I don't see the issue here.

I detest what Spotify has been, and is doing, to artists, but this isn't that.

Spotify jump started a market by infusing it with cash, and then ran out of cash. It sounds similar to when a patron of the arts no longer has the funds available for patronage.

Yes, it sucks for those people who lost their funding, but podcasts are profitable all over without the infusion of cash from Spotify.

I realize that those with a large overhead, or those who are otherwise just unable to adapt, are in a shit situation, but I suspect the rest of them, and those that follow, will adopt the monetization strategies of other successful podcast markets.

Also, who the fuck wants to use the Spotify app for podcasts? Jesus I would never subject myself to that, they'll be better off for it in no time.