'It’s a Continent' is Independent Podcast of the year

• In an award ceremony last night in London, It’s a Continent won three awards, including the coveted Podcast of the Year, at the Independent Podcast Awards. The hosts, Chinny Ukata and Astrid Madimba, were handed the award for Educational: World, Business and Financial by our Editor; before winning the Best History Podcast category, and then the biggest award of the night. The judges said the podcast is “instantly interesting, the hosts are charming and fun, and each episode was fascinating and well researched”.

• Spotify is improving its listener comments tool. From today, new comments in English will be automatically published by default; though you can change this in your settings. Keyword blocking is also available.

  • The company says that over 650,000 podcast episodes have had a comment since July. There were 44mn new episodes published between Jul 7 and Oct 24 (says the Podcast Index); which suggests that 1.5% of new episodes have attracted a comment.

• Spotify is to launch an ad exchange in the US. The initial focus on the Spotify ad exchange will be video.

• RAJAR released its Q3 2024 audio figures. 34% of Brits listen to a podcast at least once a month, says the data. By contrast, 88.3% tune in to radio every week.

• The BBC’s proprietary radio, music and podcasts app BBC Sounds reported a 2.3% increase in total plays in Q3/24; but a slump in weekly audience from 4.88mn to 4.7mn - down by -3.7%. The number of downloads on open RSS also increased by 2% to 213mn for the quarter.

• Earlier this week, we highlighted Nielsen’s recent release of UK podcast consumption data. Adam Bowie takes a look, concluding that the 42% weekly reach figure is significantly higher than all other surveys. Another data point not in the press release: 71% say they normally stream episodes directly, against 26% who say they download episodes.

• Donald Trump, who is a candidate in the US Presidential Election, will reportedly appear on the Joe Rogan Experience later this week.

Tips and tricks - with Memberful

• Yes, YouTube Music plays RSS feeds. Here’s how.

Podcast News

The Art of Deciding is new and out today - with the first episode featuring Lee Child, creator of the Jack Reacher novels and one of the most commercially successful writers of all time, on the biggest decision he ever made. The series is hosted by the journalist Bruce Whitfield, who has twenty years experience of condensing complex topics.

UK-based Mags Creative launched new sex and relationships podcast The Ins and Outs with Ruby and Megan last week, in partnership with US network Dear Media. It’s the first in a partnership between Mags Creative and Dear Media, with both companies having a shared commitment to amplifying female voices and building powerful communities through their work.

The Times of London has launched Feel Better About Money, a new uplifting weekly personal finance podcast. Hosted by Holly Mead and Lucy Andrews from The Times and Sunday Times money team, this new podcast blends expert financial advice with a fresh, positive approach - discussing topics from managing debt and saving for a pension to buying a house or deciding whether to insure your cat.

Glory Daze with Johnny Manziel is new today from Almost Friday Media - featuring some of the most iconic and legendary names in sports for authentic conversations, look backs, and more. Manziel - 'Johnny Football’ - was a professional American football quarterback.

Dear Millennial With Megan Tan is the latest addition to the fwd. network, launching today. Hosted by award-winning podcast creator, Megan Tan aims to teach life lessons through her own experience of navigating life as a post-college millennial. It’s a revamp of her original award-winning 'Millenial’ podcast.

Uncover: Bad Results is the first original series to launch in Uncover, CBC’s true crime umbrella feed, since pre-pandemic days. Normally a home for hit series second runs, Uncover returns to its roots with a new six-part investigation into a Toronto-based DNA lab that promised 99.9% accurate prenatal paternity tests — but instead, routinely identified the wrong dads.

Food is responsible for 15% of all fossil fuel emissions. And that percentage is growing. In the Feed, um, feed - a new series is launched today. Fuel to Fork explores how we got here – it all started with Peruvian bat poo – and imagine a future without fossil fuels, with farmers, leading scientists, food industry experts and legendary campaigners.