Pocket Casts unveils redesigned podcast app

• Podcast app Pocket Casts have unveiled an entirely redesigned app for iOS, Android and the web (including new macOS and Windows apps). Highlights include a brand-new 'discover’ section which is geo-aware, listening history, and more. The iOS version is available now; the Android version is in opt-in public beta; there is coverage in The Verge and CNet Libsyn report Pocket Casts was the #7 podcast app in September, with 1.42% of all downloads; Anchor suggests it’s the #5 app, with 0.9%; it’s based in Adelaide in Australia, but owned by a consortium of US public radio broadcasters.

• Freemantle, the TV network, is reported to be releasing eight scripted drama podcasts by the end of Q2 2019. The company’s podcast brand to watch for is Storyglass.

• Audiocraft, which describes itself as “Australia’s leading podcast festival”, has set its next date for June 1, 2019. The event will take place at AFTRS in Moore Park NSW.

  
  Aug 7 2023: This broken link now points to the Internet Archive.

• Forbes has published their 30 under 30 list in media. In the list are Max Cutler, the founder of Parcast Network (here’s a piece about him in June), and the three founders of Betches Media.

• 2 Dope Queens have announced they’ve produced their last podcast; their final guest is former first lady Michelle Obama. They’ll continue to appear in HBO specials.

• Voxnest’s Spreaker Studio now supports Siri shortcuts, the company has announced. Ready-to-use shortcuts include “Record Audio”, which triggers audio capture.

• Fox News host Laura Ingraham is ending her radio show and shifting to podcasting from January. She’ll be with PodcastOne.

• We spotted an amazing thing in the producer of Reasons to be Cheerful's setup - a backlit editor’s keyboard with all the shortkeys printed on. Here’s an Adobe Audition keyboard and a Hindenburg keyboard.

  
  Aug 7 2023: This broken link now points to the Internet Archive.

• The WhiskyCast Tasting Panel is running a fundraiser next Monday for the victims of the shootings at Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. Tickets are available here. Over the 14 years of WhiskyCast, they’ve raised over $25,000 for charities.

• Watch: Three tips for training your voice, from NPR.

• Steve Pratt from Pacific Content advises podcasters to be consistent.

Podcasts

25 years ago HIV was a death sentence. Those living with HIV were sometimes discriminated against and often shunned. And then came Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington, director Jonathan Demme, and a movie called Philadelphia. That movie and the developments in HIV treatment which followed it changed the face of HIV and AIDS in America and throughout the world. Released today, People Like Us: Inside Philadelphia is a special podcast of the story behind the movie, produced solely for charity. Thanks to Coca Cola, 100% of the donations made by listeners to this podcast will go to support (RED) and its campaign to rid the world of AIDS in our lifetimes. (Mark Ramsey / Wondery / ART19)
Aug 7 2023: This broken link now points to the Internet Archive.

COLD, a new weekly podcast from KSL Investigative Reporter Dave Cawley, was released on Nov 12 and has spent the last day at #1 in Apple Podcasts. It looks into the case of missing Utah mother Susan Powell.
Edge and Christian’s Pod Of Awesomeness, a podcast covering the WWE, has shifted to Westwood One’s Podcast Network. Their first show, interviewing Shawn Michaels, will be released on Friday.