🎙️ Do Podcasts Still Work in 2026? What Canadian Leaders Should Know

If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking “everyone already has a podcast” — you’re not alone.

Podcasting feels crowded. It feels noisy. And in 2026, it’s fair to ask whether starting (or sustaining) a podcast is still worth the time, energy, and cost — especially for business owners.

So this week on Canada Now, we went a little meta.

I sat down with Brayden Dyczkowski, founder of Podfather Creative — the podcast studio behind Canada Now and dozens of Canadian business, brand, and founder-led shows — to unpack what’s actually working in podcasting right now.

And more importantly: what still delivers real ROI.

Brayden’s opening line says it all.

He’s spent the last six years producing podcasts for real estate firms, founders, professional services companies, and growing brands across Canada. If podcasting were just a vanity project, repeat clients wouldn’t exist.

What’s changed is how podcasts create value.

Not through massive download numbers.
Not through viral moments.
But through depth, trust, and long-form attention — something increasingly rare online.

And in high-trust, high-value businesses — where one client can pay for a year of marketing — that matters.

One of the most practical insights from this conversation is how often podcasting is misunderstood when compared to traditional advertising.

A Facebook ad might get thousands of impressions — but only a fraction of a second of attention.

A podcast listener gives you 30–60 minutes.

That time builds:

For Brayden’s clients, a relatively small audience often converts better than a massive one — because the listener already understands how they think.

Canada Now | Episode 13: Podcasting in 2026: What Still Works, What’s Changed, and Why ROI Matters

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This is where the conversation gets especially relevant for Canadian founders, organizational leaders, entrepreneurs, and even content creators.

So much podcast content comes from the U.S. — and while it’s valuable, it doesn’t always translate cleanly.

Canada has:

Podcasting gives Canadians a way to speak directly to their audience.

Your voice, your nuance, your context — that’s the differentiator.

And despite the perception that “everyone already has a podcast,” many Canadian niches are still wide open.

Another big question we tackled: is video podcasting now mandatory?

Short answer: it depends — but discoverability is changing.

YouTube has quietly become the largest podcast discovery engine, not because everyone is watching full episodes, but because:

Most people still listen while driving, cooking, or doing laundry.
But video helps them find you in the first place.

For many shows, video isn’t about aesthetics — it’s about reach.

Brayden’s advice to anyone considering a podcast is refreshingly grounded:

The biggest risk isn’t imperfection — it’s never starting.

Beyond podcasting itself, Brayden’s story is also a reminder of how fast careers are changing.

He built Podfather Creative by spotting a gap at the intersection of:

Ten years ago, this job hardly existed.
Today, it supports a growing business, a studio, and a cross-section of Canadian leaders.

That’s a very Canada Now story.

Podcasting in 2026 isn’t about chasing scale.
It’s about:

For Canadian founders, leaders, and creators — there’s still plenty of room.

And if you’ve been quietly asking yourself “should I start a podcast?” — this episode might help you answer that question with a little more clarity.

Brayden Dyczkowski is a highly skilled audio engineer and founder of Podfather Creative, a Vancouver-based podcast studio and production company working with entrepreneurs, organizations, and business leaders across Canada.

Over the past several years, Brayden has helped shape some of Vancouver’s most recognized audio and video podcasts — supporting everything from show strategy and production to studio recording and distribution. His work sits at the intersection of media, technology, and storytelling, with a practical focus on helping people communicate clearly, consistently, and with intention.

Through Podfather Creative, Brayden has built a business around a modern medium that didn’t exist in the same way a decade ago — one that reflects how Canadians are increasingly using podcasts to build trust, share ideas, and connect with their audiences.

Learn more:
Brayden on Instagram | Podfather Creative - Company Website

If you’re a fan of Canadian innovation and curated Canadian content, check out some of my other favourite newsletters on Beehiiv! 🐝👇

— Ashley Smith (@ashleysmithnow)