Amazon Cuts 110 Jobs Including Wondery CEO as It Splits Podcast Unit

Amazon has eliminated around 110 positions within its Wondery podcast network, and Wondery CEO Jen Sargent will step down amid a substantial restructure of its audio enterprise.

The company is merging its narrative-focused podcast series into Audible and relocating its creator‑led shows into a newly formed “Creator Services” group under Talent Services.

The moves follow shifting audience habits. Amazon acknowledges that video‑integrated, personality‑driven podcasts have overtaken traditional narrative audio in popularity. As a result, its strategy is transforming from storytelling‑led originals toward influencer‑anchored formats that monetize more readily via sponsorship deals.

Narrative hits such as Dr. Death, American Scandal and Business Wars will transition to Audible alongside the Wondery+ subscription service. Meanwhile shows hosted by well‑known figures—like New Heights with the Kelce brothers, Armchair Expert, Mind the Game—will carry on under the Wondery branding within the Creator Services division, which is designed to broker advertiser partnerships at scale.

Steve Boom, Amazon VP overseeing audio and Twitch, summed up the rationale:

Creator‑led video shows require different growth, discovery and monetization paths compared to audio‑first narrative series.

Industry voices question the viability of Amazon’s original audio strategy. Grace Harmon, an analyst at eMarketer, commented that this overhaul reflects "the collapse of a podcast strategy that couldn’t keep pace with video‑led rival platforms like YouTube and Spotify".

A number of Wondery employees affected by the layoffs are expected to transition into roles across Amazon, while many others outside the narrative audio teams have already moved into the new Creator Services setup.

This restructuring follows broader cost‑cutting trends within Amazon. The company has scaled back its Books division (including Goodreads and Kindle), its Devices & Services arm, and communications teams, part of CEO Andy Jassy's push to flatten hierarchy and reduce bureaucracy.

This shift forces a rethink for media companies about original storytelling versus influencer‑driven formats. It’s not only about reallocating internal resources but aligning with viewers' growing demand for visual, host‑centric content.