OzPod podcasting conference returns for 2019

• The Australian podcast conference OzPod will return on Thursday 3rd October. Speakers include Owen Grover, CEO of Pocket Casts; and scripted podcast writer and director Dan Blank (“Carrier”); and our Editor James Cridland “will share his insights into the current state of the audio industry based on brand-new data from the ABC Audience Insights’ Podcast Consumer Survey”. Organised by the ABC, it’s in Melbourne VIC: tickets

  
  Aug 16 2023: This broken link now points to the Internet Archive.

• New firmware has been announced for the RØDEcaster Pro, with improved sound quality and a host of new settings for live podcasting.

  
  Aug 16 2023: This broken link now points to the Internet Archive.

• The BBC is launching its own voice assistant. Dubbed “Beeb” - a popular nickname for the organisation - it gives the broadcaster more control over BBC consumption, “without someone else’s permission to build it in a certain way”. It will cope with UK regional accents, and will be built-in to the BBC’s website and apps. Tech journalist Dieter Bohn likes it - “Imagine if the BBC or NPR could make a voice interface for their respective content that worked as well as, say, a web page.”

• Spreaker have launched private show sharing, a product that can be used for paid-for podcasts or employee-only shows.

  
  Aug 16 2023: This broken link now points to the Internet Archive.

• Acast has raised EUR 25 million (US$27m) in a financing deal with the European Investment Bank. Acast, which hosts 7,000 shows, plans to expand R&D and continue expanding internationally.

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• At Radiodays Asia in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, RNZ’s Tim Watkins spoke about “podcrafting”, suggesting we “talk normally, talk with me, check jargon at the door and plan your script.”

• Also at Radiodays Asia, Moldavia Aurora and Amelia Butterly from the BBC discussed My Indian Life, a successful podcast for young Indian people. (It’s mostly consumed on YouTube).

• At the bottom of this Westwood One blog post about US smart speaker use: detail about the fastest-growing podcast segment: 18-34 year-old African Americans, who are listening to podcasts in significantly greater numbers.

• Slate has announced the addition of hit podcast Thirst Aid Kit to its network. Meanwhile, Lipstick & Vinyl have added More Banana’s podcasts to its content library.

• UK radio broadcaster Bauer Media has appointed Maria Williams as Podcast Editor. Maria has worked for the BBC, Wise Buddah and Loftus Media as an editor and programme maker. She spoke at Next Radio in 2014 about a fundraising show she was involved in.

• Fourble is a service that turns any MP3 on the internet into a podcast.

Podcasts

Spreaker Prime: The Wicked Library featurhes dramatic tellings of horror fiction stories from new, upcoming, independent and bestselling authors. They use Spreaker Prime to earn money and save on their hosting costs.

Swing Left - How We Win is a podcast from a grassroots group in the US, trying to equip American volunteers to make a difference in the 2020 election. (ART19)

The Road to a Simple Life, a podcast from a UK car retailer, has been released. A three-part series with Vernon Kay, it contains details of how to simplify your finance, family and food lives. (Podbean)