Apple Podcasts Made a COVID-19 Essential Listening Channel

One would assume that the majority of people who visit Apple Podcasts go there because they want to find a specific podcast that they just heard about. Others go there to find a new podcast to listen to after the one they were enjoying came to an end. You might not think of Apple Podcasts as a place to find news about COVID-19, but they have created a collection of it for “news junkies” to listen to.

Apple Podcasts’s COVID-19: Essential Listening collection has more episodes, news, and podcasts dedicated to information about COVID-19 than anyone could binge listen to in a few days (or maybe even weeks). The collection is described this way:

No medium is better suited to reacting to and providing context for the current unique circumstances across the globe than podcasts. Nimble and efficient and personal in ways that other sources of information cannot always be, these program have quickly become integral parts of our lives – and its no surprise how many have sprung up so quickly in response to this worldwide crisis.

This frequently updated field guide will help direct you towards the most useful shows out there – from the most urgent reporting and expert analysis surrounding the fast-evolving pandemic to advice on protecting the physical and mental health of you and your loved ones during these unusual times. Stay informed, stay home, and keep coming back here for more of the reporting, storytelling, and words of wisdom you need to get through this.


Here are a few of the COVID-19 focused podcasts that are featured:

  • Coronavirus: Fact vs. Fiction with Dr. Sanjay Gupta – CNN. (This one is also produced in Spanish).
  • Coronavirus Global Update – BBC World Services
  • COVID-19: What You Need to Know – ABC News
  • Coronavirus Daily – NPR
  • Daily Coronavirus Update – iHeartRadio
  • Politico Dispatch – Politico
  • AP Ground Game: Inside the Outbreak – The AP / Westwood One Podcast Network
  • Social Distance – The Atlantic
  • Into America – NBC & MSNBC
  • Fighting Coronavirus, from American Innovations – Wondery
  • Science VS – Gimlet
  • PBS News Hour – Health – PBS Newshour
  • Coronavirus in California – L.A. Times

Dennis Quaid Launched The Dennisance Podcast

Dennis Quaid has launched his own podcast, The Dennissance, on Audio Up Media. (The name of the show rhymes with renaissance). On April 1, 2020, Dennis Quaid shared a statement to Billboard indicating that he intended to release his podcast via cassette. But, that turned out to be an April Fool’s Day joke.

Here is how The Dennissance is described on Apple Podcasts:

Dennis Quaid is a renaissance man who is one of the busiest people in show business. Besides being an actor, musician, songwriter, writer, and podcast pioneer, he is also a jet pilot, amateur astronomer, fly-fisherman, philosopher, low handicap golfer, medical safety advocate, and armchair historian.

He has powered a NASCAR around an oval track, given speeches and appeared before congress on patient safety, played golf with 2 presidents, piloted a dogsled in the arctic, meditated on the shore of the Ganges River in India, and has run cycled marathons, team-roped a quarter horse, trained dogs and people, pitched on the mound in Texas stadium, been a middle-weight boxer, and can change a diaper in 20 seconds…

The description continues, stating that all of Dennis’s famous friends have interests outside of the thing that they are known for. Each episode of The Dennissance features Dennis Quaid having a conversation with one of his friends. In one episode, he talks with Billy Ray Cyrus, and in another, he talks with John Carter Cash.

Wondery CEO Hernan Lopez Indicted in FIFA Bribery Case

The Wrap reported that two former 21st Century Fox sports marketing executives were charged with bribery earlier this month in the U.S government’s FIFA corruption investigation. The investigation was focused on the bribes made to soccer officials with millions of dollars in exchange for lucrative media and marketing rights to international tournaments and events.

The Guardian reported that Carlos Martinez, former president of Fox Latin America, and Hernan Lopez, former chief executive of Fox International Channels, had been charged with wire fraud and money-laundering offenses.

The Wrap points out that they were charged alongside Uruguayan sports company Full Play Group and Gerard Romy, the former co-CEO of the Spanish Media company Imagina Media Audiovisual.

A quote from Hernan Lopez’s lawyer appeared on several news sites that discussed this situation:

“It’s shocking that the government would bring such a thin case,” Matthew Umhofer, an attorney for Lopez, also said. “The indictment contains nothing more than a single paragraph about Mr. Lopez that alleges nothing remotely improper. Mr. Lopez can’t wait to defend himself at trial.”

On April 9, 2020, The Guardian reported that both Carlos Martinez and Hernan Lopez were granted bail set at $15m, with an evening curfew and international travel bans imposed. Both men pleaded not guilty to wire fraud and money laundering charges.

It is worth noting that Wondery is still doing well. You don’t have to worry about your favorite Wondery shows disappearing, or otherwise being affected, by the FIFA controversy.

Anchor’s New Audience Insights are Powered by Spotify

Earlier this month, Anchor announced that they have expanded Anchor’s podcast analytics beyond standard podcast download metrics to include true episode drop-off and aggregated listener demographics.

Spotify acquired Anchor in February of 2019. At that time, the companies made it clear that together, Anchor and Spotify would be able to expand the capability of podcast creators, and that new insights would be one way to achieve that vision. The first step in that direction is with the launch of new, Spotify-powered analytics.

Now, your Anchor dashboard (on web in our free app for iOS and Android) includes new charts that provide unique insights about your audience on Spotify, to help you better understand the people listening to your show and what they like about it.

The data comes directly from Spotify streams, as opposed to download counts or the limited data passed down from web players and RRS feeds. Anchor says it reflects down-to-the-second listening behavior that allows podcasters to understand more deeply what keeps their audience engaged, where they’re dropping off, and who their podcast is resonating with most.

To see episode drop-off information for your episodes, Anchor podcasters can click on an episode in their web dashboard. You’ll see an episode performance chart that lets you measure the completion rate of each episode and the times when listeners are dropping off from your show, helping you organize your podcast around engaging moments.

Anchor can now show podcasters reliable demographic information for their listeners, including anonymized and aggregated age ranges and gender breakdown of your audience. Anchor says this data is perfect for tailoring your episodes to your current fans, or for branching out and marketing to people who haven’t yet discovered your show.

Quibi Sent a Cease-and-Desist to a Podcast About Quibi

Huffpost reported that Quibi sent a cease-and-desist order the hosts of the Quibiverse podcast. Hosts Rob Dezendorf and Danielle Gibson were 17 episodes into the podcast when they received the letter.

It is not unheard of for a brand to send a cease-and-desist letter to someone who the brand feels is making an unauthorized use of their logo (or other properties). That said, I think Quibi’s timing on the cease-and-desist letter is very awkward. Fans of the podcast may see Quibi in a negative light. That could be problematic for a newly launched company that has to compete against all the other streaming platforms.

As a result, what once was called the Quibiverse podcast has rebranded as Streamiverse. The description now says:

This used to be a podcast about Quibi, but they sent us a cease and desist, so we pivoted to ALL STREAMING-ONLY content.

Here’s our old description: Quibi is the newest entry in the streaming wars. It boasts A-List talent, a BILLION dollars in funding, and 10-minute episodes. It could also be the biggest flop of 2020. Friends Danielle and Rob are obsessed with the insanity of Quibi, and can’t wait to see if it ends up being a HIT, or a FORCE QUIT. Join them as they investigate everything about Jeffery Katzenberg’s insane internet venture. We are NOT Quibi.

Quibi (which stands for “quick bites”) launched in April of 2020. It provides “fresh content from today’s top talent – one quick bite at a time”. The platform was created by Dreamworks Animation co-founder Jeffrey Katzenberg and former eBay and Hewlett Packard Enterprise CEO Meg Whitman.

It was intended to give people something to entertain themselves with while waiting to pick up their child from school or while commuting. Fewer people are commuting now, as companies shifted to remote working during the COVID-19 pandemic. Closed schools and remote learning mean no one is waiting in their vehicle to pick up their kid from school.

CNBC reported that Quibi saw 1.7 million downloads in its first week. In that article, Meg Whitman said Quibi is planning to enable the app to cast to TV.

Warner Media Seeks Team Coco Podcast Producer for Unscripted Podcast

Warner Media is seeking an audio producer to lead unscripted podcast production across Conan O’Brien’s Team Coco Network. This is a full time position.

Conan O’Brian is TV’s longest running late night host and one of the most successful, respected comedians in America. He’s currently the host of CONAN on the TBS television network. An Emmy award winner, O’Brien began his career as a writer for Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons where he developed his own brand of comedy, living at the intersection of smart and silly, that has inspired a generation of comedians and writers who came after him.

The Team
Team Coco is an omnichannel digital media company that both expands and diversifies Conan’s fanbase and capitalizes on new business opportunities. These new initiatives include a successful touring and live events business, hilarious and effective branded digital content, and the world’s top comedy podcast Conan O’Brian Needs A Friend.

The Job
Team Coco is looking for a versatile audio producer to lead unscripted podcast production across the Team Coco Network. The network has already created several successful podcasts (scripted and unscripted) with aggressive plans increase output in 2020 and beyond.

The Unscripted Podcast Producer will work with the COO and the rest of the podcast team to expand an existing slate of podcasts and content with an emphasis on diversity (diversity of talent and a diversity of formats). Candidates will demonstrate a passion for comedy and enjoy working with comedians in a fast-paced, friendly, startup environment.

A strong candidate will have 4+ years of experience in audio content development and/or production for production for podcasts, radio, TV, or live events. Candidates will work seamlessly and communicate with multiple departments such as development, programming, marketing, business development and legal etc. With a battery of projects already in progress and more in the pipeline, the Unscripted Podcast Producer will be elemental in overseeing and shaping new series from pre-production to production.

For more information about this job, and to apply for it, visit the Warner Media website where the position is listed.

Yang Speaks is a Podcast by Andrew Yang

Less than two months after his presidential bid ended, Andrew Yang has announced the launch of his new podcast, Yang Speaks, slated to launch this spring with Cadence 13, a leading premium podcast company.

The show will air weekly and feature thought-leaders on a variety of topics, including technology, entertainment, policy, sports, pop-culture, and anything on Yang’s mind, with a general outlook towards the future of our economy and society.

The Yang Speaks trailer has dropped, with the official series launch slated for May 2020.

“The ideas of our campaign have always deserved more airtime than a 60-second answer on a debate stage or a 3-to-5 minute TV hit,” explained Zach Graumann, Yang’s former campaign manager and senior advisor to the project. “We’re excited to launch Yang Speaks and have in-depth longform conversations with some of the smartest and most interesting people in the world, and to discuss the ideas that cam make our future and society a more human place for us all.”

“Andrew Yang’s passionate ideas and vision for the future resonate with millions of people,” said Chris Corcoran, Chief Content Officer, Cadence13. “We’re thrilled to welcome him to Cadence13, and to the entire podcast universe.”

At the time I am writing this blog, a trailer and an episode of Yang Speaks have been released. The trailer is called “Introducing: Yang Speaks”.

There is also an episode titled “A Conversation with Andrew Yang” that is about coronavirus, the need for Universal Basic Income, and our future. This episode includes host Andrew Yang and co-host and former Yang2020 campaign manager Zach Graumann.

It does not surprise me that Andrew Yang has a podcast. He has appeared on over 100 podcast episodes including: Adam Carolla Show, The Axe Files with David Axelrod, The Breakfast Club, Washington Post Live, The Daily, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah: Ears Edition, Chapo Trap House, Pod Save America, Stay Tuned with Preet, The Basic Income Podcast, and The Joe Rogan Experience.

NPR Seeks a Production Assistant for Pop Culture Happy Hour

NPR is seeking a Production Assistant for the Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast. Those who are interested can apply for the position on the website where the NPR want ad is located.

Pop Culture Happy Hour is one of the best and most popular entertainment podcasts around. Its cast of panelists get together to review the latest in television, film, and more – through a lively, engaging format – all for an incredibly loyal audience. The podcast is ramping up to being published five days a week, and we are expanding our production team.

NPR is looking for a creative and versatile Production Assistant with a passion for pop culture news and analysis to help produce the podcasts. They are a small and agile team based in Washington, DC. The production assistant will be required to occasionally work weekends and evenings for award shows and other events, and must have a willingness to be flexible about scheduling.

Qualifications include:

Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Required Skills:

  •  At least one year of radio production experience on broadcast digital audio workstations (MTE/DAVID, Dalet, ProTools or similar)
  •  At least one year of experience working with daily deadlines
  •  Experience with journalism-related research and demonstrated ability to collect, organize and disseminate information
  •  Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously under stringent timeframes and changing priorities/conditions
  •  Ability to work independently but also work well as part of a team
  •  Ability to work a flexible schedule

Preferred Skills:

  •  Knowledge and interest in arts and entertainment news

Those who want to know about the responsibilities of the position, or who wish to apply for the job, can do so on the website where the NPR want ad is posted.

Third Coast International Audio Festival Calls for 2020 Entries

The annual Third Coast / Richard H Driehaus Foundation Competition is here! Since 2011, the Competition has celebrated masterful, experimental, groundbreaking, and radical works in audio storytelling, and has awarded over $300,000 in cash prizes to many of the most innovative makers of the past two decades.

This year, they will award eleven winners in the following nine categories: Best Documentary (Gold, Silver, Bronze), Best Serialized Story. (NEW) Best Documentary: Short, Best New Artist, Best Documentary: Non-English Language, Impact, (NEW) Audio Unbound, Director’s Choice, and Best News Feature.

The Early Deadline (your chance to enter with reduced rates) is May 1, 2020, at 5:00 pm CST. The final deadline is May 25, 2020, 5:00 pm CST. Winners will be notified and announced in Fall of 2020.

This year, Third Coast has restructured their pricing to make the TC/RHDF to make competition more affordable for independent and freelance makers (entry fees starting at $45), as well as first time entrants working in countries underrepresented in their competition (entry fees start at $10).

Audio Unbound is a new category. It is described this way: “We’re breaking audio out of the podcast feed & the broadcast airwaves! It’s time to honor audio work that experiments with embracing other mediums, and artists from other mediums embracing audio.”

Best Documentary: Short is a new category. It is described this way: “We hear some of our favorite audio storytelling in short work – 10 minutes or less. We believe short documentaries are just as powerful as the rest, and deserve a bigger platform and spotlight”.

This year, for the first time, Third Coast will publicly honor finalists of the Competition in addition to the cohort of award-winners.

In 2020, Third Coast is taking the judging process completely virtual. (More details about this year’s panel of 2020 Competition Judges will be revealed later this month). They will also be featuring standout works from the Competition through their virtual programming.

Those who are considering entering the competition should visit the Third Coast website for more details about categories, pricing, deadlines, and more.

Podpage Offers Podcast Websites Made Easy

People who are under “Stay at Home” orders might be thinking about starting their own podcast. Recording episodes is relatively easy. All you need is a microphone and some audio software. The part that some podcasters don’t want to mess with is their podcast website. Podpage is offering podcast websites made easy.

Podpage makes creating a gorgeous web presence for your podcast effortless. Build a direct connection with your listening audience, grow your distribution, create professional looking social media assets, and more.

Podpage says using its service is “10x easier than setting up a WordPress site”. That may be true for people who are brand new to podcasting and who have never had a WordPress blog.

Personally, I prefer to have my podcast on my own WordPress website that I have complete control over. That said, I understand that there are podcasters who feel differently and would prefer to just let someone else handle the website of their podcast for them.

Podpage website is specifically designed for podcasts. Your Podpage site is automatically structured to have episodes, categories, custom pages, sponsor links, player links, and everything else a podcaster needs. Your Podpage website will be automatically updated by your podcast feed. Your website will be search engine optimized (SEO) to have it show up properly in Google.

The Basic plan is $5/month and includes:

  •  Custom Domain
  • Episode Pages
  • Automation
  • Media Players
  • Daily Backups
  • Web Hosting
  • Subscribe Links
  • Google Optimized
  • Categories
  • Convenient Links
  • Mobile Optimized
  • Built for Sharing
  • Accessible
  • Pretty Links
  • Security
  • Lightning Fast
  • Clean Design
  • About page

There is also a Professional $15/month plan, which gives you everything in Basic and more. A Network plan is $50/month and is a solution for networks of Podcasts.