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The Business of Content with Simon Owens

Simon Owens
Youtube
Substack
Local News
Creator Economy
Local Journalism
Buzzfeed
Berkeleyside
Covid-19
Tiktok
Finance
ZYN
Journalism
B2B Media
Book Publishing
The Tilt
Trail Running
Digital Media
Alts.co
Alternative Investments
Membership Community

The show about how publishers create, distribute, and monetize their digital content.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes280Founded8 years ago
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Artwork for The Business of Content

Latest Episodes

My newsletter: simonowens.substack.com/

Jessica Dante didn't set out to build a multi-platform travel media company—she set out to escape one. After an early career managing social media for corporate travel brands, she quickly grew frustra... more

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My newsletter: simonowens.substack.com/

For most brands, TV advertising has long operated as an opaque, high-stakes gamble—an expensive channel dominated by middlemen, limited measurement, and a reliance on blunt audience estimates. That's ... more

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My newsletter: simonowens.substack.com/

The rise of "sleep podcasts" has quietly reshaped a corner of the audio industry, turning bedtime into a high-engagement listening moment. Few creators have benefited more from that shift than Kathryn... more

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My newsletter: simonowens.substack.com/

Axios Local began as an experiment in translating a national media brand's playbook into the fragmented world of city-level journalism. After acquiring the Charlotte Agenda, Axios used it as a templat... more

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Recent Guests

Philip Inghelbrecht
Founder and CEO of Tatari
Tatari
Episode: This company is rewiring the economics of TV advertising
Kathryn Nicolai
Creator of Nothing Much Happens and host of related content
Nothing Much Happens ecosystem
Episode: How a yoga teacher turned bedtime stories into a media empire
Holly Moore
Executive Editor, Axios Local
Axios
Episode: How Axios Local is leveraging AI to expand into smaller cities
Robbie Daymond
Professional voice actor and co-founder of Sassy Chap Games
Sassy Chap Games
Episode: How a professional voice actor built a hit indie game studio
Scott Brown
Producer and creator at the intersection of Hollywood and the creator economy
Second Rodeo
Episode: From MrBeast to microdramas: Scott Brown's bet on phone-native storytelling
Pat Walls
Founder of Starter Story
Starter Story
Episode: Inside the YouTube strategy that turned Starter Story into a $2M+ media brand
Rebecca Hutson
Editor-in-Chief of The News Movement
The News Movement / Calibre
Episode: The playbook behind one of the fastest-growing social-first newsrooms
Eric Hochberger
Founder of Mediavine
Mediavine
Episode: The accidental ad tech founder: Eric Hochberger's 20-Year bet on the open web
Michael Fritzell
Founder of Asian Century Stocks newsletter, former hedge fund analyst in Asia
Asian Century Stocks
Episode: From Hedge Fund Analyst to Independent Publisher: How Asian Century Stocks Built a Six-Figure Research Business

Host

Simon Owens
Host of conversations focusing on the media landscape, exploring strategies related to content creation, distribution, and monetization.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 56 ratings
  • Awesome Guests

    Awesome guests — a few episodes in and I’ve already had some super valuable takeaways. Really happy I found this. Subscribed and will be adding this to my future rotation.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    T&M1985
    South Africa3 years ago
  • Excellent Podcast

    Simon is brilliant and thorough. This podcast is full of value. Very important resource for people who want to get better at what they do.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nancy0707
    United States4 years ago
  • Insightful

    A must for anyone trying to figure out the creators economy.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    caminodelsol
    France4 years ago
  • The host is excellent

    So are his guests. I really appreciate where Simon steers the conversations, the topics he chooses and how raw and genuine these talks are. I’d suggest every J school in the country to listen to this one (actually recommended some of my former professors..) while they all are pondering on where the journalism is headed, this podcast actually shows where it currently is with all the changing landscape of content production.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Regina Revazova
    United States6 years ago
  • Questions are awesome.... the whole vibe is awesome

    Great questions.... I like every episode so far....never heard of some these businesses until now....

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    123marketing
    United States6 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners express enjoyment of the engaging questions and overall atmosphere, noting the discovery of innovative businesses during the episodes.
Many appreciate the thoroughness and brilliance of the host, highlighting the significant value offered to participants looking to improve their expertise.
The expertly steered conversations and choice of topics received high praise, suggesting that even journalism students could benefit from the discussions.
Listeners commend the show for featuring awesome guests with invaluable insights that prompt valuable takeaways.
Comments reflect that it's a must-listen for anyone trying to navigate the creator economy and the current state of journalism.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How a yoga teacher turned bedtime stories into a media empire
Q: What are your plans for diversification beyond audio?
Kathryn talks about developing an app, daytime spin-offs, yoga and breath-work content, and even TV and kids content, intending to expand the Village of Nothing Much universe while preserving the core sleep-focused experience.
How a yoga teacher turned bedtime stories into a media empire
Q: What were the early growth drivers and how did you monetize the show over time?
Early growth was largely word-of-mouth and discovery by listeners solving a real problem (sleep), with later monetization through a premium, ad-free option and selective programmatic ads, balanced to maintain trust with the audience.
How a yoga teacher turned bedtime stories into a media empire
Q: How did you decide on the storytelling format and the decision to focus on mood over action?
She describes a formula centered on inherently relaxing activities, relatability, and vivid sensory details that pull listeners into the moment, creating a calm brain state rather than a traditional narrative with conflict.
How a yoga teacher turned bedtime stories into a media empire
Q: Tell me about the genesis of the podcast and how your background informed the concept.
Kathryn explains that bedtime stories for grownups emerged from her long career as a yoga and theater teacher, and she synthesized those skills into soothing, repeatable stories that help people fall asleep. The concept started as a personal project and evolved into a full-time venture as she recognized the market need and accessibility of podcasts.
How Axios Local is leveraging AI to expand into smaller cities
Q: How is AI being used in news gathering and production?
AI is used for curation, producing initial drafts, data visualization, event and agenda automation, and tools like a copy editor (Axiomizer) to speed up editing, all while keeping a human in the loop for final oversight.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Business of Content

What is The Business of Content about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focusing on the evolving landscape of digital media, the content presents insightful conversations with industry professionals about how they navigate the challenges of content creation, distribution, and monetization. Featuring a variety of guests, each episode highlights unique strategies and experiences in sectors such as finance, culinary journalism, and sports media, providing a comprehensive view of contemporary content practice. The show is particularly noteworthy for its in-depth discussions, often addressing the intersection of media and technology, as well as the innovative business models shaping the future of journalism and publishing.

Listeners can expect valuable insights and personal anecdotes that help demystify the often c... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Business of Content?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Business of Content:

1. Channels with Peter Kafka
2. Plain English with Derek Thompson
3. On with Kara Swisher
4. The Rebooting Show
5. Team Human with Douglas Rushkoff

How many episodes of The Business of Content are there?

The Business of Content launched 8 years ago and published 280 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Business of Content?

Recent guests on The Business of Content include:

1. Philip Inghelbrecht
2. Kathryn Nicolai
3. Holly Moore
4. Robbie Daymond
5. Scott Brown
6. Pat Walls
7. Rebecca Hutson
8. Eric Hochberger

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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