Spotify's Fan Study Reveals Popularity of Video Podcasts

Spotify is launching its third edition of Fan Study for Podcasters in honor of International Podcast Day, providing creators with insights into fan listening habits to help grow their shows. This year's study focuses on video podcasts, revealing that over 170 million users have watched a video podcast on Spotify and there are over 250,000 shows available on the platform. The findings suggest that video content increases user engagement across all age groups but is particularly popular among younger generations.

Major Funding Round for Podeo Aims at Overcoming Podcast Challenges

Podcast platform Podeo has raised $5.4M in Series A funding to help podcasters overcome challenges with discoverability. The platform provides everything from content creation and distribution to monetization, reaching over 50 million listeners worldwide. This investment will be used for global expansion and improving AI capabilities, as well as continuing to provide tools that will change the podcast industry.

Kimberly Spencer Releases New Book on Podcast Guesting

Kimberly Spencer, an award-winning coach and author, has launched her book "Make Every Podcast Want You", a guide for businesses seeking to boost brand awareness through appearing on podcasts. The book provides tips on how to pitch yourself as a guest, create a compelling story that resonates with listeners, and leverage interviews to advertise your business. The release of the book is expected to change entrepreneurs' approach towards podcasting by demonstrating its power as a marketing tool.

Survey Reveals Ireland's Love for Podcasts

Pure Telecom's Connected Lives survey has found that 72% of the Irish population listen to podcasts, with an average listening time of 48 minutes per day. The most popular podcast genres are comedy and entertainment, true crime, and self-help and wellbeing. However, only 15% of those surveyed believe they would be good at podcasting themselves.

Inside the Success Story of "Your Mom's House" Podcast

The "Your Mom's House" podcast, hosted by comedians Tom Segura and Christina Pazsitzky, has grown into a successful show over the past 14 years. The couple started recording their podcast from home in its early stages and have now expanded to include guest appearances from prominent musicians, actors, and comedians. Despite relocating from California to Texas, they maintain that the essence of "Your Mom’s House" remains unchanged.

Meet J.B. Wogan, a dedicated solutions journalist based in Alexandria, Virginia. He has vast experience covering government on all levels for various print and digital media outlets. Currently, he hosts the podcast 'On The Evidence', where he delves into public policy and social science research topics. Outside of his work commitments, J.B's interests lie in complex policy matters such as social impact bonds and public sector innovation models amongst others.

How did you come up with the name of your podcast?

The show is called On the Evidence and the premise is that our understanding of today's most pressing challenges and our responses to those challenges should be based on the best (i.e. most reliable and scientific) available information (or “evidence”).

What is the main focus or theme of your show?

Every episode somehow relates to the intersection of social science research and public policy. Some episodes zero in on new findings, featuring a mix of guests who conducted the research, funded the research, or who represent the kind of policymakers/practitioners who could use insights from the research in their work. Some episodes are more about organizations and trends in the field, e.g. we recently featured guests from the Millennium Challenge Corporation and AmeriCorps to talk about the role that research and evaluation play in the work of those federal agencies. 

Have there been any particularly memorable moments during the recording that stick out to you?

I planned to interview Abigail Aiken for my podcast, a renowned social scientist in reproductive health. At her presentation, I noticed she shared her findings through stories rather than just stats and charts. Despite planning to talk about her professional journey and work contributions, I asked about her storytelling approach. This led us down an unexpected path, discussing the role of storytelling in Irish culture (she's Irish) and its power to make impressions that numbers can't.

Who has been one of your favorite guests so far, and why?

Another favorite episode of mine is with Anita Summers. She became an economist in the 1940s, a time when few women were in this field. She worked for various respected institutions and championed policies based on solid evidence. I interviewed her just before her 96th birthday, where she shared many interesting stories from her life.

What's next for your show – any exciting plans we should know about?

As we celebrate our five-year anniversary, we plan to do more live shows either in person or on YouTube. We have also increased our video content on YouTube for those who prefer it over traditional podcasts. So, watch out for more of our YouTube videos and shorts.

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• From Idea to Airwaves: How to Create Your Own Podcast

• Date: Oct 2, 2024

  Cost: Free

  Location: Virtual