Why You’ll Want to Be at Podcast Movement 2026 with Molly DeMellier

What happens when a podcast conference stops trying to be everything to everyone and starts creating the right experience for the people actually in the room?

Podcast Movement is heading to New York September 17th and 18th and with a completely reimagined format, and Molly DeMellier, Head of Communications at Sounds Profitable, joins PodBiz to break down what attendees can expect.

This year separates the business side of podcasting from the broader creator conference, with the Sounds Profitable Business Summit bringing buyers and sellers together early in the week before Podcast Movement takes over Terminal 5 on Thursday and Friday. The goal? More focused conversations, stronger connections and programming designed around what attendees actually want to learn.

As Molly explains:

“We have seen conferences across industries that have just gotten bigger and bigger. And in trying to reach everybody, they consequently speak to nobody.”

We also get into why New York and September matter, the decision to eliminate paid sessions from the Podcast Movement stages, bringing new speakers and perspectives into the industry, and why a $199 ticket is central to making the event more accessible to creators.

“We really felt strongly that what occurs on stage should be what the industry wants to hear from.”
In this episode we discuss,

• Why Podcast Movement redesigned its conference format
• What separates the Sounds Profitable Business Summit from Podcast Movement
• Bringing nearly 200 media buyers into the room
• Why Podcast Movement moved to New York and September
• Making the conference more accessible for independent creators
• How community voting helped shape this year’s programming
• Why Podcast Movement eliminated paid stage sessions
• Bringing new speakers, audiences and industries into podcasting
• How Sounds Profitable is helping podcasting reach beyond its own echo chamber

Episode Chapters

(02:12) Welcome back Molly DeMellier

(02:51) Where the money is in podcasting now

(04:49) Molly’s journey to Sounds Profitable

(08:00) Taking podcast research beyond the echo chamber

(11:45) Video, creators and the changing podcast landscape

(19:56) Why Podcast Movement changed its format

(20:36) Inside the Sounds Profitable Business Summit

(21:38) Bringing media buyers into the room

(24:30) The week’s new Podcast Movement schedule

(25:57) How the community helped choose the sessions

(30:02) Why Podcast Movement moved to New York

(32:03) Why September matters

(33:31) Making Podcast Movement more accessible

(35:04) Putting the right people in the right rooms

(38:31) Why there are no paid sessions on stage

(41:10) What Molly is looking forward to at Podcast Movement

(44:24) Bringing new people into podcasting

Guest Bio

Molly DeMellier is Head of Communications at Sounds Profitable, where she leads communications for the organization, Podcast Movement events and a growing roster of industry partners. Her podcasting career has included roles with Acast and Sundaze PR, and today her work spans media relations, content, marketing and communications strategy across the podcast industry.

Some Additional PodBiz Buzz“In trying to reach everybody, they consequently speak to nobody.”“I think people will feel this year that for the first time, it’s the right people are in the right rooms.”“We really felt strongly that what occurs on stage should be what the industry wants to hear from.”“There was no cherry picking. There was no money spent to be able to get on stage.”“The lineup is not familiar to me, which is something that I think is really exciting.”
Join Us at Podcast Movement NYC

Podcast Movement NYC takes place September 17–18 at Terminal 5 in New York City, with two days of programming, five stages, more than 80 sessions, networking and live podcast recordings.

General Admission tickets are $199.

Get your ticket here:

https://2026.podcastmovement.com/pm/registration

PodBiz is the podcast about the business of podcasting. Hosted by industry veterans Norma Jean Belenky and John Kiernan, the show features conversations with creators, executives, and platform leaders to answer one question: Where’s the money in podcasting?

Each episode dives into monetization strategy, adtech, branded content, IP development, and audience growth. Guests include leaders from Acast, Captivate, Crooked Media, Buzzsprout, True Native Media, Podfest, and more.

Learn more: njbmedia.co | thepodhouseproductions.com

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