Fun Kids launches children's podcast network; RadioPublic unveil PodPass

• Children’s content producer in the UK Fun Kids has launched a podcast network, incorporating its own shows and other providers including Storynory and The Week Junior.

• RadioPublic has unveiled a proposal for a new technical protocol called PodPass. The “simple protocol” could enable, for example, access to subscription podcasts, or bonus content, in your favourite podcast app. (So perhaps you’d subscribe to Fiasco, a premium podcast on Luminary, be a supporter of Alba Salix Royal Physician and get bonus content, and also get a podcast as part of your subscription to the Economist … but get all this content in Pocket Casts.)

• The IAB has unveiled details of Digital Content NewFronts West, in early September. Podcast hosting company ART19 are one of the speaking companies, in an event to connect digital publishers with ad agencies.

  • Expect to see more podcast hosts gain IAB Certification today. We’re here on Twitter.

• Captivate podcast hosting, analytics & marketing from Rebel Base Media have announced their Advisory Board, including Laura Roeder, the Founder of MeetEdgar and well-known podcast “pontificator” Evo Terra, CEO of SimplerMedia. Our Founder and Editor, James Cridland, is also an advisor. Disclosures

• Podcast Ad Reps, a podcast sales representation firm for indie podcasters, is benefiting from added focus as the company’s founders concentrate full-time on the service.

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• ESPN claim their podcast audience increased 17% year-on-year in July. Additionally, content created specifically for podcasts grew their downloads 25%. The data is from Podtrac.

  
  This link is no longer available, as at Aug 15 2023

• On Friday, we listed a special feed, full of podcast trailers (to help you find a brand new podcast to listen to). Today, another one to manually add to your podcatcher: the top 5 voted podcast episodes from Podhunt.

• As people begin travelling to Podcast Movement, Ma’ayan Plaut writes how to market yourself at podcast conferences. We’ll be at #PM19, from late Tuesday afternoon.

• Tool: Compare your podcast’s cover art with to other shows in your category. Written by Justin Jackson of Transistor.

• Event: PodcastFestival 2019 from the Podcast Netwerk, in the Tolhuistuin, Amsterdam, Netherlands on 28 September. Speaking will be Tim Howard, EP of Reply All.

  • Also in Amsterdam, Storytelling in the digital age, with Leon Neyfakh from Slow Burn, on 10 September. Unexpectedly, Podnews will be in the audience too!

Thank you to Danny in Cape Town, South Africa for becoming our latest personal supporter. Danny’s working on “a podcast-related product”. Be like Danny.

Opinion

• Formerly of 99% Invisible and NPR and now host of Bellwether, Sam Greenspan did a Reddit AMA last week. Among many things, we learn that he was born with the name Gordon.

  
  Aug 15 2023: This broken link now points to the Internet Archive.

  I hope that the idea of what a podcast is begin(s) to transform. Right now they’re treated kind of like TV shows—they come out on a regular schedule, or have seasons, and have a very specific format. What would podcasting look like if they were thought of more like indy movies? Or records?

• 9to5mac wonder out loud what Apple’s motivations are in podcasting.

  My theory is Apple wants to keep Spotify from getting enough power to take over the industry. Apps like Overcast and Castro are good for the industry in Apple’s mind. They keep the market open. An Overcast customer is not a Spotify podcast user.

• In case you missed it, here’s what our Editor thinks Apple should do next, writing personally on Medium.

Podcasts

Spreaker Prime: The Blume Saloon is a “hilarious sort-of book club with Alison Michael and Jody Worthington”, making their way through Judy Blume’s books, one by one. They’re using Spreaker Prime to earn money and cut hosting costs.

Futility Closet covers forgotten stories from the pages of history. It’s hosted by Greg Ross, who kindly just increased his personal support for Podnews. Be like Greg (Libsyn)
Unusually Short Stories may hold the record for the shortest podcast in the world: daily updates, never more than 30 seconds. (Transistor)

Tempest - moving stories about life, people, and cars - starts its second season today. The first episode is a gritty tale about a pool shark with a penchant for Jeeps and a very long night in a lonely mountain town. (Acast)

Eater’s Digest is new, promising the wildest, most important stories from restaurants and kitchens around the world. (Vox Media / Eater / Megaphone)

The Elevate Music Podcast aims to educate and inform musicians about the wellbeing and health issues they may face. “Studies have shown that pop musicians feel unsupported in their careers with health and wellbeing issues”, says the host, Lucy Heyman. (Elevate Music / Help Musicians / Wisebuddah / Audioboom)