This Week In The Podverse, June 21, 2024
The "Unlocking Podcast Potential for Churches" workshop in Warri, Delta State, Nigeria, empowered church teams and pastors with essential podcasting skills to extend their outreach beyond traditional boundaries. Read More
In an inspiring interaction, a soldier stationed in Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria, reached out to podcaster Rodney Omeokachie to express his admiration for "The Young God" podcast. The soldier shared videos of himself listening to the show while on the battlefield, highlighting the significant impact of Rodney's work even in challenging environments. Read More
In recognition of Men's Mental Health Awareness Month, Freelance broadcaster and personal empowerment coach Tunmise Oladapo Kuku chats with Ugonna Emechebe, aiming to clarify the complexities and blurred lines of masculinity. Listen
Tech Labari's Joseph-Albert Kuuire highlights five standout Ghanaian podcasts worth adding to your listening queue. These influential shows include a vox pop-driven podcast on Ghanaian news and trends, a nightlife-focused podcast covering the latest events, a cultural podcast exploring Accra's society with special guests, a podcast featuring Ghanaian entrepreneurs and creatives, and a series of one-on-one conversations with notable figures in Ghana. Read More
The Radio Workshop won the top prize for Podcast and Radio at the One World Media Awards for their episode "This Coal Life." The podcast, which follows the Skhosana family in South Africa during the country’s transition from coal to green energy, has also won the International Documentary Association’s Best Stand Alone Documentary award and aired on NPR’s Up First. Read More
The inaugural South African Podcast and Music Festival occurred at the Red Roman Shed at Emperors Palace, inspiring young content creators to delve into podcasting. Industry experts, including DJ Sbu, Gareth Cliff, Jon Savage, and Lesley Mofokeng, shared insights on podcast production, building networks, and monetization strategies. Read More
The Reuters Institute's Digital News Report 2024 reveals a significant shift in news consumption, highlighting a decline in Facebook usage for news and a rise in alternatives like podcasts, now used by 44% of Americans monthly. Read More
In an edition of "The Squeeze," Skye Pillsbury uncovers issues with the Descript app, revealing that "AI hallucinations" mistakenly attributed transcriptions to Otter AI. Descript clarified its use of third-party AI, including OpenAI's Whisper, raising concerns about data usage and intellectual property. Read More
James Bishop, creator economy enthusiast, praised a new episode of "Heroes & Humans of Football" by OneFinePlay. Hosts Mehreen Khan and Simon Kuper explore Jude Bellingham's strategic career choices, including his move to Germany over the Premier League, propelling him to world-class status. Read More
On an episode of "Sound School," Ira Glass, host of "This American Life," advises reporters to incorporate narrative structure into talk shows and interviews. Rob Rosenthal, the show's host, highlights an exemplary application of this technique in "The Daily," featuring Michael Barbaro and Jodi Kantor. Listen
In a cultural shift, chat podcasts have seized the spotlight, eclipsing narrative formats. Highlighted by Vulture, these shows, featuring celebrities and controversial figures, drive discourse with viral moments and influential guest appearances. Reflecting a return to star-driven radio dynamics, this trend marks a significant evolution in podcasting's influence on popular culture. Read More
Actress and activist Yara Shahidi, alongside her mother Keri, is set to debut their podcast "The Optimist Project" on SiriusXM's platform. Produced under their company 7th Sun Productions, the podcast delves into the sources of hope with a range of guests across various industries. Read More
In a scathing review, "A Better Paradise," the new sci-fi podcast featuring Peep Show’s Paterson Joseph and The Walking Dead’s Andrew Lincoln, is under fire for its muddled plot and poor writing. Despite boasting a star-studded cast and lavish production, the review criticizes the podcast for confusing dialogue and a storyline that fails to engage. Read More
James Marriott, a columnist at The Times, shares insights into podcast criticism in a recent interview. Moving from reviewing books to podcasts, Marriott talks about the challenges of evaluating this diverse media format. He highlights the unpredictable nature of podcast content and the strong personal connections listeners form with their favourite shows. Read More
The Guardian has released its list of the best podcasts of 2024 so far, featuring a diverse array of shows. Highlights include Frankie Boyle's darkly comedic "Here Comes the Guillotine," an inside look at Guantánamo Bay in "Serial's" fourth season and Amanda Seales' investigation into Milli Vanilli's scandal in "Blame It on the Fame." Read More
Sport Social Podcast Network reaffirms its role as Media Partner for the 2024 Audio Production Awards (APAs). Sponsored by Audible, the APAs celebrate excellence in podcasts, radio, and audiobooks. Set at London's BFI on November 20th, the awards feature 23 categories, including a new honour for Little Ears Producers. Read More
Megan Mowles, a Barrhead resident who overcame personal challenges, has launched the "Scheme Dreams" podcast. Featuring stories of resilience from guests like actor Therese Bradley and music producer Marc Andrew, Megan aims to inspire listeners facing difficulties. Read More
Stephanie Fuccio, founder of Coffeelike Media, recently harnessed the power of AI, specifically ChatGPT, to enhance her podcast descriptions. By using examples from her favourite podcasts, Fuccio guided the AI to craft more engaging and reflective descriptions, transforming her show's messaging to attract more listeners. Read More
Apple's Podcasts app now offers an automatic transcription feature, introduced with iOS 17.4 in March 2024. This feature provides searchable transcripts for podcasts, making it easier for users to find specific segments and access content, especially benefiting people with hearing impairments. The transcripts are available in English, German, French, and Spanish, and cover both new and archived shows. Read More
Spotify's updated Podcasters Platform Terms ensure podcasters retain content ownership while granting Spotify a license to distribute and modify it. They must comply with legal guidelines and usage rules, and Spotify can integrate ads into podcasts. Changes to terms or services can be made anytime, and users can terminate their accounts if they disagree. Read More
Descript will change its Free Plan on July 2, 2024. Users will retain access to core features, including 720p video exports and one watermark-free export per month. AI features like Studio Sound and green screen will be limited to five-lifetime uses. Read More