Apple Podcasts will soon have a new hire with NPR and Spotify credentials, Collin Campbell. There's no word on what role he will have with Apple.

Apple is always looking to hire new talent and leadership to bolster its ranks. New hires don't always indicate a change in strategy or a new product, but there's a chance changes could come.

According to a social media post from New York Times reporter Ben Mullin, first covered by 9to5Mac, Collin Campbell left NPR on Friday, October 3. While it hasn't been officially confirmed, three sources tell him that Campbell is joining Apple.

Screenshots of Apple Notes were included in the post with what is presumably copied text from an internal email from NPR. It is signed "Edith," as in Editor in Chief Edith Chapin.

According to the note, Campbell was responsible for NPR's push into video and its ability to work across platforms, and he also previously worked at Spotify. It sounds like he'll be an essential hire for Apple's Podcast group.

Apple's podcast strategy

Whether he'll be helping Apple revamp its Apple News Today and other shows, or helping bolster relations with podcasters, Apple could use the help. It's tried repeatedly to make the Podcast app a better place for users and to make an impact with its own shows, but has never quite hit the mark.

Notably, Apple has several channels within Apple Podcasts and has experimented with several shows and formats. For example, the Apple Music channel had an Apple Music Today feed that covered a song every day from October 3, 2022 to August 30, 2024 that ended without notice. Though the channel is an excellent resource filled with all of Apple Music Radio's interviews and shows.

Apple News Today has been airing every weekday since July 15, 2020 and is one of Apple's longest-running shows. Its sister show, Apple News In Conversation, started as a weekly interview segment within Apple News Today, then split off on its own in July 2021, but now there are signs Apple will merge it back into the Apple News Today feed.

Then there's all of Apple's TV+ podcasts that come and go. Show companion podcasts sometimes last for a season or two, but most don't return even when a popular show gets renewed. There is a selection of Apple TV+ branded podcasts that aren't tied to shows as well.

It is clear Apple wants to be involved in the podcast space in every facet, so a talent like Collin Campbell may be able to help in several aspects. If he played a significant part in everything from building popular shows to dealing with app relations, he's likely to be an excellent hire for Apple.

Not much is known about his hire today, but as fans of Apple's podcast efforts, we can only hope he helps push Apple forward in the space.