Into The Podverse

About Into The Podverse

Into The Podverse dives into the innovation, challenges, and opportunities shaping podcasting across Africa. Hosted by Tony Doe, a podcast coach and media educator based in Lagos, Nigeria, this weekly show delivers practical advice, industry insights, and stories from creators across Lagos, Nairobi, Accra, and beyond. From new tech tools and content strategies to market realities and monetisation, every episode reveals what it truly means to build an African podcast. … Subscribe to Into The Podverse for weekly updates on African podcasting. Support the show: Your contributions help us create more valuable content and empower indie voices in the podcasting community. https://selar.co/showlove/intothepodverse (https://selar.co/showlove/intothepodverse) Send us a message: https://www.speakpipe.com/intothepodverse (https://www.speakpipe.com/intothepodverse)

Publisher

Tony Doe Media

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

23 Feb 2023

Latest episode

11 Jan 2026

Latest episodes

31 of 105 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   11 Jan 2026TRANSCRIPT

   What Is a Podcast Now? Elsie Escobar on RSS, Hosting Myths, Community & the Future of Podcasting

   What does podcasting really mean in 2026, and who gets to define it? In this episode of Into The Podverse, host Tony Doe sits down with Elsie Escobar, one of the most influential voices in podcasting and a former longtime leader at Libsyn. Drawing from nearly two decades inside the industry, Elsie breaks down the biggest shift most creators still misunderstand: the changing definition of what a podcast actually is. This conversation dives deep into: Why podcasting has become a cultural vocabulary problem The difference between RSS-based audio podcasting and platform-led video shows Common myths about podcast hosting and why many creators don't need to pay to start What creators are really paying for when they choose a hosting platform: Why discoverability is a community problem, not an algorithm problem Visibility vs discoverability and why confusing the two hurts independent creators The future of podcasting in a multimodal, AI-driven world Ownership, IP, and the personal cost of building corporate podcasts Why the human voice still matters more than ever in the age of AI Elsie also reflects on founding ShePodcasts, supporting women and BIPOC creators long before it was fashionable, and what she would do differently if she were building a community today. This episode is essential listening for podcasters, media professionals, platforms, and anyone serious about building sustainable, human-centred audio ecosystems, beyond hype, algorithms, and trends.

2. 

   24 Dec 2025TRANSCRIPT

   Global Podcasting in 2025: Growth, Gaps, and the African Signal

   In 2025, global podcast listenership topped 584 million, marking a maturing industry with slower but steady growth. From an African view, the year felt like "settling", no explosive hype, but intentional expansion driven by community, niche content, and real-life needs like faith and grounding amid economic pressures. While North America dominates billions in ad revenue, Africa's podcast scene builds independently: Nigeria's charts ruled by sermons, South Africa's deep listening habits, and Kenya's urban youth vibe. Creators prioritise owning their space over chasing metrics, using podcasts for education, advocacy, and culture, claiming power at their own pace.

3. 

   10 Dec 2025TRANSCRIPT

   How Richie's TalkZone Became Nigeria's Most Relatable Youth Podcast

   What happens when the friend everyone calls for advice suddenly reaches thousands? This episode of Into the Podverse profiles Richard "Richie" Coleman, host of Richie's TalkZone, a fast-rising youth podcast in Nigeria. Richie walks through the phone call that turned private guidance into a public platform, why he tackles the tough issues young people face, and how his voice-over background shapes his signature sound. He also breaks down his growth strategy and explains why impact, not monetisation, drives his work. A sharp, honest look at the mindset behind one of Nigeria's most relatable youth voices, and a useful guide for creators who want to build content that truly resonates.

Inside a recent episode

What Is a Podcast Now? Elsie Escobar on RSS, Hosting Myths, Community & the Future of Podcasting

Published 11 Jan 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] Are we talking about video? Are you talking about the Netflix of it all, right? Are you talking about that part? Is it audio storytelling? Is it narrative work? Because the skill sets required for each of those things are completely different. And then and sometimes they do have the same sort of core skill sets that you can move from one thing to the other. Absolutely. You can definitely do that. And some of them, you don't, right? You can be a genius at a video podcast and you know exactly how to use all of the everything that you need in terms of the video production of something you understand how to produce that type of a show where two people are seated in front of a couch and or tape chairs or whatever, everything that you see there, the lighting, all the things and not know how to craft an audio first narrative and vice versa, right? […]

Who has been a guest on Into The Podverse

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Check Edgar
• Seyi
• Nigerian podcasters
• Alberto Chab
• Sarah Miller

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

6,679

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Spotify

4.8 / 5

9 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 65 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

87

Social presence

0

YouTube

74

Engagement

32

Contact Into The Podverse

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about Into The Podverse