Controversy Over LeBron James' Podcast

Podcast News, Events, Tools & more...

June 17, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 14 minutes

Podcast PRO Newsletter

Hello there, Happy Monday to you! As we launch into a brand new week, we're here with your dose of the Podcast PRO Newsletter. We're thrilled to bring you the latest updates in podcasting world, fresh tips for creating winning podcasts and recommendations that will make your listening experience even better. This time around, let's tune in and turn up our podcast game together.

And hey, since today is National Stewart's Root Beer Day - remember: like good root beer makes a perfect float, great content makes an outstanding podcast. Cheers to more fantastic audio adventures this week!

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE PODCAST WORLD
Controversy Surrounds LeBron James' Podcast Amid Lakers' Coach Search

Despite the NBA Draft approaching in a week, the Los Angeles Lakers are yet to find a new head coach. The podcast initiated by LeBron James, star of the Lakers and NBA commentator JJ Redick in March has stirred up controversy. ESPN's Stephen A. Smith shares that many coaches across the NBA express dissatisfaction with James and Redick's podcast, blaming it for negatively affecting Darvin Ham, former head coach of the Lakers. On First Take show, Smith highlighted that specifically black coaches have raised concerns about this collaboration between James and Redick.

In Other News

In the first episode, notable editors from Campaign's global network come together to forecast predictions for Cannes Lions 2024. The speakers include Gideon Spanier and Maisie McCabe from the UK, Alison Weissbrot from the US, Rahat Kapur from Asia, and David Brown from Canada.

PodcastOne, under the umbrella of LiveOne and listed on NASDAQ as PODC, has publicized its latest podcast offering named Tactful Pettiness. Co-hosted by buddies Cody Rigsby and Andrew Chappelle, this comedy podcast integrating cultural elements will be exclusively distributed, produced, and sold by PodcastOne. The inaugural episode is due to air across all primary podcast platforms on June 20th 2024 with subsequent episodes releasing every Thursday thereafter.

Candace Owens, a former conservative news commentator, has launched her own podcast named 'Candace' on June 10. It has quickly risen in the U.S. podcast rankings since its launch. She recently shared her excitement at being ranked third overall on Spotify behind Tucker and Joe Rogan. On Sunday, she posted a message indicating that traditional systems are failing and the world is changing for better prospects. Her post was a reply to an admirer who expressed how Owens' strong comeback had been an unexpected source of inspiration for them.

Marvel is set to launch a new weekly podcast later this month that will cover all things Marvel, including comics, games, movies, and series. Named The Official Marvel Podcast, it aims to be the go-to source for fans seeking comprehensive information about Marvel. The first episode will air on Wednesday, June 26 and subsequent episodes will be released every Wednesday.

In March, Apple rolled out its new Podcasts transcription feature as part of a major update to iOS 17.4. The tech giant spent six years refining this tool before introducing it to the public. Many people with hearing issues find closed captions invaluable when consuming media like movies or music. However, they may have felt excluded from the podcast trend until now because such features were unavailable. Apple's latest update aims to address this gap.

PODCAST OF THE DAY
Fallacious Trump

The Fallacious Trump podcast is a unique show where hosts Jim and Mark use the rhetoric of various public figures, including Trump, to explain logical fallacies. Each episode delves into a specific fallacy, offering examples from politics and pop culture to illustrate how it can mislead people. The hosts also provide tips on avoiding these fallacies in your own arguments.

Jim is an author with diverse interests ranging from juggling and video production to logic and gaming, while Mark is a drummer who has traveled globally for his filmmaking projects. Both are passionate about their craft, making them engaging podcast hosts.

PODCAST TIP OF THE DAY
How to Determine and Showcase Your Podcast's Competitive Advantage

Are you thinking about starting a podcast but feeling overwhelmed by the sheer number of existing ones? Don't worry! In this article, we'll explore how to find and showcase your unique edge. Despite the crowded space, every person brings something different to the table. Your distinctiveness can be turned into your podcast's competitive advantage. We will guide you on how to recognize it and make it shine through in your show.

PODCAST FACTS
Did You Know?

  • Nearly half of American and Spanish respondents to the 2024 Reuters Institute Digital News Report reported listening to a podcast in the previous month — the highest reach for the format among 20 countries surveyed.

    Spain and the US (both 44%) were closely followed by Ireland and Sweden (43%) and Norway and Portugal (42%).

    The UK (31%) came in 15th, behind Italy (32%) and ahead of the Netherlands (31%) and Germany (30%).

  • The Digital News Report authors described podcasting as a "bright spot for publishers", with 13% of all respondents internationally saying they accessed a news or current affairs podcast specifically each month compared to 12% last year. Across all countries, 35% of people said they were accessing any kind of podcast monthly, compared to 34% in 2023.

  • However they also observed that podcasts "attract younger, richer and better educated audiences, with news and politics shows heavily skewed towards men" — something they attribute in part to "the dominance of male hosts".

    Whereas 32% of women surveyed reported listening to a podcast monthly, it was 39% among men.

  • Podcasts have much higher reach among younger consumers. Whereas a majority of respondents aged 18 to 24 and 25 to 34 said they listen to podcasts monthly, the percentage falls to 44% among those aged between 35 and 44, 32% among those 45 to 54 and 20% among those aged 55 and above.

Credit to PressGazette

PODCAST SUGGESTIONS

PODCAST EVENTS
June Podcast Events in 2024

Everybody Media

The International Women's Podcast Awards is an event that celebrates the achievements of women and diverse genders in podcasting. Scheduled for June 19, 2024 at Savoy Place in London, it will be a hybrid event with both physical and virtual participation. The awards are inclusive for queer and trans individuals, recognizing talent across the sector - from independent creators to established audio teams. This year's awards will honor excellence across several categories including educational shows and storytelling podcasts. Winners will be chosen by a panel of expert judges comprising podcasters, journalists and professionals.

Radio Booth Camp

This is a two-session workshop led by experienced journalist and producer Golda Arthur, aimed at helping individuals bring their personal stories to life in audio form. Participants will learn how to identify their story, make it engaging for audiences, and plan a timeline for launch. The class includes assistance on tasks participants cannot do alone. The event begins June 19th with classes capped at 12 attendees. Free registration comes with a three-month license for Hindenburg audio editing software and the workshop link will be sent one day prior to the beginning of the event.

The Podcast Academy

This is an exclusive workshop for TPA members where renowned podcast researcher, Gabriel Soto, will share his findings and analysis about the future of Spanish podcasting in the U.S. and worldwide. He'll also interact with prominent Spanish podcast producers to discuss how these insights might affect their work directly. This webinar is part of TPA's expanded offerings for Spanish-speaking creators, including a Spanish Ambie Award, a membership page in Spanish, virtual member events and professional links in Spanish among others. It aims to focus on insights and experiences from creators working across various genres within this language spectrum.

Skillsme

This is an interactive and educational workshop aiming to improve your emotional intelligence. It offers a deep dive into understanding emotions, practical self-reflection exercises, role-play activities for real-life situations, and provides you with an actionable plan for ongoing learning. The event is designed to help you identify, understand and control emotions effectively while also teaching effective communication strategies. It's an opportunity to explore the mind, understand its impact on behavior and connect deeply with emotions in daily life.

PODCAST TONIGHT RADIO SCHEDULE

Schedule starts every day from 12am GMT

  • Women Road Warriors

  • Transforming Work With Sophie Wade

  • The Kitchen Table

  • Thriving Thru Menopause podcast

  • Alex Garrett Podcast Network

  • 2 Guys And A Chainsaw

  • The midday live

  • The Life With Joey Calvo

  • Movie Dumpster

PODCAST TOOL OF THE DAY
Vimeo

Vimeo is a U.S.-based company that offers video hosting, sharing, and other services. It's known for providing high-definition video on various devices. Vimeo operates through a software as a service model. Its main goal is to make the process of creating, managing, and sharing videos simple and easy with its user-friendly platform.

Features:

  • Hosting & Player

  • Creation & Editing

  • Video Monetization

  • Video Management

  • Platform

PODCAST HOST SPOTLIGHT
Funk Roberts

Funk Roberts, aged 53, isn't just into fitness for fun. He's a big deal in the fitness business world with two successful businesses - Funk Roberts Fitness Inc. and Funk Supplements Inc. He is well-known worldwide as the go-to expert for men over 40 who want to be their fittest selves. His aim is to help millions of men get healthier, boost testosterone levels and live happier lives.

On top of his success in business, he also has an impressive sports background including professional beach volleyball and Muay Thai fighting in Thailand. With many certifications under his belt like Master Metabolic Trainer and Core Conditioning Specialist

among others, he's a respected figure in the fitness industry. He even co-created a popular certification course with the National Exercise and Sports Trainers Association (NESTA). All these achievements prove that Funk isn't just your average fitness entrepreneur – he's committed to helping people reach their health goals.

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