Apple's Podcast Analytics examined, Castro does cloud sync, and audioBoom has a transformational year

US commentator Seth Resler’s first impressions of Apple Podcast Analytics. “Among the podcasters that I have heard from, the Average Consumption looks really solid – often over 80%” (Is anyone else seeing consumption figures of 107%? What does that mean?)

iOS podcast app Castro v2.6 is released. The big feature is an automated backup into a user’s own iCloud: the backup occurs every 24 hours, and ensures that user settings and progress are maintained. (Pocket Casts, for iOS and Android, also syncs).

UK-based podcast host audioBoom has had a “transformational year”, says a financial website. Their financial year ended Nov 30: 696m downloads (up 60%); 12,426 “content channels” (podcasts?); revenue £4.8m, US$6.4m (up 250%); but the company still made a loss of £4.5m (US$6m).

What Really Happened is, according to lohud at least, the world’s #1 podcast. Be that as it may, here’s an interview with Andrew Jenks, the program host. The podcast researches events over the past century with the benefit of hindsight.

Francisco Izuzquiza argues that 2017 has been the year that Apple began to take podcasting seriously, while Google (continues to) drop the ball.

The fourth most-downloaded podcast for 2017, meanwhile, is the Dave Ramsey Show. Steven Goldstein went to find out more. 10m downloads per month, via 15 separate podcast shows a week (they make three hour-long podcasts per day from the radio program).

Also looking back at the year is GQ magazine, who think that podcasting has moved to the very hub of political life and become an indispensable medium for protagonists and consumers alike. It’s all about the politics.

Spreaker announce a new widget for iOS devices, allowing you to play podcasts right from the homescreen.

Podcast search engine Listen Notes, which we first mentioned on Sept 21, is described as a perfect podcast tool for Windows 10 users. (Also, try Player FM or Pocket Casts, which both have a web interface).

Caitlin Thompson from acast does a bit of prediction for 2018 in Nieman Lab. She sees a future in convincing the 70% of Americans who don’t listen to podcasts regularly to… do that. In other futurology news, AdNews asks a bunch of radio executives in Australia about the future for the medium; Southern Cross Austereo (and PodcastOne partner) CEO Grant Blackley says “I anticipate there will be a substantial increase in listening and the monetisation of podcasting”.

Listicle corner: a Forbes blogger writes seven secrets to producing engaging podcast content - “If you want to get people to notice, engage and share your podcast, you need to make it about them, not you.” - while WeEditPodcasts advises on six ways to maximise podcasting motivation.

A long and well-researched article in Radio Magazine - Podcasting: Radio’s Answer to On-Demand Programming - aimed at the podcasting novice at a radio station.

Finally, if you’re setting up a podcast studio but then realise you travel too much, here’s how to make a portable travel podcasting solution, according to a HuffPost contributor.