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In episode 668 of the New Media Show, host Rob Greenlee talks with Ollie Forsyth, founder of New Economies and New-Media.co, about the fast-changing meaning of “New Media” and why creator-led media is becoming one of the most important shifts in digital publishing, podcasting, video, newsletters, live streaming, and AI-powered content. The conversation begins with a bigger question: what does “New Media” mean now? For years, the term New Media has described digital media outside traditional broadcast, print, and cable. But in 2026, the meaning is changing again. New Media is becoming less about a format and more about who the audience trusts, where attention is moving, and how creators are building direct relationships through podcasts, YouTube channels, newsletters, X, Instagram, live shows, private communities, short-form clips, and emerging AI-generated formats. Ollie shares how New-Media.co started as a mapping project focused on tech newsletters, podcasts, and creator-led media brands, and quickly became a broader signal that a new category is forming. New Media is no longer just a description of online content. It is becoming a business, creator, and distribution category. Rob and Ollie explore whether podcasting is still its own category or is becoming one lane within a larger New Media ecosystem. Rob brings the long history of podcasting, RSS, video podcasting, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify, Netflix, and creator platforms into the discussion, asking whether the word “podcast” is still enough to describe what audiences now consume. A major theme in this episode is the difference between audience size and audience value. Ollie argues that creators do not always need massive audiences if they have focused, valuable, trusted communities. A show with 5,000 highly relevant listeners or viewers can be more valuable than a much larger audience that does not convert or engage. The discussion also moves into traditional media and why legacy media companies may struggle to adapt to this new creator-led environment. Ollie says the difference is not just production quality. It is the vibe, the trust, the format, and the feeling that audiences are getting access to something more direct and less institutional. Rob and Ollie also talk about how X, Instagram, YouTube, newsletters, and short-form clips are becoming the new media distribution stack. YouTube remains central for video and long-form discovery, while X and Instagram are becoming powerful platforms for attention and conversation for creators and media brands. The final part of the episode turns to AI-generated content, synthetic media, AI micro-dramas, AI-generated podcasts, disclosure, and audience trust. Rob raises the tension around the term “AI slop” and whether the podcast industry is reacting differently to bad AI content than it has historically reacted to bad human-created content. Ollie argues that AI can help create new forms of content, but it cannot replace the human element, charisma, taste, and trust that make a real show work. This episode lands on a core New Media Show idea: podcasting helped build the foundation of today's creator-led media world, but the next era is broader, more video-driven, more AI-assisted, more platform-diverse, and more dependent on human trust than ever before. Key Topics: What “New Media” means in 2026 Why creator-led media is gaining cultural and business influence New Media vs. the creator economy How New-Media.co maps creators, newsletters, podcasts, and media brands Why podcasting may now be one lane inside a broader media ecosystem Audience size vs. audience value Why niche audiences can be more powerful than mass reach How creators are building multi-platform distribution systems YouTube, X, Instagram, Substack, newsletters, and short-form video The role of clips in modern media growth Why traditional media struggles to capture the creator-led “vibe” How legacy media companies could partner with creators Why “podcast” may be an audience term more than a creator identity Netflix, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and the shifting meaning of shows AI-generated podcasts, AI micro-dramas, and synthetic content Disclosure and transparency around AI-created media Why human taste, trust, charisma, and curation still matter The future of podcasting inside the larger New Media category Chapter Markers: 00:00 Welcome to New Media Show #668 00:30 Why New Media Is Entering a New Era 01:30 Introducing Ollie Forsyth 03:00 What New Media Means Now 04:00 How New-Media.co Started 05:30 Why the New Media Category Is Gaining Attention 06:30 Mapping the New Media Landscape 08:00 How Creators Get Discovered 10:00 Creator Economy vs. New Media 11:30 Why OpenAI and TBPN Became a Signal 13:30 Audience Value vs. Audience Size 16:30 Timely vs. Timeless Content 18:00 Why Distribution Channels Matter 20:00 Are Podcasters Becoming Creators? 21:30 AI Micro-Dramas and New Entertainment Formats 23:00 Short-Form Content and Creator ROI 25:00 Building Multiple Distribution Channels 27:00 Is Podcasting Still the Right Term? 29:00 Apple Podcasts, HLS Video, and YouTube's Influence 31:30 New Media as a Broader Category 32:30 Why AI Companies Want New Media Shows 33:30 Why Legacy Media Struggles to Adapt 35:00 The Vibe Difference Between Traditional Media and Creator Media 37:00 X, Instagram, and the New Distribution Stack 40:30 YouTube, Video, and Future-Proofing Media Brands 43:00 Planning Content Like a Media Company 45:00 Is Podcasting One Lane on a Bigger Freeway? 48:00 Why Creators Need More Than One Channel 50:00 Does the Audience Care What We Call It? 52:00 Is It Just a Show Now? 53:30 Netflix, YouTube, and Audience Expectations 55:00 Is New Media Here to Stay? 56:30 Taste, Attention, and Human Connection 58:30 AI-Generated Content and Podcasting's Reaction 01:00:30 AI Disclosure and Transparency 01:02:00 AI Micro-Dramas and Synthetic Media 01:03:30 Can AI Replace the Human Element? 01:05:00 Bad AI Content vs. Bad Human Content 01:07:00 Why YouTube Raises the Production Bar 01:09:00 Why Human Curation Still Matters 01:11:00 Where New Media Goes Next 01:13:00 Closing Thoughts Guest and Host Links Guest: Ollie Forsyth Founder, New Economies and New-Media.co New Media: new-media.co New Economies: neweconomies.co Host: Rob Greenlee New Media Show: NewMediaShow.com Rob Greenlee: RobGreenlee.com Podcast Hall of Fame: PodcastHall.com Rob Greenlee on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/robgreenlee Rob Greenlee Booking: calendly.com/robgreenlee About the Host/Author: Rob Greenlee is a 2017 Podcast Hall of Fame inductee and Chair, a global new-media leader who bridges podcasting's human roots and its AI-driven future. As founder of Trust Factor Lab and host of the New Media Show and Spoken Human, Rob helps creators start, grow, monetize, and future-proof their content. He has held leadership roles at Microsoft, Spreaker, Libsyn, StreamYard, Podbean, and PodcastOne, and serves as Chairperson of the Podcast Hall of Fame. Personal / AI Disclosure Note: I used AI tools to help organize and edit this episode description and generate show notes from the episode transcript. The views, clarifications, responsibility, and industry perspective are mine and my guest's. I have been working in podcasting, digital media, and platform adoption for more than two decades, and this article reflects my own position and editorial direction.The post Is New Media Replacing the Creator Economy? | Ollie Forsyth #668 first appeared on New Media Show.
Recently, a16z General Partner Anish Acharya joined Ollie Forsyth on NEW ECONOMIES. They talked about why consumer tech is surging again, how AI is enabling 100M-user products at unprecedented speed, and what founders need to understand heading into 2026 — from distribution shifts to founder mindset to the mechanics behind the fastest product cycle in tech history. Resources:Follow Ollie: https://x.com/ollieforsythFollow Anish: https://x.com/illscience Stay Updated:If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to like, subscribe, and share with your friends!Find a16z on X: https://x.com/a16zFind a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16zListen to the a16z Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5bC65RDvs3oxnLyqqvkUYXListen to the a16z Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a16z-podcast/id842818711Follow our host: https://x.com/eriktorenbergPlease note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see http://a16z.com/disclosures. Stay Updated:Find a16z on XFind a16z on LinkedInListen to the a16z Podcast on SpotifyListen to the a16z Podcast on Apple PodcastsFollow our host: https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Today on Rising Giants, we have the pleasure of hosting a great friend of the show, Ollie Forsyth, Founder of New Economies Newsletter - one of the fastest growing communities covering the latest technology trends shaping our world today. In the episode we explore Ollie's captivating journey from an young and ambitious entrepreneur to a venture capitalist in a journey that led him to his current home in Thailand building New Economies. We dive into the real challenges of creating content, keeping audiences hooked, and finding the right work-life balance to prevent burnout. Ollie also gives us his take on how venture capital is changing fast in Southeast Asia and how solo GPs are shaking things up in the investment world. Follow Ollie Forsyth on X! New Economies Newsletter: Subscribe Today! Follow RG on TikTok & Instagram: @risinggiantsfm Catch our full videos on YouTube: @risinggiantsfm All RG links: https://linktr.ee/risinggiantsfm
The Consumer VC: Venture Capital I B2C Startups I Commerce | Early-Stage Investing
Our guest today is Ollie Forsyth, Global Community Manager and Investor at Antler. The global venture capital firm enabling and investing in the world's most exceptional people from the earliest stages. Ollie recently published a piece called “The New Creator Economy: A guide on Web3 creator platforms”. We focus our conversation on his learnings while researching this paper and as you can imagine the future of the creator economy and Web3.
Ollie Forsyth is a serial entrepreneur. At age 13 he founded Ollie's Shop, an online store that sold jewellery and accessories. Since then, he has played a role in founding many other ventures, empowering women, supporting young entrepreneurs and helping young refugees. Ollie also writes and talks about entrepreneurship and is currently a community manager at Espirit VC. Ollie has founded The Budding Entrepreneur Magazine, and has recently started The Makers Podcast which has a focus on people's journey to success and mental health. Today we discuss his journey, overcoming his disability and bullying. We also discuss cold-calling and reaching out to press. Our new publication is out. Get TheFourOneOne now! Follow us and get in touch with us on: thehumanentrepreneur@gmail.com Instagram Facebook Twitter LinkedIn
In the week that Lemonade had its IPO, Matthew Grant has been speaking to another VC firm about what it’s looking for in its portfolio companies. Matthew spoke to Ollie Forsyth who has crammed a lot into only a few years. One of his current roles is community manager at Draper Esprit. Ollie comments on the current technology scene from the view of a millennial, and has advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and those wishing to benefit from what Draper Esprit offer. Ollie brings a different perspective to innovation from our usual guests. As well as a day job identifying late-stage technology companies, he has also run his own businesses and has hosted the popular "The Makers Podcast" for two years. Talking points from Episode 92 include: Making your own way in the world How to get noticed as an entrepreneur Why now is a great time to hire talent What Gen Z customers are looking for from insurance The changing world of work post-pandemic Tell us what you think or contact Matthew Grant on Linkedin. Find out what we are up to at Instech London and sign up to our newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning. Continuing Professional Development - Learning Objectives InsTech London is accredited by The Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). By listening to an InsTech London podcast, or reading the accompanying transcript, you can claim up to 0.5 CPD hours towards the CII member CPD scheme. Complete the InsTech London Podcast Feedback Survey to claim your CPD time.
We sat down with Ollie Forsyth, an inspirational 21 year old entrepreneur who runs The Makers Podcast. Ollie talks us through his journey of building a business while still at school, building an incredible network and how he dealt with being bullied.
Ollie Forsyth is a bread-and-born entrepreneur, the host of The Makers Podcast, he has been listed #3 on the New York Times Super Teen List and was also featured in numerous magazines like Forbes, The Times, Entrepreneur.com. He was also a Young Entrepreneur finalist at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards in 2017, was named one of 20 under 20 CEOs by TransferWise and received a distinguished award from the Queen of England for being one of Queens Young Leaders. Besides all this, he is also very passionate about classic cars and already owned two before even having a drivers license.
Ollie Forsyth is the 'dyslexic entrepreneur'. Ollie first demonstrated his entrepreneurial traits at the age of just six years old when he started charging his parents 20p for making them tea and coffee..and again for refills. He formed his first business at the age of just 13, and despite being diagnosed with dyslexia, has gone on to form a number of companies, including launching The Budding Entrepreneur's Club in 2016 in the Shard with Levi Roots among others. Ollie talks to me about the importance of having a mentor, surrounding yourself with the right team as well as the future plans he has for The Budding Entrepreneurs Club. We also speak to Virgin StartUp Ambassador Darcy Ida from Idapod, who talks to us about her photo booths business and their uses..including attending an increasing number of funerals....
This week, our host, Kelly Lovell, will recap on this month's podcasts, sharing top leadership tips learned from our expert guests. Kelly will touch on what she's learned from several of our expert guests including Ollie Forsyth, John Fistolera, Sara Potler-LaHayne, and John Baker. Tune in to hear Kelly's top three leadership tips for youth getting started on their journey.
Is post-secondary education necessary for entrepreneurs? It seems like many of the industry’s great innovators might think otherwise. Steve Jobs (Apple), Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook), Bill Gates (Microsoft), Michael Dell (Dell), Evan Williams (Twitter) and Travis Kalanick (Uber) all share the same education journey -- one that ends in dropping out of school. Should aspiring entrepreneurs follow in the footsteps of these successful innovators? Or are there other ways to find success in the business world? This week on BridgingTheGap, Ollie Forsyth and John Fistolera will come together to discuss the best ways for youth to get started on their business career or entrepreneurial journey. Now an 18-year-old entrepreneur, as well as CEO of the Budding Entrepreneur Magazine, Ollie Forsyth left school at age 16 to pursue his entrepreneurial goals. John Fistolera on the other hand, is the Assistant Executive Director of Corporate and External Affairs at DECA, who works to improve business education in school. This week, John and Ollie will discuss whether a formal business education is necessary for entrepreneurs, or if there are other avenues entrepreneurs can take to start a business.
Sometimes when you watch sports, you have that moment when your team’s new star player is only a teenager, and you suddenly feel really old. This week’s Hardcore MBA guest is the entrepreneurial equivalent of that (well, for me at least!), because Ollie Forsyth is only 18 years old, and he already runs his own […]
16 year old entrepreneur Ollie Forsyth runs two businesses. One in the fashion industry, the other, reselling classic cars. In this episode, Ollie talks about being bullied, the problems he encountered in the education system and some things he thinks should change. He also talks about the problem of high taxation, his dyslexia and who he’d like to meet before he dies (fellow UK teenage entrepreneur, Richard Branson). Ollie gives advice on turning customers into loyal friends, and even tells how he started his business making pure profit selling jewelry that was discount priced to his market. Plus, you’ll get great advice from Ollie on dealing with bullies, handling rejection, & NEVER giving up.