This Week In The Podverse, October 4, 2024
The 2024 African Podcast and Voice Awards (APVA) winners were announced on September 28, 2024, recognizing top talent in Africa's audio industry. The Expansive Podcast by John Sanei and Erik Kruger took home Podcast of the Year, while Teens Talk with Nifemi won Rising Talent of the Year. Other highlights include The Mo Sibyl Podcast winning Diasporan Podcast of the Year and African Couch Potato claiming Lifestyle and Entertainment. Read More…
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has introduced a podcast to promote anti-corruption awareness in Nigeria. The podcast aims to educate citizens on corruption-related issues and foster discussions involving public officers, anti-corruption advocates, and civil society members. Read More…
HuntaClay Studio launched the Good News Naija Podcast on October 1, 2024, coinciding with Nigeria's Independence Day. The podcast aims to reshape global perceptions of Nigeria through uplifting stories of innovation, resilience, and triumph. With the theme "Where Nigerian Excellence Speaks," the show will spotlight inspiring figures across education, business, health, arts, and community development. Read More…
Podcast service provider Anita Chinwendu Opara recently emphasized the need for structured workflows in podcast production. In her LinkedIn post, she outlined key benefits, including improved clarity and consistency, efficient recording, streamlined editing, and better scheduling and promotion. Read More…
In the latest edition of Whatspodcasting, David Egorp shares an inspiring review of The Third Door by Alex Banayan, calling it a life-changing read. This week’s podcast recommendations include The Rundown, which summarizes key stock market news in under 15 minutes, and The Mindset Mentor, focusing on productivity tips and habits to avoid. The newsletter also touches on a podcast discussing Nigeria's economic challenges, emphasizing the realities of adulthood. Read More…
Tracey Kotzen, CEO of the Mental Wellness Initiative and acclaimed podcaster, has won the Best Podcast in Health and Wellness at the 2024 Association of African Podcasters and Voice Artists (APVA) Awards. In her celebratory post, Kotzen reflected on her journey from being criticized for her outspoken nature in school to becoming a recognized voice in mental health. Read More…
On September 20, 2024, Podrama Cast Network held the Middle East’s first audio drama listening party at Zawya Cinema in Cairo, Egypt. The event showcased the network’s latest podcast, Radio Nights - Alsahra Alizayia, drawing a packed audience. Panel discussions with Egyptian drama writers explored the growing podcast industry. Read More…
On International Podcast Day, award-winning podcast producer Liam Heffernan voiced his dislike for video podcasts being labelled as such. He argued that podcasts are primarily an audio-first medium and criticized the trend of repurposing audio content as YouTube videos, calling it a costly approach with limited returns. Read More…
Dubai PodFest 2024 brought together over 100 podcasters and experts to explore the rapid growth of the podcasting industry in the Arab world. Keynote speaker James Cridland discussed AI's role in transforming podcasting, while workshops covered trends and the empowerment of women in the industry. Read More…
The UAE’s newest banking and innovation podcast, Money Majlis, has quickly climbed the charts to become one of the top 5 business podcasts in the country. Hosted by veteran banker Suvo Sarkar, the show features in-depth discussions with industry leaders, including bank CEOs, fintech founders, and global CMOs. Topics centre on the future of finance, payments, and digitization. Read More…
As podcasts gain popularity, CEOs are increasingly using the platform to communicate directly with audiences, bypassing traditional media. High-profile leaders like Nicolai Tangen, head of Norway’s $1.6 trillion oil fund, and Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg are among those embracing this format. Podcasts allow for more in-depth discussions on leadership, company strategies, and personal insights in a relaxed, non-confrontational setting. Executives appreciate the control it offers over messaging, while companies see it as a way to engage younger generations and specialist audiences. Read More…
AJ and Alecia Sanfilippo have officially launched the PodMatch Podcast Network, designed specifically for independent interview-based podcasters who release daily episodes. The network aims to prioritize podcasters by offering monetization opportunities, audience growth, automation, and coaching while empowering creators to produce content freely. Read More…
The Boys and Girls Clubs in Mid-Michigan have introduced a new podcasting program aimed at equipping youth with essential life skills and fostering creativity. Available across all six clubs, the initiative allows children to learn podcasting through hands-on experiences. Led by Alex Alexandrou, host of It’s All Greek to Me, participants are gaining valuable skills in communication, teamwork, and time management. Read More…
Binghamton University will welcome Anna Williams, creator of the first-ever podcast dissertation, My Gothic Dissertation, on October 9 and 10, 2024. Williams will lead a creative workshop, focusing on how to craft compelling narratives from academic research, and will participate in a coffee chat and a Q&A session about her innovative approach. Read More…
Nick Wilmshurst, a podcast production expert and former BBC professional, suggests podcasters shouldn't stress if their episodes don't reach large audiences right away. He advised creators to focus on repurposing podcast content across platforms like LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram. Read More…
Audible is set to release a new audio adaptation of Agatha Christie's debut novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, featuring an all-star cast led by Peter Dinklage as Hercule Poirot and Himesh Patel as Arthur Hastings. The adaptation will also star Harriet Walter, Rob Delaney, and Phil Dunster. Read More…
Chris Stone, Head of Podcasts and Video at New Statesman revealed how they grew their podcast’s YouTube channel to 135,000 subscribers and 4 million monthly views using a simple but effective strategy. Stone noted that the turning point came when they began targeting the right audience by informing YouTube who their content was for, which led to the channel gaining significant traction. Read More…
Apple Podcasts has launched a new update to spotlight serialized podcasts. It features a Top Series chart showcasing the top 100 serialized shows, a new Series category for easier discovery, and Series Essentials, a monthly highlight of standout podcast series. Read More…
Podeo, the leading podcast platform in MENA, has teamed up with Dolby Laboratories to integrate Dolby Atmos® immersive audio into its service. This cutting-edge collaboration enhances podcast sound quality, offering listeners an immersive, multi-dimensional audio experience. Read More…
Spotify's latest Fan Study “claims” that video podcasts are surging in popularity, with 40% of new listeners in 2024 choosing video content. Video consumption has grown by 88% in the past year, and shows featuring video are seeing 26% higher retention rates. Read More…