It would be reductive to say podcasts are having a moment right now. The industry, which is expected to generate $4 billion in revenue by 2024, can trace its roots back to the days of radio, when creators were making podcasts long before Ben Hammersley coined the name. But the format’s impact and moneymaking potential have arguably never been higher, as evidenced by the entry of new megawatt voices like Meghan Markle, whose Archetypes dominated the charts shortly after launch. For this year’s inaugural Podcast Power Players list, THR examined the medium’s current landscape, taking reach and influence into account to determine the leading dealmakers and front-facing creatives pushing the industry forward. — J. CLARA CHAN