Why We’re Skipping the Slide Deck: Podfly’s New Approach to Branded Podcasting

In this episode, I reflect on the evolution of the branded podcasting industry—from the early days of minimal competition to today’s crowded field dominated by marketing-first approaches. As one of the original companies focused on narrative podcast production for brands, I’ve seen firsthand how client conversations have shifted—from valuing creative storytelling to fixating on spreadsheets and slide decks.

I critique the rise of performative pitches and argue for a return to meaningful collaboration and content creation. Rather than leading with flashy presentations, I suggest starting with the one page most clients care about: the budget.

This approach prioritizes investment goals and builds genuine partnerships instead of performative sales cycles. If you want to create impactful, story-driven podcast content without the fluff, this offers a fresh take on what truly matters and how we’re rewriting the rules of branded audio at Podfly.