Month: July 2017

Aaron Mahnke’s Newest Book – Coming in October

~ jen

Aaron Mahnke is the host of the Lore podcast.  He is now bringing Lore to the printed page in his newest book “The World of Lore: Monstrous Creatures”. It is available for preorder now, and will be released in October of 2017.

The Lore podcast is an award-winning, critically acclaimed podcast about true life scary stories. It exposes the darker side of history, exploring the creatures, people, and places of our wildest nightmares. Lore won the iTunes Best of 2015 and Best of 2016 awards. It also won the Podcast Academy Best History Podcast of 2016.

“The World of Lore: Monstrous Creatures” is published by Del Rey Books (which is part of Penguin Random House). It is the first book in “The World of Lore” series.

In this beautifully illustrated volume, the host of the hit podcast Lore serves as a guide on a fascinating journey through the history of these terrifying creatures, exploring not only the legends but what they tell us about ourselves.

Fans of the Lore podcast will soon have several ways to enjoy the content that Aaron Mahnke creates. There’s the podcast episodes, of course. The first of a series of Lore books will be released in October. And, there is a television show that is in the works. In October of 2016, it was announced that the Lore TV series had been picked up by Amazon Studios.

Gimlet Seeks a Producer for The Pitch

~ jen

Gimlet is looking for a Producer of a new podcast called The Pitch. It is described as “a reality show that brings listeners into the room as real entrepreneurs pitch to real investors – for real money.”

Gimlet media tells stories through audio. Their roster of podcasts includes newly-launched, critically-acclaimed shows like Homecoming, Heavyweight, and Science Vs. Gimlet is also home to perennial favorites Reply All and Start Up. Gimlet is looking for ambitious, curious, talented, and kind people to join their team.

The Pitch is a reality show that brings listeners into the room as real entrepreneurs pitch to real investors – for real money. While it offers a glimpse into the high stakes world of venture capital, its really a show about human relationships: how people sell their companies, what makes investors tick, and how these initial conversations can bloom into business deals – or die on the vine. To achieve this, pitches are edited down and narrated for clarity but it’s important to us to always stay true to what really happened in these conversations.

As such, Gimlet is looking for an experienced producer who has a passion for VC culture and an appreciation for narrative storytelling. They need someone who can work independently to edit long, sometimes wonky pitches into digestible 30-minute experiences for listeners. This involves cutting multiple tracks of tape; writing tight, clear, narration; and looking for fresh, creative ways to tell each story. The Pitch is still early in its life with Gimlet, so there is a real opportunity for someone to take ownership over the growth and direction of the show.

Those who are interested in this job should read the full Gimlet ad for more details. This is a full-time role based in Gimlet’s Brooklyn, New York, offices. The posting will be closed at 5PM on August 2, 2017.

Slate Seeks Director of Podcasts

~ jen

Slate is looking for a Director of Branded Podcasts to oversee their branded podcast group. The person who is hired for this job must have a passion for storytelling, a deep understanding of digital media, and an informed interest in the relationship between brands, podcasts, and listeners.

The Slate Group, established in 2008 by the Graham Holdings Company, is a multimedia entity with the mission of developing and managing a family of digitally-native content providers. The company consists of Slate, an award-wining digital publishing company, and Panoply, a premium podcast network.

Some Requirements for the Director of Branded Podcasts job include:

  • BA or BS degree required
  • Must have 5+ years of experience in content development and production for podcast, terrestrial, or satellite radio, or other audio medium.
  • Must be well connected to the larger community of independent producers and great at identifying talent
  • Extremely strong writing, communication, and presentation skills
  • Demonstrated ability to work with little to no guidance and think outside the box
  • Experience in juggling and prioritizing competing deadlines in a fast-paced environment
  • Proven ability to thrive in a dynamic environment and work as a team player

Some Key Responsibilities include:

  • Responsible for developing for smart, stimulating podcast ideas that engage our discerning listeners and offer unique value to our brand partners
  • Manage a team of in-house and freelance producers to write, structure, and produce branded podcasts for a diverse set of advertisers
  • Provide guidance and critical feedback on production tasks including recording, editing, mixing, scoring and publishing audio

Those who are interested in applying for this position should go read the Slate ad on Linkedin for full details. The job is listed as “Full-Time” and under the function “Sales, Production”.

It’s Happening with Snooki & Joey Podcast has Launched

~ jen ~ 1 Comment

Television personality, entrepreneur and New York Times best-selling author, Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi, and makeup artist and stylist Joey Camasta announced the debut of their new podcast, It’s Happening with Snooki & Joey. The podcast launches in partnership with AudioBoom.

AudioBoom is a global podcasting platform that consolidates the business of on-demand audio, making content accessible, wide-reaching and profitable for podcasters, advertisers, and brands. It’s Happening with Snooki & Joey is a weekly, hour-long show that features celebrity interviews, hilarious and informative takes on the latest news and trends, and an inside look into the hosts’ day-to-day lives.

AudioBoom is rolling out an original content network, featuring an eclectic mix of high-quality and celebrity-driven podcast. The partnership with AudioBoom, and hosts Nicole Polizzi and Joey Camasta signals a new direction for AudioBoom which will co-produce the It’s Happening with Snooki & Joey podcast in addition to handling digital distribution and ad sales for the show.

The podcast will be available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify and wherever podcasts are available. The first episode premiered on Thursday, July 13, 2017. It featured Nicole Polizzi’s “Jersey Shore” co-star Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino as their first guest.

Previously, Nicole Polizzi hosted the Naturally Nicole podcast. I found it on acast. Interestingly, the acast information describes Naturally Nicole as “By PodcastOne”. But, when I tried looking for it on PodcastOne, the website says “This content is no longer available, but here are some others that you might like.”

Host of Tax Season Podcast Charged with Murder

~ jen

Earlier this year, the host of the Tax Season podcast was charged on a federal weapons possession charge that was tied to the May 2016 shooting at Irving Plaza in Manhattan. Recently, The New York Times reported that he has now been charged with Murder.

The host of the Tax Season Podcast used the stage name Taxstone, but his real name is Daryl Campbell. It is not unusual for a podcast host to use a name other than their real name. People who podcast about video games often use the name of their main character. The Tax Season podcast was not about video games, nor was it about taxes. It was a podcast about hip-hop artists.

On July 13, 2017, The New York Times reported that Daryl Campbell had been charged with murder in connection to a shooting that took place during a T.I. Concert at Irving Plaza in Manhattan last year. Daryl Campbell pleaded not guilty before Justice Maxwell Wiley in New York Supreme Court. Kenneth Montgomery, (who is Daryl Campbell’s lawyer) stated that they are going to fight the charges.

According to The New York Times: “Last month, Mr. Campbell pleaded guilty in federal court to receiving a firearm by interstate commerce with the intent to commit a felony and possessing a firearm as a felon. He faces 20 years in prison when he is sentenced on those charges.” There’s a lot more to the story, and I will leave you read The New York Times article if you want more details.

PowerPress Version 7.1 has Launched

~ jen

PowerPress is the number one podcasting plugin, with over 1 million downloads worldwide. PowerPress version 7.1 has launched. Here is a look at what to expect from this new version.

One thing to be aware of is that PowerPress 7.1 requires WordPress 3.6 or newer. WordPress 4.8+ is recommended.

PowerPress 7.1 now supports the new tags that Apple added in iOS version 11 including:

  • iTunes:type, iTunes:episode, and iTunes:season – These tags were added by Apple to support serialized content.
  • iTunes:episodeType – This tag adds a way to mark special episodes of your podcast.
  • iTunes:Title – This is Apple’s solution for podcasters who add episode numbers and other extra information to their blog post titles.
  • content:encoded & iTunes:summary – This is a value containing the show notes for your episode.

PowerPress version 7.1 also contains other upgrades and improvements:

Subscribe on iTunes has been changed to Subscribe on Apple Podcasts.

Secure HTTPS website using Blubrry Podcast Media Hosting are now automatically supported. Media URLs are now automatically converted to HTTPS. You no longer have to edit past episodes if you switch from HTTP to HTTPS.

The Windows Media Player embed for wmv video and wma audio has been removed. Chrome, Safari, Firefox as well as Microsoft Edge browsers do not support the Windows Media Player embed, so providing support for the Windows Media Player embed is no longer practical. In its place will be a play link which will open the media on the device’s default media player.

SoundCloud Death Watch Signal Flashing Red

~ shawn

SoundCloud LogoThings have seemingly gone from bad to worse for SoundCloud, the Berlin-based music streaming and podcast hosting provider. We brought you the recent news that SoundCloud would be deferring salary reviews for employees. It turns out “deferring salary reviews” was actually secret code for “about to lay off 40% of our staff and close some offices:”

The German-born streaming company has informed its staff today that 173 jobs are being cut, from a total headcount of 420.

The business will consolidate its operation across its New York and Berlin offices.

This consolidation will also close SoundCloud offices in San Francisco and London. A statement from SoundCloud cofounder Alexander Ljung acknowledged that choosing to lay off employees was a difficult decision, but it is part of SoundCloud’s plan to try and keep the company solvent:

In the competitive world of music streaming, we’ve spent the last several years growing our business, and more than doubled our revenue in the last 12 months alone. However, we need to ensure our path to long-term, independent success. And in order to do this, it requires cost cutting, continued growth of our existing advertising and subscription revenue streams, and a relentless focus on our unique competitive advantage — artists and creators.

Another report that surfaced in the wake of SoundCloud’s layoffs claims that the company only has enough money to operate until the beginning of the fourth quarter of 2017. If this is true, the company has a few months left before it may need to shut down completely.

If there’s any light at the end of SoundCloud’s tunnel, it comes from rumors that France-based music streaming service Deezer might buy SoundCloud. While Deezer does seem like a good match for the music side of SoundCloud’s business, Deezer didn’t do any favors for Stitcher after that acquisition (Deezer later sold Stitcher to Scripps/Midroll). Either way, the future looks very bleak for SoundCloud as a podcasting platform.

Stay Tuned with Preet Bharara is “Coming Soon”

~ jen

You might recognize the name Preet Bharara because he was in the news fairly recently. He was the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, (which is located in Manhattan). In March of 2017, Attorney General Jeff Sessions asked for the resignations of 46 federal prosecutors. Preet Bharara announced that President Trump had fired him on March 11, 2017.

What’s next for Preet Bharara? A podcast called Stay Tuned with Preet. The podcast is described as “a series about justice and fairness.”

It is the newest podcast coming to CAFE, the newest entertainment brand from Some Spider Studios, a fast-growing, profitable media start-up. CAFE is led by Chief Content Officer Blake Zeff, who was the head of digital at The New York Times.

CAFE posted a statement from Preet Bharara on joining Some Spider Studios:

“I have been blessed with many dream jobs in my life. During 17 years in public service, I worked for and with people I not only respected, but also loved like family, which is the rarest kind of professional jackpot. Today I feel lucky and blessed once more because I am partnering with actual family. I am beyond thrilled to join my brother Vinit’s media start-up company Some Spider Studios as an adviser, stakeholder and content producer.

I am excited for a number of reasons beyond the presumed job security that derives from working for your sibling. First, it is an opportunity at this extraordinary moment in history to add my voice to both classic and current-day debates about justice and fairness in the law, government and society. It is a natural extension of everything that has led me to this point.

Second, it is a chance to speak with considerable editorial space and freedom, with the benefit of a platform that permits more than 140 characters at at time. Finally, it is a privilege to work alongside a fearless and visionary entrepreneur like my brother, Vinit, who defied the odds to create an exceptional company like Quidsi with Some Spider investor Marc Lore, our high school classmate. This enterprise will be no different and that is a thrilling thing to be a part of.

I loved every minute in public service, but I’m looking forward to the next chapter — speaking, writing, teaching, learning and advocating for what I care about — through my position at NYU Law School, my upcoming book on justice and also now my new role at Some Spider. Stay tuned.”

Macmillan Audio Seeks a Senior Audio Producer

~ jen

Macmillan is a global trade book publishing company with prominent imprints around the world. They publish a broad range of award-winning books for children and adults in all categories and formats. Macmillan Audio is seeking a Senior Audio Producer.

Macmillan is based in Stuttgart, Germany. Their ad for a Senior Audio Producer indicates that the position will be in New York City, New York, for Macmillan Audio. Macmillan’s American publishers include: Farrar, Henry Holt & Company, St. Martin’s Press, Tor Books, Macmillan Children’s Group, Macmillan Audio (and more).

Macmillan seeks a Senior Audio Producer to oversee the production of outstanding original audio content for its in-house podcast network. Our shows at Macmillan Podcasts run the gamut – from self-help and sci-fi to literature and true crime. The ideal candidate will have experience creating, producing, and editing podcasts, the ability to collaborate well with others, and a passion for all genres of audio.

They are looking for a self-starter who can work both independently and collaboratively to brainstorm creative storytelling formats, guide and onboard talent, book guests, and manage the recording and post-production processes.

Required Skills include:

  • 3-5 years working at a major network or public radio station
  • Demonstrated success in producing podcasts or radio programs that reach a large audience
  • Expertise in digital audio workstations (DAWs)/editing software, such as ProTools
  • Highly organized and able to meet weekly deadlines
  • Proven critical thinking and problem solving skills
  • Superior communication skills, both written and verbal
  • A passion for working with authors or talent.

Those who are interested working with Macmillan Audio should read their ad for full details. The ad includes a list of Major Responsibilities that the person who his hired will need to do.

Stevie Ryan, Co-Host of Mentally Ch(ill) has Died

~ jen

Stevie Ryan, co-host of the Mentally Ch(ill) podcast, has died at the age of 33. In addition to being a podcaster, she was well known for her YouTube series called “Little Loca”, star of a VHI series called Stevie TV, and co-host of Brody Jenner’s E! series “Sex With Brody”.

People Celebrity reported that the L.A. County Coroner’s Office ruled that the cause of Stevie Ryan’s death was suicide by hanging.

Mentally Ch(ill) was co-hosted by Stevie Ryan and Kristen Carney. It is described as “a podcast about depression.” The first episode was titled “Hello Cruel World”, and was released on April 4, 2017.

The eleventh episode, titled: “Death, Grieving & Lithium” was released on June 28, 2017. People Celebrity reported that in an episode released just two days before Ryan’s death, she revealed that her grandfather had died Thursday. People Celebrity noted that in the episode, Stevie Ryan explained that she was worried this would send her into a deeper depression. Stevie Ryan and Kristin Carney discussed suicide in that episode.

The twelfth episode of Mentally Ch(ill) was released on July 4, 2017. It was titled: “RIP Stevie – Beautiful Butterfly”. The episode was recorded by Kristen Carney.