How do you turn casual listeners and TikTok scrollers into a real podcast community that shows up, shares, and even buys tickets to live events?
Recorded live at the Echo Podcast Summit in Halifax, this panel explores how podcast communities migrate across platforms with experts from Acast Canada:
- Rhys Waters – Host, Podstarter / Echo Podcast Summit
- Al Strasberg – Creator Network Development Manager, Acast Canada
- Heather Gordon – Managing Director, Acast Canada
You’ll learn:
- Why video isn’t mandatory (and why some top shows stay audio-only)
- The real signals of engagement beyond download numbers
- How creators like Morgan Book and Adam & Jax moved audiences from TikTok & social into podcast apps
- Why a massive following on one platform doesn’t automatically translate into podcast listeners
- Practical ways to package your show for sponsors and think in omnichannel terms (podcast + social + newsletters + live shows)
- Concrete tactics for building real community: DMs, Facebook groups, naming your fans, and unforgettable live events
If you’re trying to grow a podcast, monetize it, or turn your show into a multi-platform brand, this conversation is packed with actionable insight.
00:00 – Why podcast community matters now more than ever 00:09 – Echo Podcast Summit intro & theme of ‘community’ 01:24 – Panel intro: Acast, Al Strasberg & Heather Gordon 03:24 – How podcasts have changed in the last few years 03:55 – The rise of video… and why some creators stay audio-only 05:35 – Younger audiences, video trends, and meeting listeners where they are 06:32 – What real engagement looks like beyond downloads 07:17 – Picking your platforms wisely: discovery vs deep engagement 08:55 – When clips go viral but full episodes don’t—does it matter? 09:41 – Case study: Morgan Book’s journey from BookTok to podcasting 10:49 – Lessons from moving audiences from social to RSS 11:16 – Why big social numbers don’t guarantee podcast listeners 12:27 – Don’t assume your short-form fans will stay for 45 minutes 13:10 – Case study: Adam & Jax building TikTok first, podcast second 14:11 – Launching a podcast as a “big reveal” after social growth 14:31 – Monetization shift: from audio-only to omnichannel selling 15:54 – Why podcasters can be more influential than traditional influencers 18:03 – How Acast packages shows for sponsors & handles monetization 19:49 – Practical tips to start building your community spaces 20:12 – Substack, TikTok, Instagram, and choosing what fits your show 20:30 – Montreal case study: thriving Facebook group to 1500-seat live shows 21:30 – Tony & Ryan: naming their community and replying to everyone 22:42 – Turning live shows into ‘you’re the only one in the room’ moments 23:34 – Listener ownership: “I approve this podcast” intros 24:02 – Closing: sponsors, thanks, and Echo Podcast Summit 2026
Recorded live at the Echo Podcast Summit (June 18, 2026) at the Halifax Convention Centre.
Subscribe for more talks, panels, and behind-the-scenes conversations from Echo and the Podstarter team.
What is Echo Podcast Summit?
In a media climate dominated by digital voices and one-sided relationships between creators and audiences, trust in podcasting has become one of the most urgent conversations of our time. On June 19, 2025, Halifax hosted Echo Podcast Summit, the largest podcast event Atlantic Canada has ever seen, bringing together global leaders, creators, and critical thinkers to explore the future of trust in media.
Brought to you by Halifax-based podcast strategy company Podstarter and global podcasting powerhouse Acast, the summit will be held at the iconic Art Gallery of Nova Scotia in downtown Halifax. It promises a day of sharp insight, bold questions, and boundary-pushing conversation about how trust is built, challenged, and reshaped in today’s fractured media landscape.
Proudly sponsored by Acast, the world’s leading independent podcast company, the event reflects a shared mission to foster integrity and openness across the podcasting space.