Was he the first podcaster?

• Was the much-loved comedian and actor Robin Williams the first podcaster? We’ve unearthed some compelling evidence that shows that yes, he might well have been. (Hit reply if you’ve a strong view either way).

• Breaking: Sounder has just launched a new website, with a shift in positioning - a focus on the company’s automated brand safety strategy and the tools that creators need to reach more listeners, increase revenue and optimise workflows.

• French podcast studio Empreinte Magnétique has published their upcoming slate. They’ve also launched a kids podcast service, Tamtam, costing €3.99/month (US $4.10).

• Joe Rogan wasn’t #1 in Spotify yesterday; the podcast there is Dear Media’s Back to the Beach with Kristin and Stephen. See the “Number one for podcasts” feature below to see if it’s still dethroned Rogan.

• Tanner Campbell is spending money on Overcast to promote a show, and explains why. He’s also posted a number of other places you can pay to promote your show (costs and details).

• Parts of Libsyn were down for over five hours yesterday. Downtime happens to all of us; this was related to a database change. Apart from delayed stats processing, all is now well.

• Screenrant posts “a nifty trick to help you finish podcasts and audiobooks faster”. We’ll save you the click: they’ve discovered the playback speed setting.

Moves and hires

• Josh Cohan has been announced as Director, Podcast Programming for ABC Audio in the US. He’s been with ABC since 2007, where he started as an intern.

Tips and tricks

• Blubrry post tips for networking at events like Podcast Movement. (One more tip: wear something branded with your show or company.)

• If you’re a podcast app developer, you might want a look at podinfra.net, a best-practices website. (And feel free to edit and add this site; it’s designed to be an open resource).

Podcast News - with Pushkin Industries

From Pushkin: Bad Women - Coming Oct 11. In February 1942, a very different threat than Hitler stalked the women of London’s theater district: a sadistic killer whose depravity was immediately likened to Jack the Ripper. Using new research from police files, court transcripts and exhaustive genealogical studies, Hallie Rubenhold reconstructs the lives of these murdered women who were ignored as the sex trade and criminality surged in the bomb-ravaged streets of the Blitz.

Dear Daughter was crowned the podcast of the year at the British Podcast Awards last weekend. We link to all the winners.

You, Me and the Big C: Putting the can in cancer was named Podcast Champion at the British Podcast Awards last weekend. We link to all the winners

RedHanded was awarded the Listeners’ Choice Award at the British Podcast Awards last weekend. We link to all the winners

Everyday Positivity got the best daily podcast award at the British Podcast Awards last weekend. We link to all the winners

Decode walked away with the best entertainment podcast award and the 'smartest podcast’ award at the British Podcast Awards last weekend. We link to all the winners

Podnews podcasting news didn’t win anything at the British Podcast Awards, but we didn’t enter it, so that’s probably why. But, here’s how to get us on your smart speaker every day.