Month: July 2017

Two Wondery Network Podcasts Hit Top 10 on iTunes

~ jen

Wondery is an innovative startup specializing in mobile and on-demand audio. It creates and curates podcasts to connect wonderers and brands to a world of entertainment and a world of knowledge. Two of the podcasts on Wondery Network have hit Top 10 on iTunes.

Tides of History is hosted by historian and MMA specialist Patrick Wyman. The series explores how the roots of our present world can be found in the span of 1350 to 1650, including modern states, globalization, capitalism, science and more.

Tides of History also analyzes society from the perspective of ordinary people and how they experience the world. This podcast gives listeners the chance to analyze our current political climate and gain insights into how our society functions.

Within just two days of launching, Tides of History joined another Wondery show, Locked Up Abroad, on the top ten charts on iTunes.

Locked Up Abroad is an adaptation of the National Geographic TV series. It is hosted by Jim Clemente (host of the true crime podcast Real Crime Profiles as well as the CBS documentary on Jon Benet Ramsey.) Locked Up Abroad tells the riveting stories of travelers captured while abroad and features interviews with POWs, tourists, journalists, and more.

Having two shows in the top tin is a major win for the startup following its industry milestone and achievement of 100 million downloads this past May. Since launch, the network has over 20 partner shows and eight original series – one of which won the 2017 Webby Award for Best Sound Design/Original Music Score.

Current Seeks New Host of The Pub Podcast

~ jen

Current is the nonprofit news service for and about public media in the United States. Current publishes online daily and in print. They produced 16 issues in 2016. Current is seeking a new host of The Pub podcast.

Current was founded in 1980 by the National Association of Educational Broadcasters (the historic forerunner and parent of both PBS and NPR. NAEB lasted only two years longer, and a publishing committee of public stations put up funds to resume publication under the aegis of WNET.

The Pub podcast is Current’s weekly podcast of interviews with public media’s most important and interesting thinkers and doers, plus commentary from host Adam Ragusea. You can subscribe to The Pub via Libsyn, or iTunes.

Current is seeking a new host and producer of The Pub. This is a part-time, contract position. They are looking to continue producing biweekly episodes of at least 20 minutes in length. The host/producer will be paid per episode.

Current seeks a bold, dynamic talent to be the new voice and shaper of this biweekly podcast as our longtime host steps down. The Pub is a great platform for meaningful exploration of the past, present, and future of public media, and an excellent opportunity to connect with people – from millennials to senior executives – throughout the system.

Those interested in this position should read the ad on Current for full details. There are specific things you need to send them by August 15, 2017.

Anchor Introduces Discussions

~ jen ~ 2 Comments

Anchor makes it super easy for anyone to hear, share, and create interactive streams of audio called stations. It’s like radio (or podcasting), but bite-sized. Anchor has introduced a new feature called Discussions.

Discussions is a brand new way to interact with the audio you love on Anchor. You can now chat (with text) about whatever you’re listening to, right from within Anchor. Discussions is available now for iOS and Android.

Anchor is really proud of how easy they’ve made it to interact with audio and creators in ways that were previously impossible. You can interact by applauding the parts you like, calling in with a question, or adding audio to your own station. But, Anchor noticed that listeners want to have longer discussions about what they’re hearing.

We’ve seen people trading call-ins in an effort to have an ongoing conversion, or taking it to other platforms for more in-depth (but relatively inconvenient) discussions. So rather than force our users to find other ways to have meaningful conversations around audio, we decided to enable it right inside Anchor.

This is how the Discussions feature works:

  • Start listening to a station.
  • Tap the new Discussion button on any segment.
  • Discuss the segment you’re listening to with the station’s host and other listeners, as much as you want.

Anchor points out that if a host loves what you had to say, they can add it to their segment as a pop-up comment so that all their other listeners will see it (even if those listeners don’t want to join in the full discussion.) Discussions will stay attached to their relevant content, so if someone adds your segment to their own station, or if you turn a segment into a permanent episode, the conversation will be maintained.

The Messengers Documentary Can be Pre-Ordered on iTunes

~ jen

The Messengers: A Podcast Documentary is a is a Chris Krimitsos film. He is the Founder and Executive Director of Podfest, one of the largest annual conferences for podcasting in the United States. It is now possible to pre-order The Messengers: A Podcast Documentary on iTunes.

“’The Messengers: A Podcast Documentary’ is an intimate look at the world of podcasting and what compels the independent podcasters to take it on. We visit some of the most influential podcasters and deeply embedded individuals who share about their shows, their communities and the impact podcasting has had on their lives.”

You can pre-order the documentary in HD on iTunes for $5.99. The information in iTunes says “Pre-order contents are subject to change without notice. The final product received may differ.” It also says “Pre-Order: Expected Aug 23, 2017”.

The Messengers: A Podcast Documentary website has plenty of information about the story behind the production, the filmmakers, and a large list of cast and crew. There is also a podcast that provides additional information.

The first time The Messengers: A Podcast Documentary was screened was on February 27, 2017 during the Third Annual Podfest Multimedia Expo in Orlando, Florida. The World Premier of the film was held on March 22, 2017, at the historic Tampa Theater. If you haven’t had the opportunity to watch The Messengers: A Podcast Documentary and are interested in checking it out, you might want to pre-order it from iTunes.

Radio Atlas is Now a Podcast

~ jen ~ 1 Comment

Radio Atlas is an English-language home for subtitled audio from around the world. It is a place to hear inventive documentaries, dramas, and works of sound art that have been made in languages that you don’t necessarily speak. The project received a Special Commendation at the Prix Europa in 2016, and has been featured at film and audio festivals around the world. Radio Atlas has now become a podcast.

Eleanor McDowall runs the Radio Atlas website. She is a series producer for “Short Cuts” which is described as “short documentaries and adventures in sound”. It is on BBC Radio 4. Eleanor McDowall also is a senior producer at Falling Tree Productions (an independent radio production company.)

Podcasts are audio based. Some podcasters do live shows, put the audio out as a podcast episode, and post the video on YouTube. People often listen to podcasts while doing something else (like commuting, housework, or exercising). Radio Atlas requires listeners to read subtitles – unless they happen to speak the language that the story was written in.

How does that work? Radio Atlas episodes are presented in video format. The audio is the focus, and is in a language other than English. Listeners can read English subtitles as the story is being told.

This is a unique way to do a podcast. It is probably the only way the Radio Atlas podcast could work. It provides an experience that one cannot get from listening a typical podcast while doing the dishes. You must sit down and pay attention to the Radio Atlas podcast without multitasking. It requires you to be mentally present, and to immerse yourself into each episode.

Out Here in America Explores Lives of LGBTQ People in the Deep South

~ jen

Out Here in America is a podcast from the Sun Herald in Mississipi and McClatchy (which is the parent company of The Sun Herald). The podcast explores the lives of LGBTQ people who live in small rural towns across the Deep South.

Out Here in America is hosted by Justin Mitchell, who wrote an article in 2016 that appeared in the Sun Herald. The article was titled “I’m young, I’m gay and in Mississippi I’ll Stay”.  In the introductory episode of the podcast, Justin Mitchell mentions the article. He says that’s where Out Here in America comes in. It gives voice to the LGBTQ community living in historically conservative, traditionally religious places.

The podcast is story driven. Guests open up about stereotypes, discrimination, and the journeys that make them who they are. The title of the first episode is “Remembering the Pulse nightclub shooting, with Chris Hansen”. Chris Hansen was a survivor of the shooting, and was in the news for his efforts to help a victim of the shooting.

Other episodes feature Tig Notaro. She was nominated for a Grammy for her TV show “Live”. Tig got married to her partner Stephane, and they had twin boys. Tig has an Amazon series called “One Mississippi”. The episode delves into some discrimination she faced in Mississippi, where she grew up and got married.

At the time I am writing this, Out Here in America has one welcome episode, six episodes, and two bonus episodes. You can subscribe to Out Here in America on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. It is also available on SoundCloud.

Pantsuit Nation Launched This Pod is Your Pod

~ jen

Pantsuit Nation amplifies stories to drive social and political change. They believe that storytelling is at the heart of activism, and that our collective narratives are a key ingredient in any effort to create longterm, sustainable progressive change. Pantsuit Nation has launched a podcast called This Pod is Your Pod.

This Pod is Your Pod was created by the founders of Pantsuit Nation, a Facebook group that brought together millions of passionate and engaged people in the final weeks of the 2016 election.

This Pod is Your Pod is a weekly podcast that connects personal narrative to political action. It includes stories that will move and inspire you, focuses on the people at the heart of policy decisions, and discussions about resources to effectively resist the current administration and promote progressive change in American politics. The podcast was launched in July of 2017.

The podcast is co-hosted by Libby Chamberlain and Cortney Tunis. Libby Chamberlain created Pantsuit Nation as a “secret” Facebook group in late 2016, inviting about 30 friends to wear pantsuits to the polls on Election Day. The group’s emphasis on “going high” and a commitment to creating a troll-free space in which Clinton supporters could enthusiastically support their candidate struck a nerve. Within 24-hours, the group grew to 24,000 members.

Cortney Tunis is the Executive Director of Pantsuit Nation. Before joining Pantsuit Nation team, Cortney worked in nonprofit executive search, student affairs and library systems in higher ed, and in museum history and contemporary art museums. She has a BA from Williams College, an MA from the University of Chicago, and an MBA from Boston University.

USA TODAY NETWORK Hires Robin Amer

~ jen

USA TODAY NETWORK announced that journalist Robin Amer is joining the NETWORK as a driving voice in its innovative podcasting lineup. The NETWORK will debut Amer’s longform podcast, The City, in 2018, expanding its portfolio of more than 60 podcasts covering topics from music and politics to sports and comedy.

Furthering the company’s commitment to its local-to-national network, Amer’s inaugural podcast, The City, explores different American metropolises, using news stories as a vehicle to examine each city’s power structure, revealing how our communities really work behind the scenes. Amer will work with NETWORK journalists across America to explore how our cities live and thrive.

Amer is an award-winning reporter with more than 10 years of professional experience in broadcast, print, and digital media. Most recently, she held the position of deputy news editor at Chicago Reader.

She has received two national awards from the Sidney Hillman Foundations and her contributions helped the podcast Gravy win the 2015 James Beard Award for best podcast. As an investigative reporting fellow for Northewestern’s Medill Watchdog, Amer also contributed to a year-long collaboration with The Chicago Tribune that was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.

Amer’s groundbreaking podcast, The City, is coming to USA TODAY NETWORK as the winner of WNYC’s 2015 Podcast Accelerator competition.

WNYC and MoMA Collaborate on “A Piece of Work”

~ jen

WYNC Studios and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) have collaborated on a new podcasts with the delightful name: A Piece of Work. It is a 10-episode podcast hosted by Abbi Jacobson.

WYNC Studios, as you may know, is the premier producer of on-demand and broadcast audio. Some of their most acclaimed and beloved podcasts include Radiolab, Freakonomics Radio, and Death, Sex & Money.

The Museum of Modern Art is located in New York City, New York. They celebrate creativity, openness, tolerance, and generosity. They are committed to sharing the most thought-provoking modern and contemporary art, and hope people will join them in exploring the art, ideas, and issues of our time.

Abbi Jacobson is an actress and writer known for “Broad City” (with Ilana Glazer.) The show follows two women as they go about their daily lives in New York City. The comedy series is on Comedy Central. Abbi Jacobson has a background in art. TIME reported that she went to art school and wanted to be an illustrator.

A Piece of Work is everything you wanted to know about modern and contemporary art but were afraid to ask. A bicycle wheel attached to a stool; a giant canvas splattered with paint; dozens of soup cans…for many museum visitors, works like these prompt a ton of questions.

A Piece of Work is where Abbi Jacobson looks for answers to those kinds of questions. The show includes lively conversations with curators, artists, and some friends, such as: Hannibal Buress, Tavi Gevinson, RuPaul and Questlove.

Mid-Atlantic Podcast Conference will be in Philadelphia

~ jen

The Mid-Atlantic Podcast Conference will take place on September 8 and 9 of 2017 at the Holiday Inn Philadelphia in South-Swedesboro. You can purchase a ticket to the conference now through the Mid-Atlantic Podcast Conference website.

The Mid-Atlantic Podcast Conference (MAPCON) started in December of 2014 as a Facebook group for podcasters who live in the Mid-Atlantic States (North Carolina, Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut). After seeing the interest to have a podcast (exclusive) conference in the northeast, Joe Pardo jumped on the opportunity to make it happen. The first Mid-Atlantic Podcast Conference was in 2015.

At the time I am writing this blog, MAPCON has not posted any specific information about the speakers, agenda, or other announcements. Those will be announced “soon”. Those who want to be the first to find out that information can sign up for conference updates with their email address.

There are two types of tickets for the Mid-Atlantic Podcast Conference. One is for the physical “in real life” event. The other is a virtual ticket.

Tickets for MAPCON 2017 currently cost $150. That price is going to increase on August 1, 2017. The ticket gives you access to:

  • Friday Afternoon/Evening Spotlight Speaker/Mixer and “The Messengers: A Podcast Documentary” Showing
  • Speakers/Workshops All Day Saturday
  • Saturday Lunch
  • Free Headshots
  • Event T-Shirt
  • Event Badge
  • Virtual Ticket – On Demand Video Recordings
  • After Party

The 2017 Virtual Ticket costs $40. It gives you on-demand video recordings from the conference. It appears that this ticket’s price might increase soon.

The virtual ticket gives you access to:

  • Watch Every Session
  • HD Recordings
  • MP3 Files of Every Session
  • Slides form the conference
  • Zip file with all professional photos taken
  • Releasing on October 15th