"The Influential Figures Shaping the Podcasting Landscape in 2023"

The podcasting industry is facing challenges such as layoffs and budget cuts, but audience numbers continue to grow. With 90 million listeners each week, podcasting is reaching its highest numbers ever. The power players in podcasting include John Allen with his content deals and expansion plans, the SmartLess trio with their live tour and media company, and The Daily podcast with its top charts ranking. Other notable figures include the hosts of Stuff You Should Know, Emma Chamberlain, Alex Cooper of Call Her Daddy, and the hosts of My Favorite Murder. True crime podcasts like Crime Junkie and Morbid are also thriving. Additionally, celebrities like Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Rachel Maddow have entered the podcasting world, while veterans like Conan O'Brien and Joe Rogan continue to dominate the charts.