Todd Cochrane, the CEO of podcast firm Blubrry, has died at the age of 61, Barrett Media has learned.
In a statement, the company confirmed Cochrane’s death, sharing their admiration for his work with the brand.
“His leadership, passion, and belief in independent creators guided Blubrry from day one,” the company’s Barry Kantz said. “Todd’s impact on our company, our team, and the entire podcasting community is immeasurable.”
In addition to serving as the CEO of Blubrry, Todd Cochrane was also an independent podcaster. For the past 13 years, he had hosted The New Media Show. That program — co-hosted by Rob Greenlee — has planned a final memorial episode to remember Cochrane on Wednesday at 3 PM ET. The program will feature guests Adam Curry, Mike Dell, and Rob Walch sharing their memories of the executive.
A podcasting trailblazer, Cochrane wrote the “Do-It-Yourself Guide” to the medium in 2005. He was also inducted into the Podcast Hall of Fame as part of the inaugural class in 2015.
Before joining Blubrry, Cochrane spent 25 years in the United States Navy, retiring as a senior chief petty officer.
Many in the podcast industry shared their condolences upon hearing the news of Cochrane’s death.
“I’m so very sad and shocked about this,” Sounds Profitable partner Tom Webster shared. “Todd was a genuinely good human and a force for creators in our world. I will miss him very much.”
“I liked Todd and am grateful for his friendship over the past decade and beyond,” said Podcast Movement founder Jared Easley. “I’ll miss our run-ins for sure. I wish his family and loved ones the very best, and I will continue to lift them up in prayer during this difficult time. I know how deeply he loved his daughter in Tampa.”
“Blubrry was a very supportive environment when I first started podcasting, and he was always so available despite being clearly very busy all the time,” Seemingly Unrelated podcast director Andrew Johnstone said. “A genuinely good guy who will be missed for sure.”
“I knew Todd for many years as one of his Blubrry Podcasting by RawVoice customers and having interviewed him at last year’s conference — there is so much more that we don’t know about our industry acquaintances,” podcaster E.B. Moss shared. “I do know he was helpful, and candid, and smart.”
“Todd was more than a podcasting pioneer — he was a visionary entrepreneur who helped shape the foundation of our industry,” Podstarz founder Jason Cowal said. “Through his leadership at Blubrry Podcasting and RawVoice, he empowered countless creators to share their voices and grow their platforms.”
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