Slate's Executive Producer of Podcasts Mia Lobel on Sustainability and Innovation in Podcasting

Slate's Executive Producer of Podcasts Mia Lobel on Sustainability and Innovation in Podcasting

From Podcast Perspectives by Jeff Umbro, The Podglomerate LLC

May 26, 2026 · 40 min · Episode 68

About this episode

Mia Lobel discusses her journey in podcasting, the challenges of sustainability, and the future of community-owned media.

Mia Lobel is a seasoned producer with over 20 years in the game. She shares raw insights from her journey through startup at Panoply, the explosive growth at Pushkin, and her current role shaping Slate’s future. She discusses the unsustainable grind that led her to leave behind four years of relentless work, and what it really takes to build a resilient, meaningful podcasting career amid turbulence.Mia also reflects on the promise and peril of community-owned media, explaining why she chose to work within traditional organizations rather than start her own cooperative.We dig into the industry’s biggest misconceptions: are legacy networks dying, or just transforming? Does multi-platform expansion threaten quality? And how can creators make a sustainable living without sacrificing their integrity? With a mix of behind-the-scenes anecdotes and sharp industry analysis, Mia offers a blueprint for navigating the podcast world's volatile waters. I’m on all the socials @JeffUmbro Looking for more actionable podcast strategies after today's episode? Check out The Podglomerate's free resources: The Ultimate Guide to Podcast Marketing…

People in this episode

Host: Jeff Umbro

Guest: Mia Lobel

Topics covered

  • sustainability in podcasting
  • innovation in media
  • community-owned media
  • podcasting career
  • industry misconceptions
  • monetization strategies

Keywords

  • podcasting
  • sustainability
  • innovation
  • community media
  • monetization
  • industry analysis
  • career development

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Slate, Panoply, Pushkin

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