Acast vs Substack

Podcast Day 2026: Spotify, Acast Reveal Audio-Video Trends

On International Podcast Day, new reports from Spotify and Acast highlight the growing convergence of audio and video in podcasting. Spotify's Culture Next 2026 report, focusing on Gen Z, reveals a 55% increase in video share among 14-18 year olds in Germany over 18 months, coining the trend 'Eye Pods'. Acast's Podcast Pulse 2026 survey, covering 4,500 fans across 13 markets, shows 88% of listeners also watch podcasts as video, and 63% switch formats mid-episode. Both studies emphasize the importance of social media clips for discovery, with 51% of fans finding new shows via social clips. Additionally, a brand podcast guide advises companies on strategic planning, resource allocation, and long-term commitment, emphasizing relationship-building over short-term metrics.

• Spotify's Culture Next 2026 report shows a 55% increase in video share of podcast streams among 14-18 year olds in Germany over 18 months.
• Acast's Podcast Pulse 2026 survey of 4,500 podcast fans across 13 markets found that 88% also watch podcasts as video.
• 63% of podcast fans have started an episode in one format and continued in another, with 75% switching apps or platforms.

Acast appoints Liv Sandberg as EVP, Europe

Senior commercial leader joins from TikTok to run Acast's European business. Announced September 9, 2026.

Acast and Kit Partner to Fuel Creator Expansion Across Podcasts and Newsletters

Threads Tests Substack Newsletter Integration for Creators

Threads is testing a new feature that would allow creators to link their Substack newsletters to their profiles. The discovery was made by app researcher Alessandro Paluzzi, who found an option for 'Newsletter – Substack' under the 'Featured' section in profile settings. This move would enable writers to gain new readers via Threads, while the platform benefits from more engaging content and discussions. The feature is still in testing, and it's unclear if it will offer full functionality like previews or analytics. This integration is part of a broader trend of social platforms strengthening ties with newsletter and podcast creators.

• Threads tests Substack newsletter integration in profile settings.
• Discovery by app researcher Alessandro Paluzzi.
• Feature currently in testing, not yet publicly available.

Shea Serrano builds cult following through Substack and podcast

This article profiles Shea Serrano, a writer and author who has built a substantial independent media business on Substack. It details his journey from teacher to freelance writer, his work at The Ringer, and his use of social media to cultivate a large audience. Serrano's Substack newsletter, Good Movie, and his new podcast, Organizing Things, focus on detailed film analysis. The piece highlights his strategic approach to monetization, noting that he can earn more through his own subscriber base than through traditional media offers. His story illustrates how independent creators can leverage direct audience relationships for financial sustainability.

• Shea Serrano is a five-time New York Times bestselling author and former writer for The Ringer.
• He has amassed over 600,000 followers and subscribers across Substack, X, and Instagram.
• His Substack newsletter is named 'Good Movie'.

Why People Mistake Em-Dashes for AI Writing

Storytelling Edge's newsletter explores why readers increasingly associate em-dashes and polished prose with AI-generated writing. It references a Wired story on a growing 'anti-AI literary counterculture' in which writers avoid AI conventions like negative parallelism and deliberately introduce small mistakes to signal human authorship. The piece cites an Economist study showing ChatGPT now rarely uses em-dashes, while Claude still uses them more than human writers. Linguist Gretchen McCulloch explains the linguistic concept of enregisterment, linking the em-dash's stigma to learned associations rather than measurable overuse by AI. The newsletter also discusses Substack's AI-detection feature built with Pangram, citing University of Chicago and UPenn studies that claim over 99% accuracy, and notes Pangram CEO Max Sperro's unclaimed $100 bounty for false positives. The author concludes that writers should develop a distinct personal voice rather than simply avoiding AI tells.

• Wired reported on a growing 'anti-AI literary counterculture' in which writers avoid AI writing conventions and deliberately leave mistakes to prove human authorship.
• The Economist published a study finding ChatGPT barely uses em-dashes, while Claude uses them more frequently than human writers.
• Substack introduced an AI-detection feature in partnership with Pangram to scan posts for AI-generated text, aiming to fight 'Claude-fishing'.