This Week In The Podverse, April 28, 2023
Read about the potential of audio content to transform the African storytelling landscape, the importance of having a clear niche, creating quality content, maintaining consistency, and more...
New Episodes
Everything VOs: Former president of the Association of Voiceover Artistes, AVOA Nigeria, Ehi Omokhuale, emphasizes the importance of time and dedication in the art of voiceover. This episode delves into the history of voiceovers in Nigeria and provides insight from industry professionals on how to succeed in this field.
LooseTalk: In this episode, Steve, AOT2, and Osagz discuss the new Twitter verification update, Tinubu's absence from public events, and Peter Obi's controversial "North is poor" narrative. The hosts also took a live call from Princess Ire and covered other current events.
The Honest Bunch: In this episode, Leo Da Silva, a Realtor and Businessman, shares his unique perspective on the real estate ecosystem in Nigeria. He discusses the realities of the industry, shedding light on both the challenges and opportunities it presents.
Road To 30: In this episode, the hosts discuss the importance of staying away from drugs, celebrate work anniversaries, and share their experiences of working together.
A Series Of Ands: In this episode, marketing guru and fashion designer Fatoumata Conte shares her expansive career journey, experiences as a diaspora returning to Senegal, and upcoming luxury African fashion brand, Maison Kebe. She also advocates for employment opportunities and equal pay for women in Senegal.
Culture Class Podcast: In this week's episode, founder and CEO of TanTV Studios, Adedayo Fashanu, shares her inspiring story of overcoming the challenges faced by immigrant entrepreneurs. She discusses her journey to the top and gives us a sneak peek into what she has in store for her media start-up, TanTV.
234 Essential: Aot2 and Uhgochee are joined by Dr Ikpeme Neto from WellaHealth to talk about Real Estate "activities" in Nigeria and the President's "forgiveness". They also discuss the WellaHealth Diaspora, a new service that enables Nigerians living abroad to send money specifically for healthcare needs back home, as well as international remittance.
The Seun Osigbesan Podcast: In this sermon, guest minister Tunde Soilenu shares his insights on what it takes to be an Ambassador For Christ. As part of April's Making God Famous series, Tunde stresses the importance of accurately communicating the message of Christ and mirroring Jesus in our daily lives.
News
Made in Africa podcast's first episode is now available on all audio streaming platforms. In this episode, host Samuel Kemeshi talks to Stanley Agbadugo and Ike Orizu, co-founders of Jamit, a social audio company that aims to empower the next generation of storytellers in Africa. With their inspiring journey, the podcast highlights the potential of audio content to transform the African storytelling landscape.
Web3 On The Pitch Deck Podcast
Harri Obi, a seasoned marketer with experience working with big brands like Facebook, HP/Intel, Pepsi, Kellogg's, among others, recently appeared on the first episode of Pitch Deck. During the show, Harri shared insights on how he successfully transitioned into Web3 marketing and also discussed the African Web3 marketing landscape.
Afrobeats, the popular genre of music from Africa, is getting its share of the podcast wave with a rise in Nigerian music podcasts. Podcasts are becoming a vital form of media in the country and beyond, with well-produced shows featuring curated topics to keep listeners engaged. Among the most exciting music podcasts to listen to in 2023 are Afrobeats Intelligence, Loose Talk, Terms and Conditions, Osikoya Speaks, and Kuality Kontent. These shows offer witty banter touching on music, culture, and worthwhile culture-related conversations with insights and varying perspectives.
In a recent tweet, Gboyega Adeoya, of The Sample Axis Podcast, called for a discussion on a podcast with individuals working towards creating comfortable and accessible spaces in Nigerian cities. Adeoya highlighted the dire situation of People with Disabilities (PWDs) who struggle to navigate Nigerian cities due to inadequate infrastructure. He emphasized the need for accessible roads, parking spaces, pedestrian tracks, public toilets, and sheds.
Olaoluwa Adetula launches a new podcast called "Harmony". The podcast delves into the interconnections between the environment, lifestyle, and culture, and provides insights on topics such as sustainability and healthy living. As the host of the show, Olaoluwa Adetula invites listeners to join the conversation and discover new ways to positively impact the world around us.
An article from Technext provides a comprehensive guide for creating successful podcasts in Nigeria, offering advice from various experts in the field. The article covers topics such as podcast formats, equipment, recording tips, distribution platforms, and promotion strategies. Experts stress the importance of having a clear niche, creating quality content, maintaining consistency, and utilizing social media to promote the podcast. The article also debunks common myths about podcasting, such as the belief that expensive equipment is necessary for success.
Afripod's Community Manager, Gathoni Ngumba, has highlighted the challenges of explaining the podcasting industry to people, but also the opportunities that arise from the lack of information. She shared her experiences at the Lunch & Learns with KOFISI - Centres of Productivity, where she has been able to teach and inspire individuals to create their own podcasting content. Gathoni expressed gratitude to Kofisi for their continued support in providing a space for people to explore the world of podcasting and looks forward to further opportunities for learning and growth together.
A Series Of Ands Podcast: Fatou's Fashion Career
Fatoumata Conte, a marketing expert, luxury brand consultant, and fashion designer, was recently interviewed on the podcast ASA. The episode covered Fatou's impressive career in the fashion industry, working with high-end brands like Christian Dior and Hermes. Fatou also spoke about her experiences as a diaspora returning to Senegal, where she currently serves as the Head of Marketing at Heech, a mobile car ride-share app company. During the interview, Fatou highlighted her passion project, Maison Kebe, a luxury African fashion brand set to launch soon. In addition, Fatou advocated for employment opportunities and equal pay for women in Senegal, demonstrating her commitment to promoting social and economic progress in Francophone Africa.
Miss SA Launches Education Podcast
Miss South Africa Ndavi Nokeri launches an educational audiovisual podcast series this week. The podcast features conversations with experts in the education sector to provide information to pupils and parents about issues such as student funding, period poverty, and child safety in schools. The guests include Karabo Mohale, Lennox Wasara, and Vumile Msweli. Nokeri aims to ensure a good education for all through her Ed-Unite campaign, which honours education as a human right outlined in the South African constitution.
YouTube Music has added podcasts to its website version, but only in the US for now. Users can access the podcasts tab using a US VPN and browse recommended episodes or search for specific podcasts. The podcast pages allow users to add episodes to their library and play audio-only or video. The web version is expected to be similar to the app, indicating that podcasts through the app will be available soon. However, users should say "Listen to our podcast on YouTube" instead of YouTube Music, as the latter is currently limited to the US.
Podcasting's Untapped Boomer Audience
A new study by Edison Research and NPR reveals that podcasting has a largely untapped audience in the age 55+ demographic. While podcast listening has grown dramatically over the last five years overall, listening among Baby Boomers has not grown and is at a far lower level than younger demographics. The study, "Hit Play, Boomer," finds that Boomers have the tools and interest to listen, but increased education and targeting are required. The report estimates that if Boomers' levels of listening to podcasts matched that of younger groups, even just 35-54 year-olds, that would mean these numbers would go to over 150 million monthly listeners. The report highlights that Boomers over-index for listening to news podcasts and suggests that the right programming and messaging can make this target attractive not only to advertisers but perhaps for subscription, donation, or other financing models.
In the latest Podcast Survey released by Ofcom, it was revealed that there hasn't been a significant shift in UK listening habits in the past 12 months. However, the survey still provides interesting insights into the most recent trends and statistics. The survey found that the most popular genre is still comedy, closely followed by entertainment, discussion, and current affairs. It was also discovered that Spotify is the most-used podcast-listening app, with 55.9% of monthly listeners being men and 44.1% being women. Additionally, 30% of people claim to never hear about new podcasts, while word-of-mouth and social media remain the top two ways people discover new shows.
"The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling" podcast has become a recent hit with almost 6 million listeners tuning in within just two months. Despite its popularity, the show has faced criticism for being more of a defence of J.K. Rowling than a character study of a controversial figure. The show's creators, including Andy Mills, Megan Phelps-Roper, and Bari Weiss, have all been at the centre of public controversy themselves. The podcast was funded by Weiss' new media company, The Free Press. Journalist Ashley Carman explores the show's success and backlash in her latest newsletter.
EarBuds partners with TheFutureParty
EarBuds Podcast Collective has announced a new partnership with TheFutureParty newsletter. TheFutureParty provides a daily newsletter on entertainment, business, and culture trends that drive the future. With this partnership, EarBuds Podcast Collective is expected to provide curated podcast recommendations that align with TheFutureParty's content and target audience. The collaboration aims to provide subscribers with quick and witty insights into the latest trends in podcasting and beyond.
Emmy award-winning journalist and host of the #TruthBeTold podcast, Tonya, has launched a new season that explores Black liberation and freedom in America. With a Black American perspective at the heart of her work, Tonya's thought-provoking content encourages discussion and sheds light on the Black American experience. Her televised piece "Beyond Ferguson" has received critical acclaim for its expression and reflection on this topic. Tune in to the new season of #TruthBeTold and check out Tonya's past episodes, including one with Christabel Nsiah-Buadi.
Podcasting for Science Outreach
Immunology PhD student Kellen Cavagnero found a way to make a broader impact by creating a science podcast, "Inflammatory Content," which he recorded and edited with free audio software and hosted on SoundCloud, as well as major podcast platforms such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify. After receiving positive feedback and a $1,000 grant to buy professional recording equipment, Cavagnero has released dozens of podcast episodes, including interviews with influential scientists. His podcast has helped him connect with other scientists and educators and played a part in his receiving a US National Science Foundation graduate fellowship. Cavagnero hopes his story inspires other scientists to use podcasting as a medium for outreach.
Podcasting for Credible Reporting
Over 400 million people worldwide, constituting one in five internet users, listen to podcasts, and experts predict that this trend will continue to grow. In a recent session at the ICFJ Empowering the Truth Global Summit, Amit Varma, writer, columnist and host of the podcast 'The Seen and The Unseen,' discussed the potential of podcasting to amplify credible reporting and counter disinformation. Varma suggested that podcasting is an effective medium to develop a sceptical mentality and push listeners to consume information more critically. To attract listeners, podcasters can employ practical, engaging storytelling techniques, identify stories they want to cover and speak in an active voice. Varma also highlighted the importance of building and engaging audiences and suggested that content creators interested in podcasting can start with just a cell phone or laptop.
Canadian radio journalist Samantha Hodder is determined to help narrative podcasts find their place at the storytelling table. Hodder fell in love with serial narrative podcasts in 2014 when "Serial" was released, and found the format both stunning and efficient. Since then, she has been adapting her radio lessons to conform to newer formats and has been reporting on narrative podcasting ever since. Despite the meteoric growth of the podcasting industry, Hodder says there is still no common cultural understanding of what narrative podcasts are and why they are different from other story structures.
CSPNE Launches Podcast Project
The Conseil scolaire public du Nord-Est de l'Ontario (CSPNE) has launched a new educational initiative aimed at improving oral communication skills among students. The project involves several elementary and secondary schools in creating podcasts, promoting the French language, identity building, and student engagement. Teachers have found podcasts to be an exciting teaching strategy that reaches beyond the traditional classroom. The episodes produced will be posted on the CSPNE YouTube channel.
According to a recent report by Reuters, podcasting presents several opportunities for news organizations to diversify their content and engage with audiences in new ways. The report highlights five key benefits of podcasting, including the ability to deepen coverage of complex issues, increase creativity and flexibility in newsrooms, and expand content distribution. Additionally, podcasts can offer a new source of revenue for news organizations. While some publishers may be hesitant to invest in a podcast strategy, the report suggests that experimenting with podcasting could bring opportunities for innovation, audience reach, and sustainability.
In a recent interview with Podcast Magazine, podcast pioneer Adam Curry shared a story about how Steve Jobs saved pivotal audio recording software Audio Hijack Pro in the early 2000s. According to Curry, the RIAA wanted Apple to disable the app, which allowed for recording Mac audio and adding audio effects to any recording. But Jobs intervened, telling the RIAA to "get lost" and allowing Audio Hijack Pro to remain on Macs. This decision would go on to directly impact the future of audio recording and the podcast medium. The developer of Audio Hijack Pro, Rogue Amoeba, has since shared a blog post with gratitude to Jobs for his help.
Tips
One thing I’ve taken onboard since podding, not everything works but there’s room to tweak it. There’s always room to adjust and improve. Strive for the best you can offer and always look forward to the next one.
- Tom Pheby, IAAT Podcast
Steph Fuccio is reaching out to expats who have a podcast, asking them how their shows are going and offering to chat about their process and pain points. She is particularly interested in hearing about the challenges they face and how they overcome them. As the host of the Geopats podcast, Steph is well-versed in the art of podcasting and understands the dedication it takes to create and grow a successful show. She's even open to featuring her conversations with expat podcasters on her Podcast To Connect series, though she assures everyone that their privacy is a top priority. So if you're an expat podcaster looking for some advice and support, reach out to Steph and see how she can help!
Tools
AI Podcasting Tools Revolutionizing Production
Grit Daily, a premier startup news hub, highlights the top AI podcasting tools that are revolutionizing content production and distribution. With a growing number of content creators and listeners in the podcast industry, AI podcasting tools have the potential to enhance audio quality, optimize distribution strategies, and streamline workflows. Some of the highlighted tools include ChatGPT, Descript, Adobe Podcast, and Swell AI, each with unique benefits for podcast creators. From assisting with outlining and scripting to generating written articles and social media posts, these AI tools offer innovative solutions to improve the quality and reach of podcasts.
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