Tag: armchair expert

The Trends of 2023 as Told by Podcasts

November 29, 2023

This past year, there was no single trend or topic that commanded the cultural conversation for too long—something new was always emerging. But throughout these massive moments, listeners consistently took the time to slow down, learn about these trends, and connect with other fans through the immersive world of podcasts. 

Spotify is the most-used audio podcast platform in many key markets around the world and is also the number-one podcast publisher in the U.S., according to the most recent Edison Research data. Because of this, podcasters have bigger audiences than ever. 

“Podcasts are the perfect format for audiences and fans to engage in cultural moments due to a few key factors,” says Lizzy Hale, Head of Podcast Editorial at Spotify. “Many of the best podcast hosts are journalists or experts themselves. They are the ones reporting on these stories, and in the podcast format, they can bring their stories to life.” 

According to Lizzy, podcasts are also uniquely positioned to bring people together.

“Podcasts are a place for community,” Lizzy adds. “When there is a viral moment in culture, fans come to podcasts to feel connected to that bigger moment. A podcast feels like you are talking to your best friend about the story you are obsessing about. They also become artifacts of what our culture’s reactions and opinions were in the moment.” 

So as you reflect on your year in listening, check out the podcasts that exemplify what was driving pop culture in 2023 as selected by our podcast editorial team.

Spotify’s AI Voice Translation Pilot Means Your Favorite Podcasters Might Be Heard in Your Native Language

September 25, 2023

Across cultures, countries, and communities, the stories we share bring us together. And more often than not, it is the voices of the speakers that lend as much weight to the stories as the narratives themselves. For more than 15 years, Spotify’s global platform has empowered creators of all walks to share their work with audiences around the world. At its core, this has been made possible through technology that’s leveraged the power of audio to overcome barriers to access, borders, and distance. But with recent advancements, we’ve been wondering: Are there more ways we can bridge the language gap so that these voices can be heard worldwide?

Today, we’re excited to pilot Voice Translation for podcasts, a groundbreaking feature powered by AI that translates podcasts into additional languages—all in the podcaster’s voice. 


This Spotify-developed tool leverages the latest innovations—one of which is OpenAI’s newly released voice generation technology—to match the original speaker’s style, making for a more authentic listening experience that sounds more personal and natural than traditional dubbing. A podcast episode originally recorded in English can now be available in other languages while keeping the speaker’s distinctive speech characteristics.  

As part of the pilot, we’ve worked closely with podcasters Dax Shepard, Monica Padman, Lex Fridman, Bill Simmons, and Steven Bartlett to generate AI-powered voice translations in other languages—including Spanish, French, and German—for a select number of catalog episodes and future episode releases. We’re also looking forward to including other shows, such as Dax Shepard’s eff won with DRS, The Rewatchables from The Ringer, and Trevor Noah’s new original podcast, which launches later this year.

“By matching the creator’s own voice, Voice Translation gives listeners around the world the power to discover and be inspired by new podcasters in a more authentic way than ever before,” says Ziad Sultan, VP of Personalization. “We believe that a thoughtful approach to AI can help build deeper connections between listeners and creators, a key component of Spotify’s mission to unlock the potential of human creativity.”

Voice-translated episodes from pilot creators will be available worldwide to Premium and Free users. We’re starting by releasing an initial bundle of translated episodes in Spanish, with French and German rolling out in the coming days and weeks:

  1. Lex Fridman Podcast – “Interview with Yuval Noah Harari”
  2. Armchair Expert – “Kristen Bell, by the grace of god, returns”
  3. The Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett – “Interview with Dr. Mindy Pelz”

We’ll start rolling these out to users on the Now Playing View of supported episodes starting today. Can’t wait and want to hear the episodes right away? Head to the dedicated Voice Translations Hub, which we’ll update with even more voice-translated episodes over the coming weeks and months.

Today is just the beginning. We’re excited to empower creators to bring their storytelling to more listeners across the world. The creator and audience feedback from the pilot will provide important insights for future expansion, iterations, and innovations. As the number of people (100M+) regularly listening to podcasts on Spotify continues to grow, we’ll continue exploring new ways to overcome barriers to storytelling.

Stay tuned to Spotify for Podcasters as we aim to expand access for more creators and languages.

‘Armchair Expert’ Hosts Dax Shepard and Monica Padman Celebrate 500 Episodes With a Playlist of Their Top 10 Guest Appearances

October 6, 2022

Photo Credit: Michael Friberg

 

Not so long ago, comedian Dax Shepard and producer Monica Padman set out to explore the “messiness of being human.” In doing so, they’ve spent nearly five years promoting personal growth and betterment through their podcast, Armchair Expert. And now, the two friends are about to hit a huge milestone: 500 episodes. 

Lauded for its hilarious spin on the challenges and shortcomings people encounter in their lives, Armchair Expert has become one of the most celebrated podcasts around, landing a spot on numerous “best of” lists and attracting a fan base of devoted “Armcherries.” 

To celebrate their big achievement, Dax and Monica have rounded up the 10 most-memorable episodes they’ve recorded since the start of the podcast in 2018. And with a guest lineup that includes everyone from Matt Damon to Stacy Abrams to Dax’s Mom, it’s a playlist that doesn’t disappoint.

Dax and Monica’s 10 Favorite Episodes

  1. “Dax’s Mom (Laura Labo)”
  2. “Matt Damon” 
  3. “David Sedaris Returns Again”
  4. “Awkwafina”
  5. “Colson Baker (aka Machine Gun Kelly)”
  6. “Stacey Abrams”
  7. “Jerod Carmichael”
  8. “Roy Choi (chef)”
  9. “Molly Shannon”
  10. “BJ Novak”

For the Record also sat down with Dax and Monica to discuss the evolution of the show, their most memorable guests, and what lies ahead for Armchair Expert. 

How has the show changed between Episode 1 and Episode 500?

In a nutshell, Monica talks more, Dax talks less (although there’s still room for major improvement on this front). We have also acquired a confidence that has allowed us to throw the game plan out the window more and more. Many things have changed, but still no bathroom door. 

When you think about your favorite episodes that you’ve picked, is there a quality they all share that makes them special?

Yes. Each of these episodes has a profound level of vulnerability from the guest—the kind of trust and openness that is truly humbling. It’s episodes like these that keep us pinching ourselves with gratitude. 

Of the episodes on this list, which one caught you most off guard, or defied your expectations of how the interview was going to unfold?

Dax: It would be Colson Baker (aka Machine Gun Kelly). I did not see any of that coming when I first saw him on the schedule. But almost immediately upon meeting him, as I watched him scan his environment/the attic for exits and threats, I knew I was meeting a beautifully tender person that I was going to have a lot in common with.

Monica: For me, it’s Roy Choi. I knew he was an incredible chef, but I was shocked by the complexity of his story and his beautifully soft nature. I thought the whole episode would be about food, but we barely touched on food at all because his life journey was so compelling. 

What’s it like to reach Episode 500 of this podcast? Were you expecting the show to have this level of traction and longevity when you launched it?

Of the many things we didn’t dare dream of, 500 episodes was one of them. I don’t think we’ve ever let our imaginations run away with us, so each milestone has come as a surprise, which has made it infinitely more fun. 

What would you say is the biggest thing you’ve learned about podcasting and interviewing since you started working on the podcast?

Everyone has a story. And if you listen with an open mind to (almost) anyone’s story, you will find yourself moving away from judgment and toward understanding. We’ve also learned that there is always an alternative angle on how to approach an issue. We’ve had many of the smartest people in the world on the show and they often have conflicting opinions. There is absolutely nothing with 100% consensus, which is both liberating and humbling. 

Now that you’ve reached this big milestone, what do you have planned for the show going forward? Are there any new directions you’d like to take it in?

We are already in the middle of taking them, adding more shows under our umbrella and continuing to expand the world. We launched Armchair Anonymous recently—a show that lets us hear insane stories from the very same Armcherries that got us to this milestone. 

Whether you’re new to Armchair Expert or a self-proclaimed Armcherry, catch up with all 500 episodes of the podcast, below.

Spotify’s Top Songs and Podcasts of Summer 2021

August 24, 2021

Another summer has flown by, and with it, the songs and shows that have complimented countless beach days, park hangs, pool lounging, and road trips. Now, as August draws to a close, Spotify is once again announcing the top songs and podcasts that filled listeners’ headphones and speakers this season. 

Songs of the summer

With more than 600 million streams globally between May 29 and August 22, this year’s Spotify Song of the Summer is…  “good 4 u” by “drivers license” breakout star Olivia Rodrigo. 

“good 4 u” claimed the top spot globally, and it also topped the list in markets like the U.S., Australia, Canada, Ireland, Singapore, the U.K., South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates. And since the song’s release on May 14, “good 4 u” has been added to more than 18 million playlists. It also served as the inspiration for more than 325,000 user-generated playlist titles, including: 1,500+ “like a damn sociopath” playlists and 700+ “happy and healthy” playlists.

The next four of the global top five songs took us on a journey around the world. Number two globally was Eurovision winner Måneskin’s “Beggin’.” And since everything about this list is thanks to everything about you and how you listen, “Todo De Ti” by Rauw Alejandro was all in for number three. 

Lil Nas X was another summer mainstay for listeners, with “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)” calling itself fourth on the list, and Doja Cat and SZA’s collab on “Kiss Me More,” which kept the summer sizzling, rounded out fifth place.

CEO Daniel Ek and CFO Paul Vogel Break Down Q2 Earnings in Latest Episode of ‘Spotify: For the Record’

July 29, 2021

Spotify announced its second-quarter results yesterday, and there was a lot to unpack. For the story behind the numbers, we tapped the experts to join this week’s episode of Spotify: For the Record. CEO Daniel Ek and CFO Paul Vogel sat down with Dustee Jenkins, Head of Global Communications, to discuss the results and what they mean for the future of the platform.

Daniel Ek Qu

In addition to covering the highlights from the quarter, the impact of COVID-19, and the opportunities ahead, the episode also featured Fresh Finds program artist Julia Wolf, reflected on the rebrand of Spotify’s flagship playlist, Today’s Top Hits, and welcomed Call Her Daddy and Armchair Expert, two globally beloved podcasts, exclusively to Spotify. Daniel also discussed Spotify’s innovative new live audio app Greenroom—and revealed whether he’s dropped into a room himself.

Stream episode “Q2 2021 Earnings: Accelerating Innovation” now.

Spotify Reports Second Quarter 2021 Earnings

July 28, 2021

Today, Spotify announced our second quarter 2021 financial performance. Click here to review the full earnings release, and take a look at the highlights below:

Interested in hearing more? You can listen to the webcast Q&A on the IR site here. 

Click below to check out a sizzle reel of audio trailers from a few of our recent original and exclusive podcasts.

Dax Shepard’s ‘Armchair Expert’ Is Launching an Exclusive Partnership With Spotify

May 12, 2021

Calling all psychology enthusiasts, talk show fans, and Armcherries: We have some exciting news. The podcast Armchair Expert, cohosted by actor, filmmaker, and comedian Dax Shepard and Emmy-nominated producer and personality Monica Padman, is coming exclusively to Spotify. All past and new episodes, which are produced by Rob Holysz, Monica, and Dax, will remain free and available to stream exclusively on the platform starting July 1. The partnership also includes a first look deal with Armchair Umbrella Network. 

“Moving to Spotify is a huge opportunity for us. I am especially grateful for the work Monica and Rob have done to get us to this point. We are all bathing in the excitement of knowing we will get to do what we love most for the coming years,” shares Dax.

Photo credit: Michael Friberg

Armchair Expert has grown exponentially since its launch in 2018, becoming one of the world’s most listened-to podcasts and attracting a loyal fan base of “Armcherries.” Each episode, Dax and Monica invite listeners to join them and their guests for intimate, honest, and judgement-free discussions. At its core, the show is meant to “celebrate, above all, the challenges and setbacks that ultimately lead to growth and betterment.”

From discussing inequitable standards with Hillary Clinton to opening up about Dax’s struggles with addiction, the Armchair Expert hosts take a unique approach to interviewing celebrities, artists, and world leaders. The resulting conversations are challenging and vulnerable and allow interviewees to share the toughest and most triumphant moments that have defined their lives. Recent guests include John Legend, Bill Gates, and Salma Hayek.

“We are very excited to embark on this journey with Spotify. Armchair Expert will remain the same show it has always been, but with added opportunities that only Spotify can offer us,” says Monica. “We look forward to continuing to bring our human driven content and doorless bathroom to our audience through this exclusive platform.”

Tune into this week’s episode, on Thursday, May 13, to hear Dax and Monica discuss the new partnership with a surprise guest you won’t want to miss.

Pull up a chair and listen to Armchair Expert below.