Month: August 2017

Millennial has been Discontinued

~ jen

PRX and Radiotopia announced that Megan Tan, host of Millennial had made the decision to discontinue production of the podcast. The show began three years ago, and lasted for three seasons.

Millennial was a podcast about coming-of-age. Megan Tan was the creator and host of Millennial, which was a Radiotopia podcast based in her closet in Portland, Maine. Ben Severance was the executive producer of Millennial and is the founder of the production company Timber & Frame. Millennial was produced by Megan Tan and Ned Donovan and edited by Julie Shapiro.

Millennial started as a podcast about the intimate details of Megan Tan’s life as she navigated the world post-college graduation. As a constant focus on herself became untenable, Megan shifted to telling coming-of-age stories of other people (in season two). In doing so, the show’s initial intent had been transformed, and making regularly produced episodes became more challenging.

As such, Megan Tan made the difficult decision to bring Millennial to a close. The final episode is number 47, which is titled “Saying Goodbye”. You can find it, as well as previous episodes, on the Millennial website.  At the time I am writing this, Millennial is still available on iTunes.

Anchor Introduces a Simple Way to Edit Audio

~ jen

Anchor announced that they have made changes that will make it easier to edit audio on Anchor. They were getting a lot of feedback from people asking why they cannot edit audio before adding it to their station. Interestingly, the solution to this problem came from something Anchor recently updated.

When we introduced Anchor Videos features a few weeks back, we started automatically transcribing audio so our users could easily convert their segments into something digestible and sharable on social media. It occurred to us that this same transcription could be leveraged to design the simple, intuitive, mobile-first experience we had been looking for.

In short, Anchor noticed that when people are editing audio, they are basically deciding which words and phrases they wanted to include – and which ones to exclude. This process was already available for Anchor users who wanted to edit their Anchor Videos. Now, audio on Anchor can be edited the same way.

You can now edit call-ins, and other people’s segments before adding them to your own station or podcast. Before adding your audio, choose a starting word and an ending word, and you’re done. Anchor will discard the rest of the audio and just add the part you want your listeners to hear.

Anchor sees this as a first step towards making audio easier to edit on mobile. They will be adding more features in the near future. Their philosophy is: audio creation on Anchor will always focus on intuitiveness, and the actual content you care about – not a technical representation of the audio file that happens to contain it.

Find Podcasts with Ease with Spreaker’s New Home Page

~ jen

Spreaker has made changes to their home page in order to make it easier for people to find podcasts. The Spreaker home page now has a grouping of podcasts that fit a specific category.

This includes “Featured This Week”, which I think could influence podcasters to make a goal of getting their podcast into that category on Spreaker’s home page.

Spreaker describes their new home page as “your map to navigating that immense sea of audio content.” Not only will podcast listeners benefit from the new layout, but so will podcast producers. Spreaker points out “With featured podcasts, curated lists you’ll love, and content based on where you’re located, the new home page offers an effortless podcast-searching experience.”

We’ve narrowed things down to a few key selections that can help kick off your search for more podcasts, namely featured shows, curated lists, and more clearly defined categories. Podcasters, these are all ideal places to get your show prominently spotlighted on spreaker.com, so keep that in mind when working on your show’s general presentation. Artwork that’s well-made and appealing titles and descriptions, as well as solid content, is what will get you considered for a spot at the top.

Scrolling through the Spreaker home page feels a bit like scrolling through Netflix, in search of new content to check out. Each has a bunch of different categories that may (or may not) match your personal interests. Some of the categories are recommended by websites outside of Spreaker. It is clearly noted, and you can take that into consideration as you browse.

Although Spreaker made it clear that all the categories are “ideal places to get your show prominently spotlighted at Spreaker.com”, I think the one that will get the most attention is the “Featured This Week” category. I predict it will be treated the way Apple’s “New and Noteworthy” is – with marketers promising podcasters that they can get their podcast into that category.

Radio Atlantic – A New Podcast From The Atlantic

~ jen

Radio Atlantic is the first podcast released by The Atlantic. The podcast is hosted by Jeffrey Goldberg and is co-hosted by Matt Thompson and Alex Wagner. The choice of theme song for Radio Atlantic is an interesting story.

In 1861, a New England abolitionist named Julia Ward Howe, moved by the sight of thousands of blue coats massing outside Washington, D.C., wrote a martial and stirring poem that palced God on the side of the Union cause. She sent her poem to James T. Fields, the editor of The Atlantic. He agreed to publish it, and paid her $4 for her effort. The poem had no name, so Fields, a full-service editor, devised one for himself. In February of 1862, “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” appeared on the front cover of the magazine.

Jeffrey Thompson is the Editor-in Chief of The Atlantic. Matt Thompson is the executive editor of The Atlantic. Alex Wagner a writer for The Atlantic and a CBS News Anchor. It was Matt Thompson who suggested the use of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” as the music for Radio Atlantic, noting that it was The Atlantic’s “theme song.”

Radio Atlantic is a weekly flagship podcast from The Atlantic. In it, The Atlantic’s top editors sit down with leading voices to explore what’s happening in the world, how things became the way they are, and where they’re going next.

The Trailer for Radio Atlantic was launched on July 11, 2017. Since then, seven full episodes have been released. The most recent is Episode seven, “Are Smartphones Harming Our Kids?” In this episode, they question if mobile devices are taking a toll on our children’s mental health.

Previous episodes included a variety of topics including: “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”, religious expression, smart machines taking over the workforce, North Korea’s nuclear capabilities, “alternative facts” and the aftermath of what happened in Charlottesville. Several episodes include well informed guests who contribute to the conversation.

Podcasting for Dummies – 3rd Edition Available for Pre-Order

~ jen

The third edition of “Podcasting for Dummies” is now available for pre-order on Amazon. The authors are Tee Morris and Chuck Tomasi. The book is in paperback and is priced at $20.76.

More people than ever are turning to podcasts for on-demand, mobile entertainment and information. Podcasting for Dummies offers a fast and easy way to get the know-how you need to produce and distribute one of your very own. Written by a pair of podcasting pioneers, this book shares insight on the technology behind recording, editing, and sharing podcasts, along with tips and tricks on how to produce a pro-level podcast.

Tee Morris and Chuck Tomasi are two people whose names would be recognized by podcasters. They also were authors of the previous version of “Podcasting for Dummies” (2nd edition), along with Evo Terra.

The third edition of “Podcasting for Dummies” is a fully-updated edition. It gives would-be and experienced podcasters all the tech information, production insight, and promotional tips they need to either get a podcast off the ground or to improve on an existing one.

NASA Launched a Podcast

~ jen

NASA announced the launch of a brand new podcast called NASACast Audio. It is the official podcast of the NASA Johnson Space Center, the home of human spaceflight, which is stationed in Houston, Texas.

On this podcast, you’ll learn from some of the brightest minds of America’s space agency as they discuss topics in engineering, science, technology, and more. You’ll hear firsthand from astronauts what it’s like to launch atop a rocket, live in space and re-enter Earth’s atmosphere. And you’ll listen in to the more human side of space as our guests tell stories of behind-the-scenes moments never heard before.

NASACast combines the content of all the NASACast subject area podcasts into a single omnibus podcast. It is where you will find the latest news and features on NASA’s missions as well as the popular “This Week @NASA” newsreel.

The first episode of NASACast was released on July 7, 2017. It featured Dan Huot, Public Affairs Officer at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. He talks about what the International Space Station is, how it works, what it is made of, and why it’s there.

At the time I am writing this, NASACast has released eight episodes. The most recent one is called “Exploring the Cosmos with Styx”.

It features Glenn Lutz, Deputy Director of the Exploration Integration and Science Directorate (EISD) of the Johnson Space Center, and John Connolly, Head of NASA’s Mars Study Capability Team under EISD. They speak with Tommy Shaw and Lawrence Gowan from the band Styx about human exploration of the solar system.

You might also want to check out episode seven, “Total Eclipse Over America”, which features Dr. Mark Matney, Space Debris Scientist and Astronomer, who talks about the science and history of eclipses.

NASA announced in a tweet that the NASA Johnson Space Center will be closed until September 5, 2017, to all but essential personnel due to the effects of Hurricane Harvey. I’m assuming this could mean that NASACast Audio will likely have a temporary hiatus.

Third Coast Conference Convenes in Chicago

~ jen

The 2017 Third Coast Conference will take place on November 9-11 at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place in Chicago. It includes radio producers, podcasters, journalists, documentarians, audio artists, and students. Everyone comes together to listen to each other’s work, share ideas and expertise, and make connections with future colleagues and new friends.

Conference Sessions Include:

* 2017 Provocations – A series of short talks from producers who hope to dare and ignite. Presented by Brian Reed, Al Letson, Sarah Alvarez and Mia Lobel

* Complicated Characters – Dov Charney, the founder and ex-CEO of American Apparel, built the company through his charisma and force of will. Presented by Lisa Chow

* The Argument of “Objectivity” – Is traditional “objectivity” in journalism on its way out? – Presented by Lewis Wallace and Alicia Montgomery

* How to become an investigative reporter with one simple trick: Ask a good question – Madeline Baran and Samara Freemark of In the Dark, love the intimacy of radio and the power it has to transport us into other people’s lives. But as producers of an investigative podcast, they think audio storytelling can do more.

* The Confessional: When is a Personal Story Worth Sharing? – You’d like to turn the mic on yourself to share your most personal story, but how do you ensure others will want to listen? Also, should you bare your soul, and, if you do, how do you maintain journalistic integrity while doing so? – Presented by Sally Herships and Alan Hall

* Human vs. Robot: How to track and still sound like your actual self – Great tracking is the difference between a piece that immediately moves you and one you immediately forget. – Presented by Sean Rameswaram

* AIR’s Bitchin’ Pitch Panel – A bonefide Third coast tradition, this session pulls back the curtain on one of the most difficult and important skills every producer needs to master: how to pitch. – Presented by Leila Day

All sessions are recorded and available in Third Coast International Audio Festival’s Audio Library and on the Third Coast Pocket Conference podcast.  The weekend culminates with an awards ceremony honoring the winners of the Third Coast/Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Competition.

Mid-Atlantic Podcast Conference Reveals List of Speakers

~ jen ~ 1 Comment

The Mid-Atlantic Podcast Conference (MAPCON) will take place on September 8 and 9 of 2017 at the Holiday Inn Philadelphia in South-Swedesboro. The MAPCON website has a list of the people who will be Speakers at the event.

The Mid-Atlantic Podcast Conference has information about the Featured Talks for 2017.  You can scroll through the list and find out which Speaker will be presenting on which date. The title of each presentation is also listed.

This year’s MAPCON Speakers include:

  • Rob Greenlee – Head of Podcast Content at Spreaker.com
  • Joel Boggess – Founder and Host of RelaunchShow.com
  • Jeff Bradbury – Founder and Host of TeacherCast.net
  • Mark Asquith – Co-Founder of PodcastWebsites.com
  • Ramona Rice – Community Manager of PodcastWebsites.com
  • Annett Bone – Founder and Host of The DancePreneuring Studio Podcast
  • Tom Tate – Produce Marketing Manager at Aweber.com
  • Mary Nichols (a.k.a. DJ Fusion) – Founder of FuseBoxRadioOnline.com
  • Jessica Kupferman – Co-Host & Founder of She Podcasts
  • Dave Jackson – Founder & Host of SchoolofPodcasting.com
  • Aimee J. – Founder & Host of Chasing Dreams
  • Manny Wolfe – at mannywolfe.com
  • Erica Blocker (Formerly Gordon) – CEO of Defining Success LLC., Host of Moms With Dreams University
  • Heather Ordover – Host and Founder of CraftLit.com
  • Mathew Passy – Producer/Consultant at thepodcastconsultant.com
  • Stephen Hart – Trailblazers.FM Podcast at tbpod.com
  • Stephan Roots – Publisher of Dirty Water Dude
  • Christopher Fasano – THE Metabolic Podcast
  • Naketa Thigpen – ThigPro Balance & Relationship Management Institute
  • CJ Ripka – Founder of Ripka Media
  • Adam Lewis Walker – Awaken Your Alpha
  • Karen Yankovich – CEO of Uplevel Media
  • Scott Mulvaney – Chief intrEpid Officer and Founder of LIVETHEFUEL
  • Patricia Iyer – The Pat Iyer Group at legalnursepodcast.com
  • Lew Hastings – Host/Producer – Red Road Radio Show
  • David Steele – Founder of the Steele Empire Podcast Network
  • Deborah Williams – CPA, Money Coach and Founder of Financial Karma Podcast
  • Nicholas Goblirsch – at thedependentindependent.com
  • Neil Guilarte – Owner of Wildstyle Media Group, LLC
  • Jeff Large – Owner of Come Alive Creative
  • Amanda Doughty – Founder of Great Beer Adventure
  • Clay Groves – Chief Executive Fish Nerd at the Fish Nerd Podcast

Anchor Made Improvements to Anchor Video

~ jen ~ 1 Comment

After launching Anchor Videos, Anchor went one step farther and made an improvement to Anchor Videos. They have added some useful new features.

Anchor Videos have been a resounding success, finally giving people (and brands) the ability to quickly and easily share their audio, whether they’re promoting a podcast, sharing a quote, or just using it as a quick way to get their voice heard. And today, we’re announcing a few new features that make Anchor Videos even more powerful.

You can now trim any video before sharing. Instead of sharing a full video for a segment, you can now trim the video any time (and as often as) you want. Anchor has made it just as easy and intuitive to trim as it is to transcribe your segment in the first place. Instead of messing with cursors, just tap the word you want to start with and the word you want to finish on.

It is now possible to share a video of anyone’s segment. If you find a segment you want to share, and the creator has transcribed it, you’ll see a special icon which lets you know you can share it as a link or a video. If you choose video, you will have the option to trim it first, or to share the whole thing.

Another newly added feature allows you to customize your video. Anchor got feedback that people wanted to be able to change the colors to better match their existing branding. Now, you can choose from a set of color themes. Anchor will be adding more color themes over time.

AudioBurst Announced AudioBurst Search

~ jen

AudioBurst develops technologies and products that take spoken-word media to the next level. They believe that auditory media will continue to play an important role in society and in the future. Their vision is to digitally organize that mass of audio information on a global scale.

AudioBurst announced a new product called AudioBurst Search. It is a search engine for finding, discovering, listening to, and sharing the latest news over audio. It accesses the world’s largest library of live and pre-recorded podcasts and radio simply by searching a keyword.

If you used AudioBurst’s skills on Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, then you will see that AudioBurst Search works exactly the same way. Only now, its available on web and mobile-optimized web.

AudioBurst Search is one more step in the direction towards our mission to organize the world’s audio information. We’re excited to be able to offer the world’s content creators and publishers one more channel to serve their audio content, and we can’t wait to see how you find ways to interact with our new search engine.

Each 1-3 minute burst of audio is stored in AudioBurst’s content library. Those bursts are not only readily retrievable through AudioBurst Search, but also major search engines like Google, Bing, and Safari. It is possible to come across one of their clips while searching on Google for news on your favorite topics.

In addition, AudioBurst has something called Podcaster Pro. It is an RSS Based Automatic Audio Transcription service that is free to use.  Enter your RSS Podcast URL Feed into the AudioBurst website.  AudioBurst automatically pulls your last podcast and transcribes and extracts the best audio highlights based on topics.