Future Around & Find Out
In this case study, PodVision shares the strategies used to support Future Around & Find Out, a technology podcast, win the highly-esteemed Webby Award after three consecutive years of honors only.
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Webby Award Win
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What would happen if you fully dedicated the next six months to your podcast? To revise the strategy from the ground up and to update the visual identity to represent what your mission is today and how it has changed over the years, all supported by a team of podcasting experts.
In this case study, we share the strategies used at PodVision to support Future Around & Find Out, a technology podcast, in winning the highly-esteemed Webby Award after three consecutive years as an honoree. As an independent podcast, FAFO won the judges’ choice for Best Technology Podcast 2026 against network-backed podcasts.
Thanks to the strategy, re-branding, production and growth support, FAFO elevated its presentation and content to amass a higher listener reach, partner with like-minded industry podcasts with a large audience, and become award-winning the industry’s highest esteemed awards, The Webbys.
These milestones were all achieved organically, with no ad spend.
Future Around & Find Out (previously CRAFTED.) hosted by former NPR journalist and independent technologist Dan Blumberg is a tech podcast that helps builders think clearly about AI and emerging technologies, grapple with the implications, and decide what to build next.
Launched in 2022 as a branded podcast for Artium, FAFO had spent seasons releasing high-quality content with high-profile guests from the industry. It had amassed a significant audience and had been nominated at the Webby Awards, three-time honored. It had also received a season-long Docker sponsorship. Three years later, the podcast found itself stagnating and in need of a refresh.
The host had outgrown the initial concept for the show, and was looking for a re-alignment of the podcast with both his expertise and curiosities, and the audience’s updated interests and demand. The content needed a refresh, and the branding needed a new visual identity to go with it. Given the goals, a YouTube strategy and presence were also in question. Only one element of the rebrand was set in place: the new name, Future Around & Find Out. The rest was to be determined with our team.
The official FAFO rebrand was announced in January 2026. Before the announcement, there were months of strategizing, working on updated production workflows and content ideation, deciding on a new visual identity, and planning PR campaign to build buzz around the news.
“You are a triple (at least) threat. I appreciate your help across design/brand, web, and video. The new FAFO brand looks really sharp in many contexts. I always felt like I was in good hands.”
-Dan Blumberg, creator and host of award-winning podcast, Future Around & Find Out
As a former NPR journalist, the host has solid experience crafting content, researching and interviewing to create meaningful conversations. The previous version of FAFO, CRAFTED., appealed to a narrower audience of listeners software builders, ranging all the way from working engineers to senior executives. So when when strategizing for FAFO, one of the main goals was strengthening who the target audience was going to be and how we could best communicate with them.
Based on market research and audience surveying, the new FAFO mission focused on the future - specifically, helping builders think clearly about AI and emerging technologies, grapple with the implications, and decide what to build next. Dan, the host, speaks with founders, makers, and you to celebrate breakthroughs, call BS on the hype, explore how things might go sideways, and how we can steer the future in the right direction.
A new value proposition also called for an updated format. CRAFTED had one weekly episode, FAFO stepped it up to two weekly episodes: one as a conversation with founders and makers, and one co-hosted episode titled “FAFO Fridays”, where futurist Kwaku Aning joins Dan for a playful recap of the week in tech. This mix of formats allows listeners to think critically about the future of tech and the world, while also keeping up with the latest news. From a strategic standpoint, this choice also brought about ongoing newsworthy moments and episodes to promote the podcast in listening apps, podcasting newsletters and with like-minded podcasts.
Adding video to FAFO was one of the key goals. This would allow a second, video-first audience to form and provide the show with more creative outlets to share conversations and the latest tech news.
Some of the strategic choices made from the get-go were:
An elevated remote audio/video recording set-up coordinated by PodVision
A video-first introduction to the episode and the guest, enhanced by b-roll
Polished animated graphics to bring dynamism for video consumers
Immediately eye-catching thumbnails
Consistent sharing of social clips as YouTube shorts
As a result, a generous catalogue of video content for FAFO to use across social platforms to attract a video-first audience.
The updated concept and approach to FAFO’s content equates a new visual identity.
That includes:
The CRAFTED. cover art was personality-driven, highlighting Dan as the host and expert guiding listeners through the conversations with industry leaders.
FAFO’s cover art maintains the warmth of the CRAFTED. color palette with several elevated elements: an illustration of a person looking into the future for answers, blurred-edges typeface to suggest the exploration and uncertainty of the subject matter and a night sky representing the vastness of the futures being explored.
The concept of the new FAFO cover art stands out in a listening app’s explore page offering potential new listeners a number of options. Through the creative approach and alignment with the mission, it’s immediately attention-grabbing and delivers on the promise.
Once the new concept, branding and strategy were clear, it was time for the podcast to shine. FAFO was ready to launch the rebranding announcement in January 2026, the month when many new podcasts and seasons are released. That’s why it was even more important to make sure that FAFO had its moment.
The target audience shifting to builders meant that the announcement should reach them first. By promoting FAFO both to podcast newsletters where audiences are looking for their next listen, as well as niche tech-specific newsletters and communities, the release was dispersed to multiple types of potential audiences. It was featured in outlets like Podnews, Podcasting Today, Podcast Rex, Podcast Delivery, Ear Worthy, EarBuds, Podwires and more, with a total reach of over 35,000 subscribers.
Building partnerships with other podcasts similar in tone and content was another way of reaching more potential listeners. FAFO cross-promoted with some of the most high-profile and highly-produced podcasts in the tech space: Kaleidoscope, CBC, Slate, The Startup Podcast, Panic World, Suspicious Minds and more.
After seasons of high-quality content and now a 360 rebrand, joint by a long-term audience growth strategy, FAFO had entered a new chapter.
Having been nominated three years in a row (as CRAFTED.) as Best Tech Podcast at The Webby Awards and receiving honors, FAFO finally became Webby Award winning in 2026. Among other shows, it also competed against The Vergecast, one of the largest tech podcasts and publications. While The Verge - with their larger platform - won the popular fan vote, FAFO received the judges award. As an independent podcast, this was an impressive win and a massive milestone for other independent creators aspiring to a reputable show.
To celebrate the moment beyond the awards ceremony and social media, another buzz-building push was supported by PodVision. FAFO’s win was featured in several publications, including Podcasting Today, Podcast Rex, Podcast Delivery, Ear Worthy and Podwires.
By working with a professional team with a focused strategy for six months, FAFO achieved:
Here’s what Dan says about PodVision’s support:
“Real pros and a pleasure to work with. They have a unique ability to operate both at a strategic level and in the weeds, and really helped FAFO level up on video, show positioning, growth, and more.”
-Dan Blumberg, creator and host of award-winning podcast, Future Around & Find Out
Launching a podcast with the right strategy and partners will set you up for success.
If you want to learn more about how we can support your podcast, reach out!
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