Mark Asquith on Captivate, Diversifying Podcast Revenue, and the Rise of Indie Creators

What can indie podcasters learn from building a podcast software company from the ground up?

In this episode of PodBiz, Norma Jean Belenky speaks with Mark Asquith, co-founder and Managing Director of Captivate, about building a service-first software company, Captivate’s acquisition by Global, and how the independent creator economy continues to evolve. Mark shares why putting people and experience first has been his guiding principle- and how that mindset benefits both software companies and podcasters alike.

As he puts it:

“Give people the best experience every time they interact with you or your brand, no matter the outlet.”

Here are some insightful moments from the episode:

• How podcasting’s revenue streams have diversified since 2014
• Why the top 1% of shows will always attract the biggest ad spend—and how indie creators can still win
• How Captivate built a loyal audience through service, not just software
• Lessons from Captivate’s acquisition by Global and what changed afterward
• Why putting experience first is the best growth strategy
• What the rise of mainstream podcast awareness means for indie creators

Mark Asquith is the co-founder and Managing Director of Captivate, a UK-based podcast hosting, analytics, and monetization platform acquired by Global in 2021. Known as “That British Podcast Guy,” Mark is one of the United Kingdom’s original podcasting experts and is recognized worldwide as an insightful, thought-provoking, and actionable podcast industry keynote speaker. A creator, startup founder, and advocate for independent podcasters for over a decade, Mark has built his career on a service-first approach, focusing on brand experience, community, and creator support.

Connect with Mark on LinkedIn

Learn more at Captivate.fm

Episode Chapters

00:29 – Where’s the Money? | How podcast monetization has evolved

03:51 – New Revenue Streams | Live events, subscriptions, fan engagement

04:59 – How Mark Got Started | From pop culture podcasting to software founder

08:10 – People First | Why service and experience drive success

12:21 – Captivate’s Differentiator | More than a software company

14:07 – Starting Over? | Why he wouldn’t change a thing

15:33 – The Global Acquisition | How it happened and what stayed the same

19:17 – The Ripple Effect | How mainstream deals helped indie podcasters

Some Additional PodBiz Buzz...“Treat everyone with the same level of respect—no matter who they are.”“We built Captivate for serious podcasters, not everyone.”“The audience for podcasts is bigger than it’s ever been.”“Experience is what people remember—not features.”

PodBiz is the podcast about the business of podcasting. Hosted by industry veterans Norma Jean Belenky and John Kiernan, the show features conversations with creators, executives, and platform leaders to answer one question: Where’s the money in podcasting?

Each episode dives into monetization strategy, adtech, branded content, IP development, and audience growth. Guests include leaders from Acast, Captivate, Crooked Media, Buzzsprout, True Native Media, Podfest, and more.

Learn more: njbmedia.co | thepodhouseproductions.com

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