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September 20, 2025 53 mins

Host: Martin Quibell (Marv)

Guest: Sean Malin – Author, Culture Critic, and Podcast Columnist

Episode Overview:

In this insightful episode, Marv sits down with Sean Malin, acclaimed author of "Podcast Pantheon: 101 Podcasts That Changed How We Listen." Sean shares his journey in curating the most influential podcasts, discusses the evolution of the podcasting industry, and offers advice for writers and podcasters in the age of AI. Whether you're a podcast enthusiast, creator, or industry professional, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways and expert perspectives.

About the Guest:

Sean Malin ● Author of "Podcast Pantheon: 101 Podcasts That Changed How We Listen" ● Culture critic and columnist for New York Magazine, Vulture, and The New York Times ● Former food critic, film critic, and editor-in-chief for various publications ● Early YouTube creator and media industry veteran Connect with Sean: ● Twitter: @SMAs ● Book: Available via Chronicle Books and major retailers

Time-Stamped Highlights:

00:32 – Introduction to Sean Malin and his book

01:54 – The challenge of narrowing down 5 million podcasts to 101

03:04 – Sean’s process for selecting podcasts and the importance of context

07:00 – The impact of corporate ownership on podcast content 

13:40 – Book structure: Organizing by genre and why it matters

16:55 – Sean’s background as a critic and his journey into podcasting

27:58 – Book mentions: "Podcast Pantheon," "1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die," "Great Movies" by Roger Ebert, and more

42:00 – Advice for writers: The power of cold emails and working with editors

49:00 – Advice for podcasters: Authenticity, AI, and connecting with your audience

52:00 – How to connect with Sean and where to buy the book

Book Mentions:

● Podcast Pantheon: 101 Podcasts That Changed How We Listen by Sean Malin (Main subject of the episode; available worldwide)

● 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die (Inspiration for Sean’s book format)

● Great Movies by Roger Ebert (Referenced as a critical influence)

Listen now and discover the stories behind the world’s most influential podcasts!

#PodcastPantheon #PodcastingTips #PodcastCommunity #PodcasterLife #BookRecommendations #PodcastInterview #PodcastDiscovery #PodcastIndustry #AIinPodcasting #PodcastSEO

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