From reel-to-reel tape and cassette fast-forwarding to one-tap podcast controls, listeners have gained more power over what they hear and when they hear it. Elsie Escobar and Rob Walch follow that history into discussing Spotify’s Skip Ahead test, which can jump Premium subscribers past intros, outros, ads, and other promotional segments.

That convenience creates a difficult question for podcasters: when a platform identifies a segment as skippable, who gets to decide what counts as an ad? Elsie and Rob discuss baked-in sponsorships, creator promotions, listener habits, Spotify video, and why YouTube’s new monetization requirements make diversified publishing even more important.

The episode also covers Overcast’s packed feature release, including transcript tools, Replay Podcast, Smart Complete, chapter controls, and new Premium audio effects. Plus, Disney+ expands its podcast distribution deals, the show remembers John C. Dvorak, and the Flattering Ram celebrates Ana Xavier’s visit to the Obama Presidential Center.

Interesting things from this episode

People & Shows

• Marco Arment
• The Overlap
• Stick to Football
• Hope Gets a Studio: Inside the Obama Presidential Center's Vision for Community Storytelling
• In & Around Podcasting: A Platform For Indie Podcasters
• Podcast Measurement Is Changing. Elsie Escobar Says Creators Need a Seat
• Build in Beta for the AI Curious
• Synergy Squad
• Podcasting in the AI Era with Rob Walch
• Podcast Movement New York City

Apps & Technology

• Overcast
• SponsorBlock
• Unwatched
• Understanding the "Skip ahead" button

Articles & Episodes

• Spotify’s new ‘skip’ button could end the podcast business as we know it
• Spotify’s New Ad-Skipping Feature Is Not Scaring Off Podcast Advertisers Yet
• Spotify threatens industry with ad-skipping tool
• New opportunities to earn and changes to the YouTube Partner Program
• TestFlight Build 1172: Smart Complete, Replay Podcast, changes to Episode Limits
• ATP 703: Part of a Healthy Breakfast — Accidental Tech Podcast
• The Overlap signs landmark sponsorship and distribution deal with Disney+
• Disney Brings iHeartMedia Video Podcasts to Disney+ and Hulu
• Adam Curry Honors John C. Dvorak's Impact in Tech Journalism on No Agenda

In & Around Podcasting is a podcast industry podcast started by Mark Asquith and Danny Brown and now hosted by Elsie Escobar and Rob Walch, continuing its mission as an industry show that belongs to the whole community.

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