May 22, 2026
What Is New Media Now? Creator Economy, Podcasting, Audio, Video or More | New Media Show
Everyone is talking about New Media, but what does it actually mean now?
On New Media Show #665, Rob Greenlee is joined by Ashni / Ashley Christenson, streaming strategist, community builder, and new media operator with 13 years of experience across creators, streaming, startups, and media strategy. Ashley has worked with 60+ startups, is connected with Hype Partners, and publishes on YouTube at youtube.com/@ashnichrist and on X at x.com/@ashnichrist.
We explore Ashley’s recent breakdown of New Media as “the creator economy when it grows up and gets a real job,” in which the core asset shifts from simply building an audience to earning a meaningful position in an industry conversation. Her framework argues that New Media is not just creator content, not just B2B marketing, and not just professional podcasting, but a new category built around industry access, cultural relevance, entertainment, and trusted attention.
Rob brings a broader historical view. New Media has existed as a term since the late 1990s, and NewMediaShow.com launched 14 years ago in support of podcasting, streaming, downloadable media, RSS, online video, and the early digital creator movement. Rob sees podcasting as one of the earliest real-world expressions of New Media and views today’s creator economy as the growth engine powering the broader New Media industry.
The discussion will contrast two perspectives:
Ashley’s view: New Media is the creator economy evolving into professional industry influence.
Rob’s view: New Media is the internet-era replacement for traditional broadcast media, powered by indie creators, pro creators, podcasting, video, streaming, and AI-driven distribution.
They will also explore how Apple Podcasts' addition of HLS video streaming changes the role of podcasting within New Media. If podcasts can now become streamed video experiences with deeper analytics, new monetization potential, and tighter platform integration, does podcasting remain its own category, or does it become a single format within a much larger New Media system?
This conversation explores why VCs, traditional media companies, creators, startups, and professional communities are all rushing into the category now, why entertainment matters even for professional audiences, and why the future of podcasting may depend on its understanding as part of a broader New Media transformation.
Guest: Ashley Christenson
X: https://x.com/ashnichrist
Hype Partners: https://x.com/hypepartners
YouTube: @ashnichrist" target="_blank">https://youtube.com/@ashnichrist
Host: Rob Greenlee
New Media Show: https://newmediashow.com
Rob Greenlee: https://robgreenlee.com
Want to create live audio and video show streams like this? Support Spoken Life by checking out StreamYard: https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5606177711325184
On New Media Show #665, Rob Greenlee is joined by Ashni / Ashley Christenson, streaming strategist, community builder, and new media operator with 13 years of experience across creators, streaming, startups, and media strategy. Ashley has worked with 60+ startups, is connected with Hype Partners, and publishes on YouTube at youtube.com/@ashnichrist and on X at x.com/@ashnichrist.
We explore Ashley’s recent breakdown of New Media as “the creator economy when it grows up and gets a real job,” in which the core asset shifts from simply building an audience to earning a meaningful position in an industry conversation. Her framework argues that New Media is not just creator content, not just B2B marketing, and not just professional podcasting, but a new category built around industry access, cultural relevance, entertainment, and trusted attention.
Rob brings a broader historical view. New Media has existed as a term since the late 1990s, and NewMediaShow.com launched 14 years ago in support of podcasting, streaming, downloadable media, RSS, online video, and the early digital creator movement. Rob sees podcasting as one of the earliest real-world expressions of New Media and views today’s creator economy as the growth engine powering the broader New Media industry.
The discussion will contrast two perspectives:
Ashley’s view: New Media is the creator economy evolving into professional industry influence.
Rob’s view: New Media is the internet-era replacement for traditional broadcast media, powered by indie creators, pro creators, podcasting, video, streaming, and AI-driven distribution.
They will also explore how Apple Podcasts' addition of HLS video streaming changes the role of podcasting within New Media. If podcasts can now become streamed video experiences with deeper analytics, new monetization potential, and tighter platform integration, does podcasting remain its own category, or does it become a single format within a much larger New Media system?
This conversation explores why VCs, traditional media companies, creators, startups, and professional communities are all rushing into the category now, why entertainment matters even for professional audiences, and why the future of podcasting may depend on its understanding as part of a broader New Media transformation.
Guest: Ashley Christenson
X: https://x.com/ashnichrist
Hype Partners: https://x.com/hypepartners
YouTube: @ashnichrist" target="_blank">https://youtube.com/@ashnichrist
Host: Rob Greenlee
New Media Show: https://newmediashow.com
Rob Greenlee: https://robgreenlee.com
Want to create live audio and video show streams like this? Support Spoken Life by checking out StreamYard: https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5606177711325184