This was the ninth time I’ve been to Podcast Movement. I attended one of those virtually in 2021, when I wasn’t even sure whether the border was open for the drive to Nashville. I feel icky just talking about the COVID era.

This time, I did complete the drive to New York City to attend the event at Terminal 5, a rock venue that perpetually made me feel as though Soundgarden circa 1994 would be taking the stage within minutes.

The event is about the people in podcasting, what’s new, and where we’re at. For the fourth year in a row, there were therapy sessions about how video is allegedly so much more popular than audio. And for the fourth year in a row, I’m here to tell you that it’s not.

I got to speak at the show about mental health and loneliness. The panel consisted of Sarah Burke from the Women in Media Network, Pete Bukowski from the Locked On Packers and Jay Nachlis from Coleman Insights who moderated the session. This session will be on YouTube in the coming days and I will share it when it becomes available.

As for everything else, you’ll hear about it over the next 52 weeks on the Sound Off Podcast as I bring on the fascinating people I met in New York. But if you need a quick fix, the Podcast Superfriends are recording an episode Tuesday at 5 p.m. ET, when Jon Gay from JAG Podcast Productions and I will share our takeaways with the Superfriends.

The Conclave was a long-running nonprofit educational event that brought together radio broadcasters, programmers, managers, and industry leaders from across the United States—and a few Canadians.

It was unfortunate that it was scheduled at the same time as Podcast Movement because I would have loved to have been there. Both conferences have served as starting points for the Sound Off Podcast.

The 45th edition was the last. Times have changed, and between the pandemic and the failure to relaunch successfully in 2023, it was time to give this amazing conference a final curtain call.

The attitude was always, “Check your ego at the door,” and the efforts were always collaborative. It was a place to connect, make friends, and share a love of the industry. Other radio conferences, take note.

I’ll take this moment to thank the people who included me over the years: Lori Lewis, Jacobs Media, Seth Resler, Bob Goff, Jonathan West, Sean Ross, Paige Nienaber, Radio DJ Bob, JJ Kincaid, Tony Lorino, Valerie Geller, and the 50 or so guests I met through the Conclave.

I don’t know. If I had gone to The Last Conclave, I’d know. I can tell you that so goes the Bob & Sheri Show, so goes radio. And right now they are leaving the terrestrial part of radio. After nearly 30 years on the airwaves, the nationally syndicated "Bob & Sheri Show" is officially exiting traditional broadcast radio. Hosts and co-owndoughly 50 affiliate radio stations on December 31, 2026. Starting in January 2027, the show will pivot completely to a paid, direct-to-consumer podcast model. But I want you to listen to Sheri and Tony talk about why they need to do this. For radio people - it is a difficult but necessary listen.

I passed through Thunder Bay on our way home from Manitoba. When I asked a waitress at a restaurant if she had listened to Thunder Bay from Canadaland, she said, “We don’t like that much around here.”

It’s very good. And I can hear why.