Samsung launches its first branded podcast in partnership with Acast

Acast – the global independent power source of podcasting – has today announced its partnership with Samsung Electronics Australia to produce and distribute the company’s first branded podcast within the Australian market. The Rule Benders podcast will feature conversations with extraordinary Australians who have bent the rules, defied convention, and redefined what is possible.

Rule Benders is a six-week branded podcast campaign, with a new episode dropping each week. Presented by Samsung Galaxy, the podcast forms part of the marketing campaign for Samsung’s latest foldable smartphone range, the Galaxy Z Fold3 and Galaxy Z Flip3. With its revolutionary new folding smartphones challenging the norm by featuring bendable glass, the podcast will also challenge the norm with stories of Australians who are bending rules.

Rule Benders is the largest-scale branded podcast to be launched so far by the Acast Creative team in Australia. Acast Creative is a pillar of the Acast Marketplace, helping brands navigate the rapidly evolving podcast landscape and elevate commercial messaging to its greatest potential. The Samsung and Acast partnership was facilitated by Samsung Electronics Australia’s media agency, CHEP Media.

Tom Roach, Creative and Strategy Lead, Acast Australia and New Zealand, said: “The concept of Rule Benders was inspired by Samsung Galaxy and the new Z Series foldable smartphones. We wanted to reflect people who think differently and shake up the status quo, while helping Samsung build cultural connections with new audiences by making the show available throughout the open podcasting ecosystem.

“This is without a doubt the biggest, most high-profile branded podcast we’ve launched in Australia, and it’s more proof that brands are starting to realise the power of podcasting and the creative ways that they can tap into huge audiences of highly engaged listeners.”

Hayley Walton, Head of Brand Marketing, Mobile Division,Samsung Electronics Australia, said: “Samsung’s brand purpose is to create new innovations that defy barriers and can help to make our world a better place. The incredible Australians that we feature in Rule Benders epitomise the Samsung Galaxy brand with each individual challenging the status quo and forging new paths that will make our world more inclusive, positive and accessible for more people.

“We believe that using these talent in our first branded podcast series will help engage audiences on a deeper level and help them to connect with Samsung in a way we’ve not achieved before. With podcasts becoming exponentially more popular in recent times, our partnership with Acast was a no-brainer and we’re thrilled to see it go to air.”

Hosted by one of Australia’s most listened-to female podcasters, Alexis Fernandez (Host of Do You F*cking Mind?), guests of the podcast will include Osher Günsberg, April Hélène-Horton, Nina Oyama, and more.

Full Episode List:

• Episode One - ‘Men Can’t Talk About Mental Health’: Osher Günsberg discusses Mental Health and how men are finding their voice, while overpowering destructive coping mechanisms like suicide, drugs and alcohol.
• Episode Two - ‘Models Can’t Be Overweight’: Alexis chats to model April Hélène-Horton about the body positivity movement, bending an age-old rule and redefining what it means to celebrate your body.
• Episode Three - ‘Women Can’t Be Funny’: Alexis sits down with comedian Nina Oyama to chat about the perception that women aren’t funny, what she’s learned after 10 years in the game and why she’s having the last laugh.
• Episode Four - ‘You Can’t Build Wealth and Eat Smashed Avo’: Young people have been told time and time again that their lifestyle prohibits them from building their personal wealth. Podcasters Alex Renehan and Bryce Leske (Equity Mates) talk to Alexis about how they’re changing the finance game for young Australians.
• Episode Five - ‘You Can’t Make An Album In Your Bedroom’: Alexis chats with Becki Whitton, ARIA nominated sound engineer, song-writer and musician about taking a more DIY approach to making an album.
• Episode Six - ‘You Can’t Save The Ocean At age 86’: Valerie Taylor has dedicated her life to challenging the myth surrounding our fear of sharks. Now 86 years old, Valerie has famously said “I’ll probably still be diving in my wheelchair” as she continues to be extremely driven and fearless in her conservation efforts.

Acast — the creator-first podcast company that works with some of Australia’s biggest shows — will distribute Rule Benders, making it available across all podcast apps and players such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.