If 2020 has taught us anything, it's that we can't predict the future — not even the future of podcasting.

But today’s guest believes that podcasting is more vital than ever as we think about how we can connect in the era of covid-19, and beyond.

Rob Greenlee is a pioneer of the podcast space.

He got his start in podcasting in 2004 with the first nationally syndicated radio show "WebTalk World Radio Show and was inducted into the the Podcasters Hall of Fame in 2017. 

Rob’s been podcasting for over 15 years and today he serves as the vice president of Content and Partnerships at LIBSYN. He currently co-hosts the "New Media Show", a weekly audio and video podcast that streams LIVE on NewMediaShow.com/live.

I brought Rob onto Podcast Ally to speak to the trends to be aware of as we look to the future of podcasting. He chats about:

• What it was like being a pioneer in the podcast space
• The key differences between podcasts and radio
• The benefits -- and the risks -- of the influx of advertising into the podcast space
• Why he believes comedians completely changed the trajectory of podcasts
• Why podcasters should create content that they're passionate about rather than focusing so heavily on what they think their audience wants
• How podcasts are an important medium for connection, especially during the pandemic

Please check out Rob’s podcast New Media Show for more commentary on the podcast industry. You can find the New Media Show at https://newmediashow.com/ or wherever you listen to podcasts.