Russ: The same app you use to watch The Mandalorian is now where your kid listens to a podcast called 'Clues with Kaelyn Moore'.
Nadia: I'm Nadia.
Russ: And I'm Russ.
Nadia: And this is Feed Drop for Sunday, October 18th, 2026.
Russ: We're tracking some big moves in the business of podcasts.
Nadia: A major kids' podcasting studio just jumped to the biggest screens in the world with a new Disney deal.
Russ: New research confirms what we all know in our hearts: there are too many damn ads in podcasts.
Nadia: And we're heading to the red carpet to find out why the Academy Museum Gala has become a major podcasting event.
Nadia: So, PAVE Studios, a big name in kids' audio, just inked a deal to bring its shows to Disney+ and Hulu.
Russ: Wait, bring them to Disney+ how? Like, you just open the app on your TV and... listen? Without video?
Nadia: Exactly. According to Podnews, shows like the hit 'Clues with Kaelyn Moore' will be available as audio-only content right there in the video library.
Russ: I don't get it. Why wouldn't a parent just use Spotify or Apple Podcasts on their phone like a normal person?
Nadia: Because the kids are already there. You finish a movie, the algorithm serves up a podcast. It's all about discoverability, meeting the audience where they are.
Russ: So it's a play to become the default background noise for toddlers. This feels less like a premium experience and more like an elaborate babysitting tool.
Nadia: [dry] Call it what you want, Russ, it's a multi-million dollar validation of audio. This puts podcasts on the same level as blockbuster movies inside one of the world's biggest media ecosystems. That is a massive win.
Russ: Okay, but what does it mean for me, the listener? Does this just mean more of my favorite shows are going to get locked up behind video streaming paywalls?
Nadia: It means the definition of a 'platform' is changing. For creators, it opens up a huge new potential audience. For listeners, it means you might start finding your next favorite podcast on Netflix or, yes, Disney+.
Russ: Great. Another subscription to juggle.
Russ: Alright, let's talk about the thing that ruins almost every podcast I listen to: the ad breaks.
Nadia: You are definitely not alone. Podnews highlighted new research this week showing that the majority of podcast listeners believe there are too many ads in shows.
Russ: [laughs] A majority? You could have saved your research money and just asked any single person on the street. Of course there are too many!
Nadia: Well, now there's data to back it up. The report is being called a 'yellow warning light' for the industry. You have these long, repetitive ad breaks, often for the same three products, and listener fatigue is setting in. Hard.
Russ: It's the length and the placement. You get a great interview going, and then—BAM. Two minutes of a guy talking about his mattress. It completely kills the momentum.
Nadia: And the industry's response is just to stuff more ads in to hit revenue goals. But the data suggests that's a losing game. It just drives people to the 'skip 30 seconds' button.
Russ: So what's the fix? Creators need to get paid. Are we just doomed to a future of terrible ad experiences?
Nadia: The smart money is on a flight to quality—fewer, better-integrated host reads—and a much bigger push for premium, ad-free subscription options.
Russ: Ah, so the 'solution' is to make me pay to not be annoyed. Got it.
Nadia: It's a value exchange. The takeaway for podcasters is clear: your ad strategy might be actively harming your growth. The free ride with endless ad inventory is coming to an end.
Nadia: Alright, let's head to Hollywood, specifically the Academy Museum Gala.
Russ: Seriously? Nadia, this is a podcast about podcasts. I do not care who wore what on a red carpet.
Nadia: [laughs] You should. Because increasingly, the answer to 'What are you working on?' from stars like Kate Hudson or even Taylor Swift on that carpet is... 'my podcast'.
Russ: Hold on. So this isn't just a party, it's a marketing opportunity... for podcasts?
Nadia: It's a massive one. As reported by Variety, this is one of the biggest A-list nights of the year. When a star with a podcast walks that carpet, promoting their show is part of the deal. That's free, high-wattage press.
Russ: So some network—Wondery, Spotify, whoever—is telling Inde Navarrette she has to mention her podcast between questions about her dress?
Nadia: It's more baked-in than that. It signals that audio isn't a side project anymore. It's a core part of a celebrity's brand, just as important as their next movie.
Russ: That doesn't mean the show is any good. It just means a celebrity is talking about it.
Nadia: It doesn't! But it guarantees millions of eyeballs see the word 'podcast' next to a trusted face. For industry-wide perception and advertising dollars, that's incredibly powerful. The red carpet is now a podcast marketing channel.
Russ: So the lesson is, if you want your podcast to succeed, you need to be famous enough to get invited to the Academy Gala. [sarcastic] Easy enough.
Nadia: Alright, let's recap.
Russ: PAVE Studios is putting kids' podcasts on Disney+, for better or worse.
Nadia: Listeners are officially over-saturated with ads, forcing the industry to rethink its strategy.
Russ: And Hollywood's biggest parties are now just elaborate podcast commercials.
Nadia: Before we go, speaking of celebrity podcasts, I saw that Conan O'Brien's archives were just sold again, as part of a bigger library deal.
Russ: How many times can one man sell his own back catalog? It's the most profitable retirement plan in history. Good for him.
Nadia: [laughs] It truly is. The gift that keeps on giving.
Nadia: That's all the time we have for today. Thanks for listening to Feed Drop.
Russ: We'll be back tomorrow with more. Try not to get stuck in too many ad breaks until then.
This show is made with AI: the hosts’ voices are synthetic and the scripts are AI-assisted. Every story links to its original source.