60 video podcasts: Netflix hires ex-Apple exec to expand audio library

Netflix has hired Steve Wilson to oversee podcast content acquisitions, marking a strategic shift in how the streamer builds its audio-visual library. Wilson will work on a contract basis, a hiring model that allows the company to bring in specialized expertise without committing to a permanent senior leadership slot during a period of internal restructuring.

Wilson brings fifteen years of experience from Apple, where he most recently led marketing for Apple Podcasts and managed partnerships with creators and networks. He departed Apple in December 2020 and spent the next six years as chief strategy officer at podcast studio QCode before moving to the same role at Daylight Media. His return to a major tech platform signals Netflix’s intent to compete more aggressively for exclusive podcast rights.

The streamer currently hosts more than 60 video podcasts, a catalog that has grown since September. The lineup includes the true-crime series “Murder With My Wilson,” the talk show “The Pete Davidson Show,” and “Shut Up Evan,” hosted by Evan Ross Katz. Other titles in the rotation are “The Puzzle Room With David Kwong” and “Allegedly,” a true-crime production from NBC News correspondent Ellison Barber. These shows represent a mix of celebrity-driven and journalistic content that defines the current strategy.

Wilson’s arrival coincides with a period of significant operational change at Netflix. The company announced layoffs two weeks ago, reducing its workforce by 6 percent, or approximately 1,000 employees. According to an internal email, the cuts primarily impacted teams in product, technology, legal, and human resources. Co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters stated that the company needed to be disciplined about prioritizing people and resources to fulfill its mission.

The restructuring also resulted in the departure of several senior executives, including chief content officer Bela Bajaria, head of film Dan Lin, and Doug Belgrad. Carolina Garcia, director of original series, also left the company. Peter Rice, a veteran television executive, was appointed to replace Bajaria in the content leadership role.

During the third-quarter 2026 earnings call, Sarandos addressed the leadership changes on the content side. He acknowledged the need for improvement, stating, “I know that we could do better, and we want to build on that momentum.” The hiring of Wilson suggests that the new content leadership is already moving to secure external talent to support that goal.