Yes, We Started a Podcast About SEO for News
While I'm finalising my next newsletter (a tactical guide to optimising for Google Discover) I wanted to share the new podcast I've started together with Steve Wilson-Beales.
Many of you will know Steven Wilson-Beales. He’s an SEO and content strategy consultant for hire, used to head up SEO at Global, spoke at our 2025 News and Editorial SEO Summit, and is a great contributor to the online journalism industry.
He and I did a webinar for Norkon together a while back, and we both enjoyed it so much that it sparked a conversation about starting a regular podcast.
Which is exactly what we did. We wanted to keep it informal and accessible, so we decided the format would be a casual conversation between two veterans of the SEO and publishing industries, recorded whilst enjoying a refreshing beer.
Hence the title we ended up with: Beers and SEO with Barry and Steve.
We recorded the first episode in early December, and in that inaugural podcast we introduced ourselves and focused on the big question in publishing today: Will AI destroy publishing?
The answer, it’ll surprise no one, is a resounding no. It served as the starting point for our discussion, and we covered a lot of additional ground - including the role of Google Discover, YouTube optimisation, SEO myths, keyword research, and some case studies and predictions.
The second episode, recorded early in January, was a logical follow-up. If AI isn’t going to destroy publishing, what should publishers do to survive in the age of AI?
In this wide-ranging episode we talked about the role SEO still plays, how AI accelerated an existing trend in search, more about Google Discover, email newsletters, video and journalism, social media for news sites, and how publishers can build trust and authority.
For future episodes we have plans to invite some guests with specialised knowledge and experience. We want to tackle topics like KPIs and measurement, paywalls and subscriptions, topic authority, managing SEO for high-volume publishing sites, and so much more.
You can listen to all our episodes and subscribe to our podcast on these platforms:
If you have any feedback or ideas for topics and guests, do let us know in the comments! And if you like the podcast, I’d appreciate a thumbs up or a 5-star review.
Paywall Masterclass with WTF is SEO?
I’m teaming up again with the amazing Jessie and Shelby from WTF is SEO? to deliver a masterclass on paywalls. We also managed to rope in none other than Harry Clarkson-Bennett from the Leadership in SEO substack!
This will be a 2-hour online masterclass delivered on March 4th, where we’ll dig into all aspects of paywalls - from technical setup to commercial strategies and tactical optimisation. Limited places available, so grab your seat now!
Miscellanea
The Google Search Console team have been very busy, with all kinds of great new features introduced in the performance reports.
Official Google Docs:
Adding context to your Search Console data with custom annotations
Streamline your Search Console analysis with the new AI-powered configuration
Latest in SEO:
State of AI Search Optimization 2026 - Growth Memo
What’s on tap for news SEO in 2026? - WTF is SEO
Google’s December 2025 Broad Core Update: Analysis and Findings - Glenn Gabe
Times and Substack among few UK winners in December Google update - Press Gazette
What we learned about AI, Discover and Shopping from Google during the Search Central Zurich 2025 - Aleyda Solis
What Will Change in Google Discover in 2026? Everything That Was Said at Google Search Central Live in Zurich - Clara Soteras
Why Google’s Spam Problem is Getting Worse - Leadership in SEO
Interesting Articles:
A myth-busting quiz to get you set for 2026 - Nieman Lab
Debunking The Myth That Search Is Dying - Graphite
Publishers rethink SEO in the age of AI overviews - Digital Content Next
Cloudflare Radar: 2025 Year in Review - Cloudflare
Five US publishers sue Google over ‘deceptive and manipulative’ adtech practices - Press Gazette
Google vs. publishers: What the EU probe means for SEO, AI answers, and content rights - SEL
Millions shown fake news about the state pension by Google - The Telegraph
My next newsletter is right around the corner, titled ‘The Tactical Guide to Google Discover Optimisation’. Subscribe to get it directly in your email inbox!
Great show... essential listening!
I see beer and podcast, I upvote ! ^^
Cool show.