{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/68343e1669c98f151d8f0020/68980af77f93fda8b2b5852b?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Mark Asquith on Captivate, Diversifying Podcast Revenue, and the Rise of Indie Creators","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/68343e1669c98f151d8f0020/1754794738503-1364790c-172c-4f09-8db5-c43c30d58384.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p><strong>What can indie podcasters learn from building a podcast software company from the ground up?</strong></p><p><br></p><p>In this episode of <em>PodBiz</em>, Norma Jean Belenky speaks with Mark Asquith, co-founder and Managing Director of Captivate, about building a service-first software company, Captivate’s acquisition by Global, and how the independent creator economy continues to evolve. Mark shares why putting people and experience first has been his guiding principle- and how that mindset benefits both software companies and podcasters alike.</p><p><br></p><p>As he puts it:</p><blockquote>“Give people the best experience every time they interact with you or your brand, no matter the outlet.”</blockquote><p><br></p><p><strong>Here are some insightful moments from the episode:</strong></p><ul><li>How podcasting’s revenue streams have diversified since 2014</li><li>Why the top 1% of shows will always attract the biggest ad spend—and how indie creators can still win</li><li>How Captivate built a loyal audience through service, not just software</li><li>Lessons from Captivate’s acquisition by Global and what changed afterward</li><li>Why putting experience first is the best growth strategy</li><li>What the rise of mainstream podcast awareness means for indie creators</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Mark Asquith</strong> is the co-founder and Managing Director of Captivate, a UK-based podcast hosting, analytics, and monetization platform acquired by Global in 2021. Known as <em>“That British Podcast Guy,”</em> Mark is one of the United Kingdom’s original podcasting experts and is recognized worldwide as an insightful, thought-provoking, and actionable podcast industry keynote speaker. A creator, startup founder, and advocate for independent podcasters for over a decade, Mark has built his career on a service-first approach, focusing on brand experience, community, and creator support.</p><p><a href=\"https://www.linkedin.com/in/markasquith/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Connect with Mark on LinkedIn</strong></a></p><p>Learn more at Captivate.fm</p><p><br></p><h3><strong>Episode Chapters</strong></h3><p><strong>00:29 – Where’s the Money?</strong> | How podcast monetization has evolved</p><p><strong>03:51 – New Revenue Streams</strong> | Live events, subscriptions, fan engagement</p><p><strong>04:59 – How Mark Got Started</strong> | From pop culture podcasting to software founder</p><p><strong>08:10 – People First</strong> | Why service and experience drive success</p><p><strong>12:21 – Captivate’s Differentiator</strong> | More than a software company</p><p><strong>14:07 – Starting Over?</strong> | Why he wouldn’t change a thing</p><p><strong>15:33 – The Global Acquisition</strong> | How it happened and what stayed the same</p><p><strong>19:17 – The Ripple Effect</strong> | How mainstream deals helped indie podcasters</p><p><br></p><h3><strong>Some Additional PodBiz Buzz...</strong></h3><blockquote>“Treat everyone with the same level of respect—no matter who they are.”</blockquote><blockquote>“We built Captivate for serious podcasters, not everyone.”</blockquote><blockquote>“The audience for podcasts is bigger than it’s ever been.”</blockquote><blockquote>“Experience is what people remember—not features.”</blockquote>","author_name":"Norma Jean Belenky & John Kiernan"}