Esther Perel begins again after Spotify

Esther Perel is back; more details in podcast news, below

• Veritonic announced this morning a set of products focused on branded podcasts, promising “data and analytics meticulously designed to aid in the creation and optimization of branded podcast initiatives”. “Branded podcasts are an incredibly effective vehicle for telling a brand’s story and increasing its reach,” says CEO Scott Simonelli.

• UK podcast production company Goalhanger Podcasts is doing 17.5mn downloads a month, says its co-founder Gary Lineker. 20,000 people are monthly paid supporters, he tells the FT.

  • Interview: We spoke to Jack Davenport, the company’s MD, in the Podnews Weekly Review in January

• Podcast hosting company Ausha has been recognised as one of the 'Best Workplaces for Women’, according to Great Place To Work.

• Futuri Media has announced SpotOn, an AI-powered tool that builds radio and podcast commercials on the spot. “Now sales teams can deliver spec spots and commercials to any client, regardless of size, instantly”, says CEO Daniel Anstandig.

• Podcast website company Podpage is to phase out its free plan on Aug 1, after abuse of the free service.

• Podcast Movement has announced the winners of scholarships to Podcast Movement 2023, in Denver in Colorado.

• Is podcasting about to collapse in on itself? No. But don’t take our word for it: Eric Nuzum points out that the Archewell Audio deal closing plus the Stitcher app closing is not the entirety of the industry closing.

Tips and tricks

• How would you launch a new podcast? A year ago, Matt Deegan wrote this piece about The News Agents in the UK, and how it launched “in a different way”. How did it do? Only the UK’s biggest news podcast, seeing over 10mn downloads in the first three months…

Podcast News - with the Radioinfo Asia Podcast Awards

Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel returns today with Vox Media, as the show turns to 'always-on’. The show joined Vox Media earlier in the year, after being a Spotify exclusive with Gimlet since 2019. It’s being produced by Magnificent Noise.

Podcast Bestie, the Podcast with Courtney Kocak this week has Jeff Umbro from the Podglomerate sharing his five tiers of audience development to market your podcast. For the first time, the podcast is on YouTube too. (But it’s still a podcast, right, Todd? Right?)

In the UK, On The Rails is new from West Midlands Trains. The series sets out to explore a range of rail-related topics, and also aims to be the go-to place for listeners wanting to get their train or transport fixes. It’s made by Cue Podcasts.

Apple has made a podcast - and this one is sponsored by an insurance company. The second series of After the Whistle with Brendan Hunt and Rebecca Lowe, looking at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, is made for Apple News by Meadowlark Media, and sponsored by State Farm. The football tournament is, in the US and Canada, on Apple TV.

After the closure of Starburns Audio, Ghosted! by Roz Hernandez has found a new home with Exactly Right. The paranormal comedy podcast will return next Monday - prepare to discuss ghost stories, psychic experiences and all things that go BUMP in the night.