The podcast industry's trajectory leading up to the dramatic contraction of 2023 mirrors historical patterns seen in other digital media transformations. With the 20:20 hindsight we have today in 2025, we have a unique opportunity for critical analysis of what went wrong, and examination of how the industry should look going forward. While there are signs of recovery, layoffs are still happening and skilled professionals continue to seek their place in the restructured ecosystem. This moment of reflection and rebuilding presents an invaluable opportunity to extract actionable insights from our collective experience.