Podcast Addict returns to Google Play: but for how long?

• Podcast Addict has returned to the Google Play app store today. The app had been suspended for linking to third-party podcasts about the coronavirus. Hiroshi Lockheimer, an SVP for Google, has posted on Twitter that “We are still sorting out kinks in our process as we combat Covid misinformation, but this app should not have been removed.” The notification from Google Play asks the developer to “continue to monitor your app’s content”, and there appears to be no guarantee that the app won’t be suspended for a fourth time for linking to third-party content.

  
  This link is no longer available, as at Aug 24 2023
  • Earlier, Google Play’s Twitter account reached out to help. Here’s the ensuing conversation between Google Play and the developer of Podcast Addict in Twitter direct messages. While we welcome our new robotic overlords, it might be good to wait until they’re sentient.
  • We’ve asked Google what safeguards they are putting in place to not penalise this independent developer again; and to explain why their own app, Google Podcasts, was not removed for linking to identical podcast episodes. We’ll happily give you their response if we get one.

• Podtrac’s latest weekly report is good news for podcasting: downloads were up last week by 4%, and audience was up 3%. It’s the fourth consecutive week that things have been growing. Comedy podcasts grew the most last week. The service only measures participating publishers.

  
  Aug 24 2023: This broken link now points to the Internet Archive.

• Audio editor Audacity released, then paused, a new version over the weekend. v2.4.0 worked with Mac OS Catalina, and also contained a LUFS normalising tool. However, it’s no longer available “whilst we investigate a serious bug that affects 2.4.0 on Windows Mac and Linux. The bug causes loss/corruption of audio,” says the project.

• Podcast host Castos have launched Castos Productions, a “fully integrated editing and production service within a hosting platform”. Customers can upload raw, unedited files, and get fully-mixed podcasts with show notes and marketing assets like tweetable quotes and audiograms.

• Blubrry looks back at the Outlier Podcast Festival Virtual Summit, calling it a success.

Thank you to podcast host Castos for becoming our latest supporter.

Casters: I know most of the value comes from free flow and random conversation — but can you just prepare a tiny bit and stick to shorter time limits? - PJ Manning, Dear Podcasts — You’re Ruining My Life.

Tips and tricks

• How to cite a podcast (Buzzsprout)

• Using Apple metrics (Westwood One)

Podcast News

There’s no one you wouldn’t love if you knew their story. So says musician Michael Franti, who has launched Stay Human, a podcast focusing on how we hold on to our humanity in the most challenging times of our lives. After four Billboard #1 singles, he launches his new podcast today with five episodes to “convince people they can”.

The makers of S-Town have settled with the estate of John B McLemore, who had sued them. Nobody says whether any money has changed hands or not. The suit was filed in July 2018.

We’re still struggling with our email (thanks, home-schooling) so thank you and bear with us if you’re awaiting a response.