medium for informing, inspiring, and motivating people to take action toward a more positive future. PodMatch’s purpose is to elevate independent voices on both sides of the microphone, empowering them to impact listeners in their own positive way, ultimately, making the world a better place.
Most podcast hosts and guests spend hours researching connections, coordinating interviews, and working on administrative tasks while only spending 10% of their time on what matters, recording impactful podcast episodes! PodMatch enables podcast guests and hosts to reclaim their time through automations and streamlined processes, so they can focus on creating content that serves listeners!