In this conversation, Colin sits down with Craig Hewitt, founder of Castos, to discuss the shifting landscape of content creation. Fresh off completing a 100 Days of YouTube challenge, Craig shares why he chose video over podcasting during that time, what he learned about platform growth, and the powerful truths about podcast numbers versus engagement (where podcasting still shines!)
They explore the convergence of audio, video, and email platforms, the challenges of monetization in podcasting, how AI is reshaping content workflows (without replacing creators), and why a few hundred engaged podcast listeners might be more valuable than 100,000 YouTube views.
Guest
Craig Hewitt - Founder of Castos, a podcast hosting platform. Recently completed 100 Days of AI on YouTube, growing from 250 to 11,000 subscribers. Find him at Castos.com or search "Craig Hewitt" on YouTube.
Chapter Markers
[00:00] Introduction & Catching Up
[02:15] Has Podcasting Changed More in the Last Year?
[05:30] What is Podcasting in 3-5 Years?
[08:45] Craig's 100 Days of YouTube (And No Podcasting)
[12:20] The Convergence of Content Platforms
[16:00] Product Development: When to Expand vs Focus
[20:45] Spotify as a Video Platform
[25:30] Exclusive APIs and Platform Access
[30:15] What Really Matters in Podcast Software
[35:00] The Monetization Challenge
[42:30] AI in Content Creation
[48:00] Building AI-First Products
[52:15] Craig's AI Learnings from 100 Days
[56:45] Growing on YouTube: Concept is Everything
[62:00] The 800 vs 11,000 Paradox
[66:30] Small Audiences, Big Revenue
Key Takeaways
- Platform choice matters: Optimize content for one channel rather than trying to make everything work everywhere
- Engagement beats reach: A few hundred loyal podcast listeners can be more valuable than 100K YouTube views for certain business models
- AI is a tool, not a replacement: It amplifies human capability but requires strategic implementation
- Concept is king on YouTube: Title, thumbnail, and mass appeal trump production quality
- Podcasting works best for: Coaches, consultants, and anyone with high-ticket offerings and existing audiences
- The industry irony: Even podcast hosting companies prioritize YouTube and blogs over their own podcasts
Links & Resources
- Castos: https://castos.com
- Alitu: https://alitu.com (podcast editing and hosting)
- The Podcast Host: https://thepodcasthost.com
- Craig's YouTube: Search "Craig Hewitt Castos"
- Creator Hooks: https://creatorhooks.com (mentioned for title/thumbnail generation)
Notable Quotes
"For certain types of people in certain situations, a podcast is by far the most valuable kind of marketing real estate they can have. The rub is that's not everyone or even most people." - Craig Hewitt
"If you have 1,000 podcast listeners, you might convert 500 of them, but if you have 10,000 YouTube watchers, you might still only convert 500 of them." - Colin Gray
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