Podcast & Media Production Agency

Free Guide · 2026 Edition

The University Podcast Playbook

2026

The essential resource for higher education marketing and communications leaders who want to turn faculty expertise into audience, enrollment, and institutional return.

619M

Global podcast listeners in 2026

62%

Of 18–24 year olds consume podcasts regularly

5×

Admit yield vs. non-listeners at UCLA Anderson

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STATS FROM THE REPORT

What the data reveals about video marketing in 2026

We surveyed 300+ marketing professionals on the trends shaping video marketing in 2026 and here’s what we concluded:

80% of marketers are already using or testing AI for video, yet brand voice loss remains their biggest concern.

42% of marketing teams expect to produce 15+ videos per month in 2026.

20% of marketers ranked "needing more content than we can produce” and “rising production costs” as a top fear for 2026.

26% of marketers say production quality matters less than we admit, forcing teams to rethink creative systems.

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The Numbers Behind University Podcasting

619M

Global podcast listeners projected in 2026

Statista / Edison Research, 2026

62%

Of students aged 18–24 regularly consume podcasts

Media.co.uk, 2026

70%+

Of engaged audiences finish most or all of an episode

University.fm, 2026

$1–3

Cost per meaningful interaction — vs. $10–50 for digital ads

Grod Media analysis

5×

Admit yield for students who engaged with UCLA Anderson's podcast vs. those who didn't

UCLA Anderson / Grod Media

30–40%

Of UCLA Anderson's applicant pool reached annually through podcast content

UCLA Anderson / Grod Media

Apple Podcasts Business chart — The Ripple Effect at Wharton, at launch

Grod Media / Apple Podcasts

77%

Of first-year podcast audiences now actively watch video podcasts

Edison Research, 2026

What University Leaders Say

“Alex and team have done a great job of capturing salient content and producing captivating podcasts. These podcasts have been very effective in conveying our brand’s message to a variety of audiences in a current and easily accessible way.”

Jill Hisley

Executive Director of Marketing & Communications, UCLA Anderson

“We had wanted to launch a podcast for some time but lacked the bandwidth. Alex made it happen — handling distribution, production, and hosting while showcasing our expertise.”

Katya Popova

Assistant Dean of Marketing & Strategy, American University

“Grod Media identified significant opportunities to improve production quality and has quickly applied the improvements. Completely transformed our production.”

Kristal Griffith

Director of Communications, University of Denver

What University Leaders Say

Jill Hisley

Executive Director of Marketing & Communications, UCLA Anderson

“We had wanted to launch a podcast for some time but lacked the bandwidth. Alex made it happen — handling distribution, production, and hosting while showcasing our expertise.”

Katya Popova

Assistant Dean of Marketing & Strategy, American University

“Grod Media identified significant opportunities to improve production quality and has quickly applied the improvements. Completely transformed our production.”

Kristal Griffith

Director of Communications, University of Denver

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